Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022

July 1 - July 31, 2022

Michelle Anne Olsen

Toronto Zoo

"Continuing to walk the talk by learning how to make my day-to-day more sustainable, one small change at a time!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
707 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

65

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

piece of litter

picked up
UP TO

17

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

5.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Michelle Anne's actions

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 5 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn About Ecobricks!

I will spend time learning about ecobricks. What they are, how they are used, and hopefully, how I can make them at home and donate them for use in sustainable infrastructure projects.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Plastic Production

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA-approved reusable quart-sized bag.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Say No to Styrofoam

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Estimate My Plastic Consumption

I will visit the rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Give Some Green Gratitude

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions

I will write or sign 1 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 60 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 5
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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/25/2022 5:16 AM

I think that when you become actively involved in cleaning/beautifying your community, you are inherently more connected to it. This simple action can cultivate a sense of pride in your environment, as well as a sense of stakeholder-ship or stewardship. It might even encourage you to speak to others about taking that same responsibility.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Homemade Cleaners

What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/21/2022 5:56 AM

Mostly I found the experience of making my own all-purpose cleaner to be satisfying. I made mine with a mixture of vinegar and water, and soaked the peels of lemons and oranges leftover from my kitchen, to give it a citrusy scent. I loved the feeling of not letting those organics go to waste, of repurposing a spray bottle that would otherwise end up in the blue bin, and of knowing that I'm cleaning with all-natural ingredients. Win-win-win!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Share My Actions

Have you noticed a difference in how your community, friends, and family members use plastics since you've shared your own actions?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/21/2022 5:52 AM

I know for a fact that I've inspired my family to make changes in their plastic consumption - whether by example or through bullying ;). Friends have also asked me for my recommendations about shampoo bars, toothpaste tabs, etc., so I think that being transparent about my journey toward plastic free is valuable. I know that I'm often inspired by what others are doing in this regard.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Give Some Green Gratitude

In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/21/2022 5:42 AM

I always include this message in my GLP programming to middle and highschool-aged students: social media is a powerful tool that can be used to amplify your voice, to connect you with like-minded people (in this case, others who care about the environment and who are striving to live more sustainable lives), and to directly connect with those in power to let them know what issues you care most about, and what policies and practices will earn your dollars and votes. I have been inspired by how others are living sustainably, so sharing what your journey toward plastic free on social media could definitely inspire a change in someone else.

Read More
- Michelle Anne Olsen 7/21/2022 6:03 AM
  
  *sharing what your journey toward plastic free looks like on social media
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Say No to Styrofoam

How might styrofoam be an environmental justice and/or environmental racism issue in your community?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/20/2022 5:39 AM

Simply said, Styrofoam is a cheaper packaging material than many more sustainable/biodegradable options. This is true of many sustainable alternatives - so often these products cost more at the outset (even if reusable options can save you money in the long run). An individual/a local business might have the very best of intentions when it comes to their environmental footprint, but be unable to afford the cost of environmentalism. In this way, the movement can be exclusionary.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Minimize Packaging

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/18/2022 6:16 AM

I have noticed that plastic is truly ubiquitous at the grocery store. Everything is wrapped in layers upon layers of plastic packaging, and trying to choose products that have less or no packaging is surprisingly (and frustratingly) difficult. I was so frustrated by this experience this weekend - I literally saw cantaloupes wrapped in styrofoam netting and plastic wrap! - that I am looking into options to purchase my produce from local markets moving forward, rather than big grocers (cost and distance permitting).

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Become a Recycling Pro

What have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/18/2022 6:11 AM

This is a little bit embarrassing, but I never realized that recycling matter is sold by the City of Toronto, to buyers who then specialize in processing those materials into something new. Now that I understand this market a bit better - what can and cannot be sold by the City, and why - I feel a bit less confused and frustrated by what is blue bin recyclable, and what isn't. The same goes for understanding the function and purpose of the City's composting program (why it accepts food waste, but not compostable packaging, for example).

