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Amber Acord's avatar

Amber Acord

Akron Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,230 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    9.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    12
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    65
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    28
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    32
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Amber's actions

Family + Pets

Sustainable Suds: Pet Edition

I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar or refillable shampoo option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

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

COMPLETED
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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
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.

COMPLETED
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

Eco Detergent

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

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 24
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Go Strawless

I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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 4
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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Travel Eating
    Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/30/2023 7:13 AM
    It was more difficult for me, usually I do travel with some jerky and puffy Cheetos.

  • Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/30/2023 7:11 AM
    I can't believe July is practically over! Seems we just started the Plastic Free Ecochallenge!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Complete a Waste Audit
    What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/27/2023 11:15 AM
    I did a waste audit on my own home, and I learned that I have successfully taught the menfolk in my home about recycling. We produce at least 50% more recycling than we do landfill. This year we will be looking into composting.

  • Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/18/2023 1:18 PM
    More than half way through July! I like the sustainable shampoos that I've discovered recently, my favorite being from Mae Bee! I'll keep it going!

    Does anyone have any experience with sustainable dog shampoo?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/18/2023 1:15 PM
    If we are not producing artificial products we are not polluting the air more with their process and creating bad byproducts. Plus natural fiber feels better. It also helps eliminate the microplastics
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Sustainable Suds
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/18/2023 1:14 PM
    Economic is that the bar shampoo that I have switched to lasts me 2-3 months, where a bottle would last a month. I like the bar shampoo so much better, the bottle shampoo always made my hair feel a little greasy
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Fill a Water Bottle
    Using the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed by this bottling process?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/18/2023 1:13 PM
    Personally I can talk to the people I know and share stories on my media feeds. And if these issues ever make it to the ballet I can vote for the support of protecting water sources
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Go Strawless
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/18/2023 1:11 PM
    I haven't seen as much as when it first started to happen. There are still large corporations that supply straws like restaurants.

  • Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/06/2023 1:36 PM
    Almost broke and got a water bottle today because it would have been ice cold but I broke my diet rules and got a sprite instead to put the can in the corridor collection.
  • 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?

    Amber Acord's avatar
    Amber Acord 7/05/2023 2:40 AM
    Bamboo breaks down a lot faster than regular toothbrushes. I turned some friends over to bamboo brushes by getting them brushes as a gift and guilting them into using them.