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Erin Koch's avatar

Erin Koch

Maryland Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,161 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    65
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    32
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    30
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    179
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    13
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Erin's actions

Food

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 30
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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 28
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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

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

COMPLETED 17
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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant a Garden

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Clean Plate Club

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Pets

Rubber Glove Pet Hair Removal

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

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

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

Personal Care

Eco Deodorant

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

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

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

See the Green

I will recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

COMPLETED 15
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
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/31/2022 5:27 AM
    A garden encourages you to spend more time in nature and can boost the amount of healthy movement you get. 
  • 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?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/29/2022 6:59 AM
    The number of plastic water bottles I see around my neighborhood is appalling. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    Take a moment to estimate how many disposable daily contacts you may have used over the years. What would be your impact now of switching to a contact brand with a longer lifespan?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/21/2022 7:41 AM
    I've been collecting contacts for recycling for a while.  I wish all vision locations had collection points. 
  • 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?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/20/2022 11:23 AM
    Happy to say my coworkers also tend to use reusable cutlery. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    What have you noticed about the economic and social impact of switching to steel razors? Was there ever really a need for disposable razors, or do you think it was just a way to sell more things?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/17/2022 5:56 AM
    Disposable razors are probably the most ridiculous thing still produced 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Erin Koch's avatar
    Erin Koch 7/17/2022 5:50 AM
    It saddens me how much litter is discarded in Baltimore.