Gretchen Kramer

I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.

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

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.

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

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.

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 prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

I will recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

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

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

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 spend 20 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 pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

I will spend 60 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

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.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will write or sign 2 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.