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Marianne Barrier's avatar

Marianne Barrier

NCMNS-Ecochallenge

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,675 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    240
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    27
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    114
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    52
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    48
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Sunshine Bleached

I will hang-dry my laundry to use the sun as a natural bleach alternative, or use another natural bleach alternative.

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.

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

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate for Office Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

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

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

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and containers in my family's lunches to reduce plastic waste.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

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?


  • Marianne Barrier's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 8/01/2023 11:55 AM
    Thanks 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 QUESTION
    Kitchen Cook a Plastic Free Meal
    Do 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's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 10:09 AM
    I 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 QUESTION
    Study Numbers Everywhere
    Were you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?

    Marianne Barrier's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 8:20 AM
    I 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 QUESTION
    Study Estimate Your Ecological Footprint
    What 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's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 8:18 AM
    I 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 QUESTION
    Bathroom Pearly Whites
    Currently 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's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:45 AM
    I 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's avatar
      Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 10:36 AM
      Thanks Krystina! I've just bought some cinnamon Unpaste to try. :)

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 7/31/2023 9:06 AM
      Unpaste has cinnamon options with and without fluoride! And Davids has a strawberry and watermelon option too!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Homemade or Refillable Cleaners
    What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

    Marianne Barrier's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:40 AM
    It 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's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:38 AM
    When 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's avatar
      Nancy Locquet Absillis 7/31/2023 6:35 PM
      Thanks 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.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Ditch Dryer Sheets
    Often, 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's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:29 AM
    As 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 QUESTION
    Bedroom Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Marianne Barrier's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:26 AM
    Of 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 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?

    Marianne Barrier's avatar
    Marianne Barrier 7/31/2023 7:25 AM
    Thankfully, 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.