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Welcome to Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022 expert in no time!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums
Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022
July 1 - July 31, 2022
Steve Bohny's avatar

Steve Bohny

Maryland Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,057 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    37
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    123
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    37
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    72
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    31
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Steve's actions

Food

Go Strawless

I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 18
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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Travel Eating

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

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

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 13
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
    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?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/27/2022 2:48 PM
    During our visit to Maine, we passed by the Poland Springs Resort and original spring.  Here’s what their website says about sustainability.
    Now, Poland Spring® Brand comes from natural springs, all located in the beautiful state of Maine. Our spring guardians, a team of hydrogeologists and field experts, monitor water flows, track precipitation levels and even study the areas’ biodiversity. All of this is to help ensure the springs and surrounding areas are sustainably managed. And to get the highest quality water delivered fresh for you.

    Our bottling facilities are some of the only sites in the U.S. to be independently certified by the Alliance for Water Stewardship, which demonstrates our use of water is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial.

    Read More
  • Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/26/2022 12:07 PM
    Handmade bar soap at a small shop in Maine owned by a long time friend!  We had to try some!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/22/2022 5:29 AM
    We bring our own snacks on road trips and try to choose sustainable seafood when we eat out.  
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    What is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/17/2022 9:51 AM
    Found this cool little natural bath product shop while travelling in Savannah, GA.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/10/2022 8:28 AM
    The Sustainability Committee implemented collecting all staff recycling loose instead of in plastic bags.  The county I live in no longer accepts plastic bags for lawn and leaf removal, we must use paper bags.  And we no longer buy ZipLoc bags for lunches, we use reusable storage containers.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/10/2022 8:25 AM
    Reusable storage containers make great housewarming gifts.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How might styrofoam be an environmental justice and/or environmental racism issue in your community?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/10/2022 8:24 AM
    On March 5, 2019, Maryland moved one step closer to becoming the first state to ban expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food containers, as the State Senate passed a bill that would ban restaurants, grocery stores, and other food providers from using foam food containers because of their harmful impact on the environment. The bill also bans the retail sale of these products. The bill passed 34-13, with bi-partisan support.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    It is often true that we only have control over our own actions and not the collective community. How can you lead by example when it comes to switching disposables for reusable dishes in your community?
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/10/2022 8:20 AM
    As the representative of the Visitor Services Department on the Sustainability Committee, we can educate our staff, which, in turn trickles out to their families and friends
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
    Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/10/2022 8:18 AM
    I received a pack of 6 reusable stainless steel straws for Father's Day, better than a tie!
    Read More
  • Steve Bohny's avatar
    Steve Bohny 7/06/2022 11:10 AM
    Don't forget, if you miss a day or forget to post over your weekend, you can always go back and update your daily actions.
    Read More