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Adam Moen's avatar

Adam Moen

Cleveland Clinic Sustainability

"Doing what I can where ever I can however I can"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,650 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    36
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    36
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    358
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    83
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    6.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    96
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    30
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Adam's 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 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 30 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Family + Pets

Get Rid of Glitter

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Balloons Blow

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 30 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Thoughtful Toys

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Use Cloth Diapers

I will replace single use diapers with reusable cloth diapers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Follow the Chasing Arrows

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

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 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Ditch Dryer Sheets

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Catch Those Microfibers

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Eco Detergent

I will use laundry detergent that is packaged in glass or aluminum, or an alternative like soap nuts.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

A Sustainable Flow

I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Eco Deodorant

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Sustainable Suds

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Glass Bottle Baby

I will replace 5 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Clean Plate Club

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

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

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 31
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?


  • Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/18/2023 6:07 AM
    All these air quality alerts are not great for my plants. I had a few seedlings actually die when we had that major air quality issue not too long ago. Does anyone have advice on how to protect plants during bad air quality? At this point I don't have enough space to bring them all inside.

    • Adam Moen's avatar
      Adam Moen 7/19/2023 6:47 AM
      I don't know. Maybe I'll just have to bring in the ones that I find more important lol. And then just hope for the best. I'll definitely try rinsing them off tho! Thanks.

    • Emily Katzin's avatar
      Emily Katzin 7/19/2023 6:44 AM
      Oh, wow. We have a new garden we've been working on and I don't know that I have noticed issues with the plants on air quality days, but they are older/more established plants, not seedlings. I wonder if the particulate matter could be coating the plants and making it harder for them to absorb/transport nutrients? I wonder if rinsing them off could help? Particulate matter is so small that I think it would be difficult to try and cover or shield them absent bringing them indoors.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Brush with Bamboo
    What are the benefits of switching to bamboo toothbrushes? How would you implore others in your community to make this switch as well?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/17/2023 7:05 AM
    Toothbrushes are something we need to replace several times a year. By switching to bamboo that is several toothbrushes a year that aren't plastic. I am curious though. I know you can boil plastic toothbrushes to clean them rather than buy new ones every 3 months, I wonder if you can do this with bamboo too. That would be great!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Green Beauty
    How can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/14/2023 6:57 AM
    It's a lot easier to encourage change when I have actual products I can show them for alternatives. I remember needing to take a shower at my sisters house years ago and being able to try out her refillable soaps and really liking it. Examples are a wonderful thing.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Join a Cleanup Effort
    How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/13/2023 6:11 AM
    I always remember when I used to work in the metroparks, and one man came up to me while I was picking up trash just as the park opened. He told me how happy the park made him. Just a few years prior the park belonged to the city and it wasn't taken care of. There was always more trash then trees, with very dangerous trash laying around the playground. It wasn't a place anyone wanted to be. But now it was a whole new experience. Having a clean nice environment makes people so much happier and helps encourage them to actually be outside.

  • Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/12/2023 6:30 AM
    We're staying strong in 9th place!! Let's keep it up :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family + Pets Balloons Blow
    Had you ever considered the environmental impact of balloons before? How can you share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to avoid balloons, too?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/12/2023 6:29 AM
    I worked at the MetroParks in the summertime during college, and I remember spending HOURS cleaning up tiny balloon pieces from the grass after a large group had a water balloon fight. Let along the environmental impact, those things are just plain annoying to clean up. My boss went on and on afterwards about how bad it is for the animals and environment too, which pretty much cemented my dislike of them.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family + Pets Get Rid of Glitter
    How can you and your little one exercise your creativity without creating more plastic waste?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/12/2023 6:26 AM
    There are tons of craft ideas online that help you solve this problem. I love doing them with my younger cousins.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/12/2023 6:26 AM
    I find that these last longer and are more comfortable.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Practice Sustainable Fashion
    How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

    Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/12/2023 6:25 AM
    Given how I have a nice sewing machine, I really want to be able to use that to alter the clothes that I buy or make.

  • Adam Moen's avatar
    Adam Moen 7/11/2023 9:06 AM
    Don't underestimate how much having a nice garden can help your mental health. I had a very stressful weekend with family emergencies happening left and right. But once I had a chance to sit down, my porch garden really helped me be able to relax. Being able to enjoy my plants (and eat my various types of mint) did wonders for making me feel better. Nothing beats looking at my curly grass plant-- that always brings a smile to my face.

    • Emily Katzin's avatar
      Emily Katzin 7/12/2023 10:14 AM
      I agree—it is great exercise and really rewarding to watch plants grow. We have been working on a pollinator garden in front of our house and have loved seeing hummingbirds, other birds, and insects using it. I found Monrovia's website helpful because you can filter for plants by type, growing region, size, amount of sun, deer resistance, supports birds/butterflies, and more. Despite some of our selections being supposedly "deer resistant", the local deer (and maybe rabbits?) have been taste testing a few!

    • Adam Moen's avatar
      Adam Moen 7/11/2023 9:13 AM
      I LOVE getting annuals since they'll come back the next year. Be careful of groundhogs and deer. They will eat any veggies and even flowers if they can. Thankfully, mainly plants can easily bounce back even if they get eaten. It's so nice!

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 7/11/2023 9:09 AM
      I'm moving from an apartment into a house this week and the #1 thing I'm most looking forward to is having a garden. I can't wait!