Alexandra Byrne

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

I will pick up 2 piece(s) of litter each day.

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

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

I will spend 20 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

I will prepare my own pet treats to avoid plastic packaging.

I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

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

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.

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

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

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

I will give up gum or choose gum made from chicle or other plastic-free gum bases.

Join WashU Sustainability Staff July 20th from 12pm – 1pm to learn more about how single-use plastics are used in research and healthcare and how you can begin to reduce plastic use in your lab or practice.

I will spend at least 45 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.

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.

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

Reducing meat consumption has many benefits; it curtails greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and soil degradation. It will also save an enormous amount of land, water use and will increase biodiversity.