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Cory Blackledge's avatar

Cory Blackledge

Akron Zoo

"Plastic Free July!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,074 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    111
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    conversation
    with a person
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    43
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    130
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    59
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    89
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Cory's actions

Food

Use Reusables at Work

I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Eco Deodorant

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Green Beauty

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Sustainable Suds

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with a sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Say No to "Flushable Wipes"

Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 10 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

A Sustainable Flow

I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 5 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Go Strawless

I will keep 4 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 28
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
    Food
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/31/2022 2:07 PM
    My kitchen is overrun with reusable containers! :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    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?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/31/2022 2:06 PM
    Going to try and pay more attention at the grocery store now!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/29/2022 10:43 AM
    I use my reusable straws everyday!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How can you be an advocate for using reusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable food packaging or eating utensils, and how can you convince them of the need for change?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/28/2022 12:00 PM
    Always make sure I keep some reusable utensils at my desk!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/28/2022 11:54 AM
    More challenging that I thought it would be -- but definitely going to attempt to be more conscious in the future!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/28/2022 11:53 AM
    I love that the plastic bag ban is back in effect in Cuyahoga County!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Using the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed by this bottling process?

    Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/28/2022 11:53 AM
    It's so easy to just use a refillable water bottle each and every day!

  • Cory Blackledge's avatar
    Cory Blackledge 7/25/2022 8:09 AM
    I'm up to 100 plastic bottles saved from the landfill!  It's cool to see how big of an impact just one person can make.