Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

July 1 - July 31, 2020

Toni Cerbo

"To inspire positive change and reduce harm to the environment through raising awareness about plastic pollution and sustainable alternatives. Every small act to help the environment counts! "

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
1,307 Total

Participant Impact

up to

1

documentaries

watched
up to

200

minutes

spent learning
up to

109

pieces of litter

picked up
up to

70

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
up to

1

waste audits

conducted
up to

16

zero-waste meals

consumed

Toni's Actions

Food

Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

I will prepare 1 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make 1 of my own cleaning products at home.

Completed
One-Time Action

Community

Learn about Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 20 minutes learning about how plastic pollution affects members of my own community and how organizations in my community are working for change.

Completed
One-Time Action

Lifestyle

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

Family

Learn about Environmental Injustice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 20 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

Completed
One-Time Action

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 5 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

Completed
One-Time Action

Lifestyle

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

Completed
One-Time Action

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Estimate My Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

I will visit rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

Completed
One-Time Action

Personal Care

Fresh as a Daisy

I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.

Completed
One-Time Action

Personal Care

Just Say No

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Share My Actions

I will post to my social media networks about how reducing our plastic use is important for both environmental justice and conservation.

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.

Completed
One-Time Action

Feed

Toni Cerbo 7/31/2020 7:54 AM

As the ecochallenge comes to an end, I wanted to share that it has been great researching and learning about plastic pollution and how to reduce my plastic (and carbon) footprint. Thank you for the experience and I look forward to continuing to strive towards a minimal plastic and waste life.

Read More
Toni Cerbo 7/26/2020 6:36 AM

We’ve been learning more about environmental justice this past week. Reading articles and watching documentaries. We believe that everyone deserves to have a clean, safe and healthy environment. And hope that we can clean up our acts (pun intended) before we cannot fix the damages we are doing to this planet.

When we realized how much the environment was affecting our own health we made the choice to move out of urban and suburban areas to more rural areas. It’s been a life change for the better. More green spaces and more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. My outdoor allergies are virtually non existent since the move. No more suffering from hay fever, sneezing uncontrollably during pollen season....there’s something to be said for clean, simple living...and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to give up the convenience of everything within close proximity to enjoy better health, stronger family/friend bonds, and being able to actually see the stars are night without all that light pollution 😀

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Reflection Question
Food Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste 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?

Toni Cerbo 7/23/2020 1:29 PM

We’ve been gradually switching out all our plastic containers (single and multiple use) and replacing with glass. Although the covers are plastic, it doesn’t come Into contact with the food which is great. We all have glass or stainless steel drink bottles. The biggest problem I see is that most food items are packaged in plastics. It’s summertime, so we are able to purchase more fresh produce, meats and dairy at local farmers markets but not sure how to continue this progress when the snow arrives. We’re taking this July experience very serious and are constantly research alternatives.

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Toni Cerbo 7/22/2020 8:35 AM

Since I have begun repurposing some of our food waste, my garden has more blooms. Not sure if it is directly connected but I like to think it is. 😀

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Reflection Question
Lifestyle Buy Only What I Need

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?

Toni Cerbo 7/17/2020 2:53 PM

I’ve looked into reusable glass bottles and jars as well as refillable products that come in non-plastic packaging. I’ve converted to refillable hand soaps in glass bottles as well as plastic free beauty products. I’ve learned a great deal and will continue researching items that make sense for my family and move us closer to living as plastic free as possible.

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Reflection Question
Lifestyle Homemade Cleaners

What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

Toni Cerbo 7/15/2020 12:12 PM

I ordered my glass spray bottle (although the spray nozzle is plastic) and followed the 3 ingredient cleaner blog to make a vanilla, bergamot everyday cleaner. I’m sure I’ll still need some heavy duty cleaners but will continue to research and explore plastic free options.

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Reflection Question
Personal Care Fresh as a Daisy

Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

Toni Cerbo 7/13/2020 9:11 AM

Thanks to Sam Peterson of the SAN ANTONIO ZOO CREW for recommending Meow Meow Tweet brand. I just received my new aluminum free and plastic free deodorant and am excited to make the switch.

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- Sam Peterson 7/13/2020 2:53 PM
  
  You're welcome! Hope it works as well for you as it does for me! High five!
  
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Toni Cerbo 7/11/2020 8:07 AM

I just made some crunchy, Indian spiced chickpeas for the family to enjoy as a snack throughout the week. Zero waste and plastic free snack that is super healthy and a great alternative to chips.

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Toni Cerbo 7/08/2020 1:38 PM

Being somewhat new to plastic free lifestyle (I’ve used reusable glass drinking bottles, glass food containers, and grocery bags for years), I am learning that you REALLY have to do your research. One of my actions is to switch deodorants to one in a glass jar or make it myself. Well to be honest, I cannot and probably will never make my own, but I do want to change to a sustainable deodorant cream. In my haste, I purchased a product that I thought came in a glass jar. When I received it, it was in a plastic jar. So, I have yet to begin this action as I am in the process of doing more research and purchasing a glass jar of deodorant cream. Any suggestions?

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- Sam Peterson 7/08/2020 3:35 PM
  
  The Meow Meow Tweet brand makes aluminum-free deodorant sticks in cardboard tubes that can be composted. They're sold at Target as well as online. I've been using since last year and find them more convenient than jars of cream.
  https://meowmeowtweet.com/products/deodorant-stick?variant=21773063300
  
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Toni Cerbo 7/08/2020 9:40 AM

Just finished watching this great documentary on plastics from The Story of Stuff Project. So many problems with plastic pollution and true solutions are needed.

https://www.storyofplastic.org/watch

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