

Rachel Sides
"To decrease my impact of plastic on the environment."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 851 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO26advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO127plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO26conversationswith people
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UP TO2.0minutesspent learning
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UP TO22pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
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UP TO17plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
Rachel's actions
Pets
Invest in a Pooper-Scooper
I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.
Food
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
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).
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.
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.
Family
No procreation
I will not create a child that would add to the over population of this planet and the use and creation of more plastic products.
Personal Care
Say No to "Flushable Wipes"
Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.
Family
Plastic Free Lunch Boxes
I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and tupperware-like containers in my children's lunches to reduce plastic waste.
Community
Team Accountability
I would hold my teammates accountable for talking and thinking about plastic free July!
Food
Use Reusables at Work
I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.
Community
Give Some Green Gratitude
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.
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.
Food
Cook a Plastic Free Meal
I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.
Food
Farmers Market
I will use a reusable bag at the farmers market
Food
Minimize Packaging
I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.
Personal Care
Practice Sustainable Fashion
I will spend 5 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.
Personal Care
A Sustainable Flow
I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.
Personal Care
Green Beauty
When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.
Lifestyle
Homemade Cleaners
I will make my own cleaning products at home.
Lifestyle
Clean house with old clothing
I will reuse old clothes to clean my house instead of purchasing rags/dusters.
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.
Lifestyle
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Rachel Sides 7/22/2022 6:39 AMFabrication of clothing is terrible for the environment and water sheds. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWas this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
Rachel Sides 7/22/2022 6:37 AMI was able to choose healthier options. Convenience is nice, but so is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal CareHow can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal CareHow can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal CareDisposable tampons and menstrual pads are often quite expensive. What are the economic and personal benefits of this switch for you?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHave you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
Rachel Sides 7/12/2022 9:04 AMMany places are selling cups with metal straws or thicker reusable plastic straws that have a much longer life than disposbable straws. Starbucks cups for example have this option or a not straw sipper top option. However, the entire cup is still plastic. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodIt 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?
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Rachel Sides 7/11/2022 9:26 AMLet's go team, beat plastic! -
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?