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Welcome to Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023 expert in no time!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums
Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023
July 1 - July 31, 2023
Erikka Sawdey's avatar

Erikka Sawdey

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 190 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    6.0
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill

Erikka's actions

Bathroom

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Waterless tooth brushing

I will always turn off the water while brushing my teeth!

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 20 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Study

Numbers Everywhere

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 25 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How can you be an advocate for using reusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable food packaging or eating utensils, and how can you convince them of the need for change?
    Erikka Sawdey's avatar
    Erikka Sawdey 7/01/2023 1:19 PM
    I feel like there is an economic barrier to using reusable materials. Fancier or chain restaurants can afford it, while local mom-and-pop restaurants often can't afford the startup cost of purchasing reusable dishes. I don't know if it's a supply side issue of making dishes more affordable or a demand side that would make prices increase at hometown spots, but neither seems likely to happen.
    Read More
    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 7/03/2023 9:19 AM
      I can't find it in my inbox now, but there was a study done that found that even for mom-and-pop shops, in a not-insignificant small period of time, all of the costs associated with switching to reusables were offset by the savings from not purchasing disposables anymore. But unfortunately the up-front cost can for sure be a barrier. I think in some areas there may be grants and incentives for making these changes, but you'd have to first know about them to apply for them.
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Since the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?
    Erikka Sawdey's avatar
    Erikka Sawdey 7/01/2023 1:15 PM
    I make my coffee at home in the morning, so COVID had no impact on being able to take a reusable mug to go...to my desk at home to work. :)
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Using the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed by this bottling process?
    Erikka Sawdey's avatar
    Erikka Sawdey 7/01/2023 1:14 PM
    Talk to the people affected and find out what they need for support. Also, stop buying from Nestle who are slowly taking all of California's water.
    Read More