Annika Widell

Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

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

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

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.