I also learned about why we should rinse and clean all recyclable metal and plastics containers - so that food waste doesn't contaminate paper recycling - and to keep their lids on in the bin! Huh! The more you know!

One of most difficult parts about recycling for me has been learning what can and cannot be blue or green binned here in Toronto. I grew up in Ottawa, which has a stellar recycling program (though I suspect that I wasn't 100% on what could and could not be recycled there either), so moving to Toronto and learning that the City did not recycle, say, black plastics, was a learning curve for me. Even with a poster about what can and cannot be recycled here taped up in my front closer, and the TOwaste app on my phone, I sometimes find myself unclear about what I can successfully recycle, and what I should throw in the trash so as not to cause contamination. It's a concerted effort, and I can understand why not everyone is willing or able to take that time.

Something I found extra useful on the City's website was this map of places to donate gently used clothing, books, household products, etc. I'll definitely be saving this for the next time I'm wondering how to gift something that can't be recycled! https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1tetNCILCsAhjXEWmORhDKO-iCYdj_RI&ll=43.705086111006864%2C-79.42123480468753&z=11

Read More
- Michelle Anne Olsen 7/18/2022 6:23 AM
  
  *taped up in my front closet
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions

How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/11/2022 5:45 AM

I have said this before, and I stand by it: it is important for individuals to learn about the plastics crisis, and to take the personal responsibility of rethinking the items they use and dispose of every day. Those small changes matter! But, I believe that the large-scale solutions to the plastics crisis are waiting to be found in technological and scientific innovation. There are already exciting strides being made - like replicating the plastic-consuming enzymes of certain bacteria/insects - and I believe that we are just one incredible innovation from being able to make a huge dent on plastic pollution.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Estimate My Plastic Consumption

What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/05/2022 6:44 AM

I have worked really hard to replace single-use plastic in my bathroom and kitchen. I use a bamboo toothbrush, sustainably-packaged toothpaste and deodorant, shampoo and soap bars, laundry detergent strips, a dishsoap bar, reusable wash cloths... I carry reusable grocery and produce bags and straws with me always. This has been a conscious and ongoing effort, albeit a slow one, over the past five years.

And yet, I'm a bit disheartened to see how many kgs - kgs - of plastic I am using and disposing of every year. The biggest offender seems to be my kitchen habits. While I use reusable kitchen tools, food storage options and utensils, my partner and I are guilty of prioritizing convenience when it comes to our meals, which means meal kits, takeout and pre-packaged easy-cook items are our norm. Rather than being discouraged, I'm going to try to use this knowledge to focus my attention on the changes that still need to be made in our household, and which will have the biggest impact. Once I use what is in my fridge, another of my goals for this month and beyond is to choose to purchase grocery items with the least amount of packaging. I'd be curious to try this calculator again in another six months, and see how that change impacts my, well, impact.

P.S. I know that this isn't an option for everyone, but I did choose to offset my plastic use with rePurpose. I think that their model is innovative and ethical, It baffles me to think that if the world's richest people and companies devoted the means to this kind of initiative, we could make such huge strides toward addressing the plastics crisis.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Support a Sharing Economy

What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?

Michelle Anne Olsen 7/04/2022 5:21 AM

First and foremost, a sharing economy reduces waste. By giving an object that you no longer want or need a second - or third or fourth - life, you prevent it from sitting in landfill. Not to mention, by opting for a second-hand something versus buying it new, you are - you guessed it - creating less waste and saving money.

I am part of a few sharing economy and zero waste groups on social media. I'm not a Toronto native, but these groups have shown me just how many people here are committed to a more sustainable lifestyle, and that makes me feel like part of a community of like-minded people, in a city that can feel impersonal.

One of the things I share with friends is books - we pass-on books we recommend to one another, rather than buying every title new - and this has been so much fun, because now we have this pseudo book club, able to share with one another what we thought of this book or that series. I also got a library card, in order to borrow books rather than purchase them new, and I have found that I love the act of physically going to the library in my neighbourhood, checking out their latest art exhibition or activities, and that too has made me feel a deeper connection to place.

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