Joanna Caputa

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

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

I will plant a herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.

My goal is to investigate how I might be able to recycle cat food and cat litter bags to keep them out of the landfill.

My goal is to help food share broken bags of cat food with individuals who help feed feral and community cats and who are economically challenged to feed them.

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

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

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

I will spend 5 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 give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

My goal is to try and rehome clothing that my daughters or I have outgrown or don't use to give them fresh life with someone else. This is very important to me because so much clothing is still usable but goes into landfills instead. All. of us enjoy thrifting and we feel it's important to give away what we have an abundance of to others who could use it.

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

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

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

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

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

I will spend 15 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.

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

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

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

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

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

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

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