

Kerrie Kovaleski
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 890 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO52plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO3.0conversationswith people
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UP TO15minutesspent learning
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO100pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO23pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
Kerrie's actions
Personal Care
Donate Zero Waste Period Products
I will donate 3 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.
Lifestyle
Proper Bioplastic Disposal
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 20 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
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.
Food
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
Community
Keep My Community Clean
I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.
Family
Natural Paints
I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.
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.
Food
Minimize Packaging
I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.
Personal Care
Eco Deodorant
I will switch to a plastic-free deodorant — whether purchased or DIY'd.
Food
Use Reusables at Work
I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.
Personal Care
Green Beauty
When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Food
Cook a Plastic Free Meal
I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.
Food
Advocate For Better Food Packaging
I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.
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?
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Kerrie Kovaleski 7/29/2022 11:54 AMMy experiment with plastic free deodorant is going pretty well (friends, tell me if I am mistaken) and I decided to pick up two more brands to try next. I’m also determined not to go back to my daily make up wipes, which I do miss very much. But if I can just break these two plastic habits, I feel like I’ve made progress.-
Sinclair Boggs 7/29/2022 1:07 PMI just got a new native stick! Have you seen those make up removing reusable cloths/towels? They are a specific material (kind of like microfiber?) that really does the trick at removing makeup.
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Kerrie Kovaleski 7/24/2022 7:02 AM -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal CareDo 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?
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/23/2022 6:44 AMThe articles that seem to come from the most reputable sources indicated that aluminum isn’t really a health risk, and I don’t feel like I’ve had any of the symptoms that were listed. I would make this choice mostly to avoid plastic, and whether I keep it up depends on whether the aluminum free deodorant works as well. -
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/23/2022 6:40 AM-
Sinclair Boggs 7/23/2022 6:47 AMI’m so glad there are a lot more plastic-free options on the market than just a few years ago! It’s taken me some trial and error (and plenty of armpit sniffing) to find one I like. My favorite is the brand Native- it’s sold at Target. -
Claudia Zimmermann 7/23/2022 6:47 AM
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/22/2022 10:13 AMIt’s horrifying to think how long one simple purchase of a plastic bottle will continue to linger in the environment and have a negative impact on wildlife. It’s so cheap and easy that we don’t even give it a thought. How do we make this part of people’s consciousness? I feel like even a small change multiplied across our audience would make an important difference. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal CareHow can having access to zero waste period products help people who menstruate overcome barriers to education or other opportunities?
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/21/2022 6:58 AMI love that there are actions here that directly improve the lives of people around the world. Never in a million years would I have thought to support an organization that supports period kits in Nepal! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunityHow does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/20/2022 12:29 PMIt seems to me that the most common plastic items I pick up are smoking products. Blunt wrappers, cigarette packs, loose tobacco bags, even lighters. Interesting that efforts to reduce smoking would also lessen plastic use and pollution. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWith 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?
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/20/2022 12:26 PMHonestly, I know there are things I'm always going to buy (cheese, lunchmeat, etc.) and it will be a challenge to find brands or stores without plastic. I love Aldi and Trade Joe, but their produce is always prebagged and so I only go for specific things. I need to look around for a deli that packs in paper. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodDo 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?
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/20/2022 12:23 PMThis has turned out to be one of my hardest challenges. I work late many nights and just want to eat something quick and easy for dinner. Ramen, deli meat, even cereal usually involve a layer of plastic. I'm going to have to figure out a real lifestyle change to solve this. -
Kerrie Kovaleski 7/20/2022 12:14 PMI just got back from a family reunion in another state, and it was really hard to avoid plastic. I carried my own water bottle, and when we stopped for sodas on the road, I picked cans over bottles. I also ate more at each meal so I didn't need a to-go box.