Matt McQuinn
"To do better."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,658 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO7.0conversationswith people
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO325minutesspent learning
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UP TO6.0plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO119plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
Matt's actions
Family
Learn about Environmental Justice
Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.
Family
Glass Bottle Baby
I will replace 6 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.
Personal Care
That Was a Close Shave
I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.
Food
Advocate for Office Reusables
I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.
Community
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Family
Use Cloth Diapers
I will replace single use diapers with reusable cloth diapers.
Family
Use Reusable Baby Wipes
I will make better choices for the environment and my baby's bum by using reusable baby wipes most or all of the time.
Family
Thoughtful Toys
I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!
Community
Host a Watch Party
I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.
Lifestyle
Homemade Cleaners
I will make my own cleaning products at home.
Pets
DIY Cat Litter
I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.
Lifestyle
Proper Bioplastic Disposal
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
Community
Raise Money For a Nonprofit
I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.
Community
Dig into Bioplastics
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
Personal Care
A Sustainable Flow
I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.
Food
Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining
I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.
Food
Advocate For Better Food Packaging
I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.
Personal Care
Pearly Whites
I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.
Family
Discover Together
I will spend 205 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.
Food
Use Reusables at Work
I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.
Food
Cook a Plastic Free Meal
I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.
Food
Choose Reusable Food Storage
I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).
Food
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
Lifestyle
Ditch Dryer Sheets
I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.
Lifestyle
Support a Sharing Economy
I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care A Sustainable FlowDisposable tampons and menstrual pads are often quite expensive. What are the economic and personal benefits of this switch for you?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:47 PMI don't personally benefit but I know there are many benefits to the women in my life. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care That Was a Close ShaveWhat have you noticed about the economic and social impact of switching to steel razors? Was there ever really a need for disposable razors, or do you think it was just a way to sell more things?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:40 PMIf I'm being honest I prefer a disposable razor but I'm willing to suffer. I don't shave that much anyway. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Homemade CleanersWhat did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:36 PMIt's amazing how many DIY options you can find online. When you make them you know exactly what goes into them. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Proper Bioplastic DisposalWhat concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Advocate for Office ReusablesWhat are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:30 PMWhile the upfront cost for reusables might be more disposables cost more in the long run and are worse for the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Advocate for Plastic-Free DiningWhat was your strategy in talking with your favorite restaurant's management? Did you find it to be effective?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:29 PMI started a conversation about how much better I think leftovers/take-out taste when packaged in non-plastic containers. They agreed but we'll see if it made a difference or not. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Thoughtful ToysDoes your child play differently with natural or repurposed toys than with other toys? If so, how?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:23 PMI find they tend to have to be more gentle with toys made from natural materials, both from a durability perspective but also because natural toys tend to be heavier than those made from plastics. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Use Reusable Baby WipesIn what ways do you model choices that align with your values to your little one? In what other ways could you model values-aligned choices?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:20 PMIt's a big deal to make sure we set the right example. We try to be thoughtful about what types of products and practices we expose our daughter to. Taking a hard line when other might turn their heads is often not easy but we feel it's the right thing to do. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Use Cloth DiapersIn what ways is diapering your child with cloth diapers better for your child, better for you, and better for the environment?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:15 PMIt actually helped with potty training and got us out of having to use them more quickly, which led to less waste in general. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Glass Bottle BabyHow can you take your commitment to sustainable living beyond yourself and your family? How can you, personally, work toward broader change?
Matt McQuinn 7/31/2022 8:10 PMI take my commitment to work with me every day and try my best to apply a sustainable mindset to many of the decisions I make while on the job.