Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022

July 1 - July 31, 2022

Alyssa Van Der Weele

Team Penn

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,010 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

80

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

142

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

80

conversations

with people
UP TO

40

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

96

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

85

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

68

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill

Alyssa's actions

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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 26
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 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

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

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 18
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?

Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/31/2022 2:35 PM
This challenged has gone very well! I’d have to say the hardest part was remembering to log everything daily. Alongside this, I noticed my go to bag usage is plastic store bags. I did not have an action for this, but am not exploring ways of using reusable bags. Also, I’m getting my family to buy less plastic water bottles and use reusable as well! All in all, I noticed I do a lot of helpful things for our environment, but food and packaging is where I should focus my attention to do more.

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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?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/15/2022 4:16 PM
Thankfully I’m using reusables on the daily. If I notice others using disposable packaging I can mention the harms and offer alternatives for them. Using reusable items are a one time purchase while disposable items are a constant purchase. This could be an idea mentioned to help influence others.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How can you be an advocate for using reusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable food packaging or eating utensils, and how can you convince them of the need for change?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/15/2022 4:14 PM
I can start in my own home and then branch to much family members outside the home to advocate for reusable items. I can do this by explaining how plastics and styrofoam are broken down and where they end up and how bad this is on our environment and the wildlife within it. After educating I can show them the reusable options I use in the home, such as packaging and utensils and water bottles. I’d say restaurants in our community are where disposable packaging and utensils are mostly found. Finding cost efficient options and alternatives would be a great way to convince them to change.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family

Most of us know that the "3 R's" are reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycling is most heavily emphasized in modern Western culture. How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/15/2022 4:09 PM
I reduce in terms of waste. I reduce my waste by reusing items rather than having disposable items, and by recycling products when they should be. I repair and repurpose items when I can, such as clothing and towels to be used as rags or scratching items for my pets when I can, instead of throwing them out. Implementing the Rs seems a part of my lifestyle already, but when it comes to refusing and repairing this is where I could learn more.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets

How are caring for your pet and caring for the environment connected for you?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/15/2022 4:04 PM
For me, my pets are a connection to the environment because they are animals. My compassion towards them extends to other wildlife within the environment. While I care for my own pets and have questions on how to help them, I wonder about wildlife around my home as well, such as squirrels, rabbits, birds, and raccoons and how to help them. For instants, if I get flowers from my significant I instantly worry they’ll be harmful to my cats. If they are, I ensure to put them in safe places. I then wonder what could harm the wildlife around me and what couldn’t. As an animal lover, I seek to protect all life I can, whether it’s my own pets, insects, or wildlife.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/14/2022 7:18 PM
This decision came about more from costly reasonings. It definitely wasn’t the most easy thing to do but also wasn’t too hard after trial and error. At first I would pack coolers with meals and snacks prepared, then I realized this sometimes was more difficult for longer travel. Instead, I began to ensure where I was staying had enough kitchen items to cook and I grocery shop to prevent the eating out and bringing styrofoam packaging back.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care

Even though they are marketed as "flushable," disposable wipes do not disintegrate in water or the sewer system, and actually release microplastics into our waterways. How does it feel to learn this information? What do you want to do about it?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/14/2022 7:15 PM
I have known that they are not disposable and this is why I don’t use them. How it makes me feel is sad and angry. I feel sad that we are allowing so much toxins into our oceans and harming our precious wildlife. I feel angry that this is allowed and advertising can lie in this way.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/14/2022 7:13 PM
I’ve noticed I’m purchasing much less items. The health items last a decent amount of time, therefore purchasing more doesn’t happen as often as other less necessary purchases. Long term I can become smarter in my choice and continue to look for items that are reusable.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Since the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/14/2022 7:10 PM
Thankfully, to cut costs I had already ditch purchasing coffee from outside sources. I brew coffee at home and use my reusable mugs daily! When I do go out and splurge, I eat at restaurants that have reusable cups as well.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Alyssa Van Der Weele 7/14/2022 7:07 PM
When it comes to disposables, I can think outside the box my getting compostable utensils and plates. I know our picnics use these, but incorporating them into my personal life would beneficial if I were to use disposable items.

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