Marianne Barrier
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,675 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO2.0conversationswith people
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UP TO240minutesspent learning
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UP TO27pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
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UP TO114plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO52plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO48plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
Marianne's actions
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.
Bedroom
Practice Sustainable Fashion
I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.
Bedroom
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
Bathroom
Pearly Whites
I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.
Study
Plastic History Buff
Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.
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.
Community
Tour A Waste Management Facility
I will spend at least 30 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.
Study
Buy Only What I Need
I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.
Bedroom
Sunshine Bleached
I will hang-dry my laundry to use the sun as a natural bleach alternative, or use another natural bleach alternative.
Bedroom
Catch Those Microfibers
I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.
Bedroom
Ditch Dryer Sheets
I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.
Community
Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining
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.
Community
Advocate for Office Reusables
I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.
Community
Learn about Environmental Justice
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.
Community
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Study
Dig into Bioplastics
I will spend at least 30 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.
Study
Numbers Everywhere
The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.
Study
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.
Study
Estimate Your Ecological Footprint
I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.
Study
Complete a Waste Audit
I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.
Bathroom
Green Beauty
When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.
Bathroom
Homemade or Refillable Cleaners
I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.
Kitchen
Fill a Water Bottle
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Kitchen
Go Strawless
I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.
Kitchen
Plant a Garden
I will plant an herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.
Kitchen
Swap the Snacks
I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.
Kitchen
Plastic Free Lunch Boxes
I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and containers in my family's lunches to reduce plastic waste.
Kitchen
Try a New Recipe
I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.
Kitchen
Cook a Plastic Free Meal
I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.
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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Marianne Barrier 8/01/2023 11:55 AMThanks Nancy for leading us in the Plastic Free Ecochallenge! I love the opportunity to learn more each challenge and work to incorporate more actions into my daily routine. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Cook a Plastic Free MealDo 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?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 10:09 AMI find that many of the single-use food products are more likely to be unhealthier options (snack bags of chips, cookies). I think it would be a health benefit to make my own snacks and store them in reusable containers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONStudy Numbers EverywhereWere you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 8:20 AMI was already aware of the way the plastic numbers work and which can and can't be recycled in my area. I didn't remember that #1 was the most common type by a long shot. It's not really surprising. I will continue to try to buy fewer items in plastic, or if I can't get away from plastic, at least choose those in the types that are recyclable here. I will continue to be good about rinsing out my recycling. I need to be better about making sure they are dry before adding them to the bin. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONStudy Estimate Your Ecological FootprintWhat did you learn about your ecological footprint by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you? What are some ways you will take action to reduce your footprint?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 8:18 AMI learned that if everyone lived like me, we would need 1.6 Earths! I knew it wouldn't be less than one Earth, but I'm glad it was less than 2 Earths. I don't remember what it was last time I calculated it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Pearly WhitesCurrently most of the packaging for toothpaste is plastic. How can you advocate for more alternatives through your purchasing power and influence in community?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:45 AMI have found this one to be particularly challenging for me because I can't use mint toothpaste and it's really hard to find non-mint options. This is particularly true for the "natural" options. I'm trying to advocate for more options by reaching out to the companies to see if they are working on other flavor alternatives, so I can support them with my purchases.-
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 10:36 AMThanks Krystina! I've just bought some cinnamon Unpaste to try. :) -
Krystina Jarvis 7/31/2023 9:06 AMUnpaste has cinnamon options with and without fluoride! And Davids has a strawberry and watermelon option too!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Homemade or Refillable CleanersWhat did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:40 AMIt is satisfying to make something at a fraction of the cost of the purchased item. I particularly like that I can customize it to my own liking, such as not having any perfumes or other scents that often give me migraines. -
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:38 AMWhen I learn about great reusable alternatives to single-use products, I often buy extras as gifts for friends and family as a way to show them what's available. I'm particularly a fan of the line of "Last" products, such as the "Last Swab", which is a reusable version of a cotton swab.-
Nancy Locquet Absillis 7/31/2023 6:35 PMThanks for mentioning this, Marianne! I didn't know about "Last Swab" and plan on ordering one. After googling, I found lots of eco-friendly essentials in the ZWS store, including a dish brush that my grandma used to have! Brought back memories, and made me think about how people back in those days used a lot less plastic! We can learn from them, for sure.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Ditch Dryer SheetsOften, single-use and disposable products don't just create more trash - they also contain toxins that are bad for humans. What are some other single-use items that are harmful to humans?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:29 AMAs someone who is very sensitive to many scents, I dislike the unnecessarily scented items, such as scented drier sheets and air "purifying" sprays that just add more volatile chemicals to the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Natural FibersWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:26 AMOf course, the largest benefit of using natural fibers is not adding to the problem of microplastics ending up in the environment and inside smaller animals that might accidentally eat them thinking they are food. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Practice Sustainable FashionHow can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:25 AMThankfully, I learned how to sew from my mother, so I am able to repair items as they wear out as well as make new items as time allows. I also don't tend to like the current "fashions", so I like the increased variety of styles to choose from at the area thrift stores.