I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 8 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Use Reusable Bags
If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Skip the Straw
Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Nature
Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset
I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Go Paperless
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Health
Exercise Daily
Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 60 minute(s) each day.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Water
Say No to Plastic Straws
An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Energy
Switch to Cold Water
I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
Transportation
Use Public Transit
I will use public transit 16 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
COMPLETED 44
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Choose Two-Sided Printing
I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Energy
Heat and Cool Naturally
I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
Father Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?
Today I enjoyed the sunset at the Carlsbad Beach after walking for 5 miles. It was my way of establishing an integral relationship with our planet Earth.
What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you or aren't allowed to use the one you brought? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?
I've made it a habit to have reusable grocery bags in my car from the previous time I shopped for groceries. I have also encouraged my family to do the same. That way, we don't have to purchase more plastic bags. My family and I are usually grocery shopping together, so if we forget our reusable bags at home, we can all carry the items out in our hands.
I do the same thing. I often forget my bags, but I hate to bring more plastic ones home with me, so I just carry my items in my hands. Whenever I do bring plastic bags home, I reuse them as much as I can. Most of the time, I'll use them to line our little trash cans instead of buying little trash can liners.
I drink a lot of coffee, sometimes at home and other times from Starbucks. I bought a coffee tumblr in order to reduce the amount of single-use coffee cups I purchase for my home. Most of the time, I make coffee at home to use my tumbler, and only go to Starbucks when I'm running late.
I recently purchased a Hydro Flask to drink water throughout the day without having to use straws or plastic water bottles. However, I eat out on a regular basis, so I will make it a goal to stop asking for straws when dining in a restaurant.
Choosing two-sided printing can be an easy adjustment on your computer settings. How can you help others make this same switch? Can it be encouraged company wide?
Reducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?
Leah Young 5/20/2019 5:19 PMThat must have been so relaxing and refreshing. Looks beautiful.
Professor Morrell 5/17/2019 1:23 PMBeautiful photo!