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Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar

Elizabeth Radkoski

South Carolina Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,262 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    28
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    32
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    385
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    80
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Elizabeth's actions

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Tour A Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 15 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Proper Bioplastic Disposal

I will spend at least 40 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 25 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 40 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 20 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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
    Family Swap the Snacks
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/28/2022 11:37 AM
    This have been a great swap for not only limiting amount of plastic but is more cost effective for my family. It's been nice to utiliize my roadside farmer's stands more!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Homemade Cleaners
    What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/28/2022 10:10 AM
    My grandma used to swear by her four theives vineger recipe (pretty much just apple cider vinegar with mint, peppercorns, juniper berries, and whatever random herbs she had on hand) . Vinegar has been a trusted cleaning ingredient in my house for years!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Tour A Waste Management Facility
    Landfills and recycling centers tell us a lot about our communities and purchasing habits. What did you glean from your tour?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/28/2022 9:40 AM
    It was great to be able to watch a virtual MRF tour! It brings to focus the state of consumerism we currently live in. It was a good reminder of buying a item that can be repaired and repurpose instead of replaced and recycled.

    • Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
      Elizabeth Radkoski 7/30/2022 7:13 AM
      Hey Shelley! Eco challenge has a virtual tour under the learn more button! It’s a really interesting YouTube video and I recommend checking it out. It did lead me to a rabbit hole of other waste facility videos 😊

    • Shelley Shrader's avatar
      Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 7:09 AM
      Do you have a link to this tour? I would love to see it!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Learn about Plastic Production
    What did you learn about how plastic production impacts humans, animals, communities, and the environment? Which of these impacts specifically affects your community?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/28/2022 9:36 AM
    The plastic production and the transporting of plastic nurdles has has big impact on lowcountry waterways. It has been shockingly sad to learn about these little plastic pellets spilling into our port. This is the definition of a literal small thing having a massive impact. I understand that not everything can be zero waste and plastic free. Multi-use and single use plastics are needed for health and safety reason and will always be a part of our world. But with that comes a need for more oversight in the production and transportation of these materials. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Practice Sustainable Fashion
    How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/28/2022 9:20 AM
    Finding brands that offer plus and extended size is very tricky. Most brands do not offer large sizes. Many time if they do it is at premium pricing compared to standard sizes. I would love to have more options for new items without having to pay so much more than standard size of the same brand. Upside:  this does force me to choose more sustainable options by default such as 2nd hand items and mending/customizing items I already own. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Dig into Bioplastics
    What did you learn about bioplastic production and disposal? Did anything surprise you? Are bioplastics accepted by your city's waste management?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/16/2022 8:34 AM
    I recently received a Lomi composter. Lomis are able to break down certain approved bio plastics in a household setting. This prompted a lot of research into different types bio plastics, their composition, and accessible ways of disposal without having to get an expensive appliance. Generally, I have always had a negative opinion about bioplastics as they seems like a way of “green washing” product. But there are times where a plastic free option isn’t safe or recommended. I think this is where bio plastics need to play a bigger role (such as could RX bottles be made of bio plastics?). 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Join a Cleanup Effort
    How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/12/2022 12:57 PM
    Technically I did this last night. My dad, godparents and I had an after dinner beach sweep party. I am so happy to see my parents helping out and engaging their friends to make a difference as well. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Buy Only What I Need
    As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/10/2022 7:41 AM
    It’s been interesting to look at my buying habits. Although all of my personal care/ commonly purchased items are all plastic free I do have a tendency to accumulate things I don’t need. This is usually under the guise of “I want to support businesses that care about sustainable”. The last week has really brought that into focus for me. I would like to find a balance of supporting businesses/products that are doing great things without contributing to the excessive consumption problem. 
  • 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?

    Elizabeth Radkoski's avatar
    Elizabeth Radkoski 7/07/2022 6:33 AM
    I wish there were more options in the area to buy plastic free groceries. It has been a challenge to buy plastic free in a typical store but local farm’s roadside produce stands have been a great resource! 

    • Linda Rowe's avatar
      Linda Rowe 7/09/2022 4:03 PM
      And such a great way to support a local farmer & business!