yes, I have considered the negative effects of balloon releases before. i can hopefully stop certain family members that i know have released balloons multiple times in the past by telling them that they directly effect marine environments.

i wasn’t necessarily surprised, there’s lots of science that goes into sorting the types of plastics that i don’t quite understand, but it’s up to the professionals. this info helps me know which materials i need to reduce, and which ones i can reuse, and overall avoiding incorrectly recycling/using these materials

our drier broke, and it made me realize how easy it is to hang up your clothes rather than just throwing them in the drier and using more energy than needed

my best friend and I watched plastic island on Netflix, it was about plastic usage around the world with a focus on places in Indonesia. they specifically targeted single use plastic bags. it followed a musician from Bali that made protest music about getting a cleaner environment. it was super cool to see a community coming together and working together, but the reason for it and the footage they got was also very heartbreaking

it makes me feel so happy that i am helping out the natural environment. i feel as though you can set an example for other people, as they may see you picking up litter and they can’t help themselves but notice more litter as they continue walking and maybe they’ll feel inclined to help out!

depends on the person/organization really, like the organization that I used to work has gone without single use straws for a while now. at first they were only selling optional metal straws, but lots and lots of people were upset about it. to compromise, the company has recently started selling the reusable cups with modified lids and easy to clean, reusable straws along with the cup. however, it’s still important to acknowledge that some people DO need to use plastic straws because of a disability or any other similar reason.

social media definitely helps spread the word more to the people you’re closest with, and could bring people together. i shouted out the cheyenne mountain zoo on my Instagram because the edu department there and their teens worked very hard to bring teens from all over the nation together, to make friends, and most importantly discuss sustainable options, learn about different pollutions, etc

the hardest part about this was having reusable bags for multiple purposes and not just grocery shopping, then going to the store and then realizing that you left literally all of your reusable bags at home :)) but the easiest part was not having to walk out to my car with 500 small bags that are all ripping at the same time, that and you can match the designs of the bags to your personality and the things you like. and you look cooler than everyone else because you’re being sustainable

there is sooo much less waste!! this goes for the wrappers, and the often uncomfortable single use sanitary item itself. you can even learn to make your own reusable pads and learn a new skill, or support someone else’s small business that makes reusable pads etc. also the option for fun fabrics is 100% the best

The lack of natural green spaces is very concerning. Having areas preserved both for recreation and wildlife is so important.