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Judi Guralnick's avatar

Judi Guralnick

Maryland Zoo

"Helping the world stay healthy, ..."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 299 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    11
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    pieces of litter
    picked up

Judi's actions

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

Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.

COMPLETED 2
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

Eco Deodorant

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Better Gum

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Clean Plate Club

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

out of a landfill.

A company called For Days recycles fabrics. I am sending clothes I would otherwise throw away to them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

UNCOMPLETED
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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 2
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 1
DAILY ACTION

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 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/22/2022 12:59 PM
    I switched to other more natural deodorants a couple of years ago.  My skin is dry without this making it worse.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    How easy was this swap for you? Did you have any concerns before making it?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/22/2022 12:55 PM
    I am waiting for my detergent to run out but I will do this.  I do use powder laundry detergent for this same reason.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Take time to reflect or meditate over your plastic-free cup of tea. Share your thoughts and reflections with us here!

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/22/2022 12:54 PM
    I am a big tea drinker.  I always use loose tea. The tea is better, and less damage to the environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:57 AM
    Less petroleum base products in the world
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:51 AM
    When I bring lunch to work, its always in reusable containers.  Those containers might be plastic, but I reuse them for at least a year or more.  More importantly, the grocery and companies put things in plastic. Try buying yogurt, cottage cheese or even things like figs and dates, from places that sell organic food like Mom's packages in plastic.
  • 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?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:46 AM
    I don't buy packaged foods for the most part, or I will buy in bulk (sort of) so one bag contains enough for many meals.
  • 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?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:44 AM
    There is too much plastic used for packaging.  I don't use plastic bags when buying most groceries, like fruit and vegetables.  Its harder though when buying blueberries or cherries not to end up with them in plastic.  Luckily mostly, when I buy from the farmers market, those small things are put in paper bags.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Why do you chew gum? What habits could replace and meet your reasons for chewing gum?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:41 AM
    I chew gum to slow down my eating.  I now chew gum that is all natural with no plastics in it.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Since the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?

    Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:39 AM
    I do always take  a cup with me.  But lately, it seems I put my reusable cup down and someone moves it.  Very frustrating

  • Judi Guralnick's avatar
    Judi Guralnick 7/17/2022 11:38 AM
    My echochallenge really isn't going all that well this year.  Everytime I try to do something plastic free, it seems I end up with another piece of plastic.  To me this says that those selling food products even at farmer's markets aren't trying to change the way they package things.