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Dawn Emery's avatar

Dawn Emery

Virginia Aquarium Fam - Bam No Plastic Ma'am

"To be more aware of the plastic I use and reduce my impact by being a better consumer."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,933 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    32
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    4.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    95
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    18
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    3.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    50
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    14
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    10
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Dawn's actions

Personal Care

Donate Zero Waste Period Products

I will donate 2 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.

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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Go Strawless

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

COMPLETED 10
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

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 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 5
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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

TerraCycle recycling

Put at least 2 items per day in TerraCycle box.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Give Some Green Gratitude

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 30 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

Sustainable Suds

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

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

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

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Eco Deodorant

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Thoughtful Toys

I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed


  • Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:10 PM
    This has been a tough challenge, especially since I wasn’t home for 10 days of it. I have a better understanding of where I can make changes and will continue to work on this .
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:08 PM
    As I expected,the kitchen is where I have the most waste and plastic use. I am working on ways to limit my food and plastic waste .
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:06 PM
    I enjoy repurposing articles of clothing and finding new ways to wear them.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:05 PM
    It was a little harder than I expected because we were traveling for several days. I did better with drinks than I did with food. I need to make sure I plan ahead better next time we travel.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:03 PM
    I think it allows others to se what I am passionate about and to ask questions.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    Have you noticed a difference in how your community, friends, and family members use plastics since you've shared your own actions?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:02 PM
    I have noticed that they are supportive and may pay closer attention to the products they are using.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How might styrofoam be an environmental justice and/or environmental racism issue in your community?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 6:01 PM
    I think it is often a material that is used because it costs less and may be used in lower socioeconomic communities.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/31/2022 5:59 PM
    I feel like I’m doing something good for my community by helping to keep it clean. Hopefully my example will lead others to pickup or stop littering.

  • Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/30/2022 8:07 PM
    Way to go team! You are awesome 😎

  • Dawn Emery's avatar
    Dawn Emery 7/28/2022 5:58 AM
    Struggling this week while visiting family. Just working on doing my best.