Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022

July 1 - July 31, 2022

Pat Hofmeister

Saint Louis Zoo

"To make this a better world for my grandchildren."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,480 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

31

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

31

conversations

with people
UP TO

34

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

413

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

66

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

27

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

162

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

38

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

13

public officials or leaders

contacted

Pat's actions

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions

I will write or sign 1 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 60 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 30 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Plastic Production

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.

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 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 28
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 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 29
DAILY ACTIONS

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 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 21
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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 25
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?

Pat Hofmeister 7/31/2022 11:41 AM

One of my challenges was to pick up 5 pieces of trash per day. It was obvious to me that it had quite an impact. Yesterday my husband and I saw In The Heights at Stages in Kirkwood. When the musical was over, I found myself picking up programs and fliers discarded by other patrons. I picked up 11 pieces,

Read More
Pat Hofmeister 7/31/2022 11:31 AM

Today is our last day of the challenge. Thank you to our captain and all who participated. We have an amazing zoo with awesome employees and volunteers. Looking forward to our next one!

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Pat Hofmeister 7/27/2022 7:11 PM

I really enjoy the zoo eccochallenge. I am amazed at how much cleaner the zoo grounds are. That's when I usually pick up a great deal of trash. I am also paying more attention to how much plastic is in everything! I continue to take a reusable storage bag given me by my youngest daughter-in-law. I bring my own cup and straw and bamboo table ware. I worked Night at the Zoo and brought my own reusable water bottle so I was able to refuse bottled water.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Learn about Environmental Justice

What did you and your family learn about environmental justice? What questions came up for you? What feelings?

Pat Hofmeister 7/20/2022 10:23 AM

In 1980's there wer numerous local conflicts in which inhabitants, usually poor people and often ethnic minorities, protested putting new waste dump facilities in their area. They suffered pollution due to discharges produced by polluting industrail activies installed in their municipalities.the protests were not led by environmentalist groups, while the issue was directly related to pollution or environmentalrisk. They were led by local citizens concerned about developing the areas where the conflict was taking place. Manyn protests were held and then term environmental racism was used for the first time. In the 90's , The nFirst National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit took place in Washington D.C (1991). Inn1994, President Clinton signed Law 12898, "Federal Actions to Achieve Environmental Justice for Low-Income and Minority Populations." This law sought to eliminate all environmental injustice in federal laws and regulations.

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Pat Hofmeister 7/19/2022 3:50 PM

I volunteered at the zoo today and was so pleased to see the number of people carrying reusable water containers. I found myself complimenting them. There were individuals and entire families. Word is getting out about not using one use plastic bottles!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Discover Together

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Pat Hofmeister 7/19/2022 3:34 PM

Global Warming is my main concern. I wish countries could work together to heed the warnings of scientists who study global warming.

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Pat Hofmeister 7/18/2022 3:09 PM

I took 31 plastic bags to my friend whose sister uses them to make twin size mats for the homeless. It takes 850 bags for 1 mat.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Learn about Plastic Production

What did you learn about how plastic production impacts humans, animals, communities, and the environment? Which of these impacts specifically affects your community?

Pat Hofmeister 7/17/2022 12:36 PM

Plastic production is usually in poorer areas, affecting health. Improper disposal of plastic has been eaten by animals, sometimes causing death. Plastic can be found everywhere - on land and under the sea. It is easily disposed of and usually for single use only. Not all plastic is recyclable and not all recyclable plastic is recycled. We lost a male polar bear at the St. Louis Zoo when he ate plastic that ended up in his exhibit.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Skip Plastic Bags

How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

Pat Hofmeister 7/06/2022 11:27 AM

This challenge was easy. I always refuse a plastic bag, while my husband doesn't care. I found a wonderful way to deal with plastic bags. I have a friend whose sister uses plastic bags to make mats for the homeless. It takes hundreds of bags and goes for a good cause.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Choose Reusable Food Storage

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

Pat Hofmeister 7/06/2022 11:25 AM

Choose places that offer alternatives. Even if something is meant to be single use, you can reuse it many times.

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