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Jennifer Klotz's avatar

Jennifer Klotz

Brandywine Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 2,060 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    15
    food items
    properly stored
  • UP TO
    9.0
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • UP TO
    783
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    10
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    1,370
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    175
    minutes
    spent learning

Jennifer's actions

Kitchen

Use What You Have

The only thing worse than a single-use item is a zero-use item! I will use (and use up) what I already have in my home before buying something new.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

In addition to refusing and reducing my consumption of single-use plastics, I will pick up 20 piece(s) of litter each day of the Plastic Free Ecochallenge.

COMPLETED 13
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

Bedroom

Clean the Dryer Vent

Every time we tumble dry our laundry, our clothes' lifespans get a little shorter. The lint trap is evidence of the shedding fibers and our clothes slowly losing their quality. The less time our clothes need to be in the dryer, the longer they'll last. So this month, I will clean my dryer's interior and exterior air vents to help the dryer work more efficiently (and extend the life of the dryer!).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Give Some Green Gratitude

Don't forget to celebrate the good! This month, I will give shout-outs on social media, my office's internal communication channels, or the Participant Feed to a local company, coworker, friend, or family member for their sustainable efforts.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Take the pre-survey!

Help us make the Plastic Free Ecochallenge the best it can be! Take the challenge pre-survey (and look out for the post-survey at the end of the challenge!) so we can better understand the impact the challenge has and how we can improve in the future. Plus, you'll earn points for completing it! Thank you!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Recycle My Tech

There's value in our old electronics! This month, I will properly recycle any old laptops, tablets, cell phones, or other electronics I have lying around so the raw materials can be reused and reduce demand for virgin materials - thereby also protecting critical wildlife habitat for animals such as gorillas and forest elephants.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Dive Into Expiration Dates

Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 60 minutes learning about the difference between best by, use by, and sell by dates and how to tell if my food is actually expired.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Investigate Oil Subsidies

Our tax dollars are subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, making the cost of plastics artificially low and encouraging further plastics production. I will spend 60 minutes learning about oil subsidies and how I can advocate for their elimination.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Get Scrappy

Get creative in the kitchen (or the garden)! Before tossing food scraps, I'll explore other ways to utilize the scraps and give them another life.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Natural Corks

Natural cork is a sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable material, but many wineries are switching to synthetic corks for their wine bottles. Using a database like CORKWatch, I will choose wines with a natural cork closure, and properly compost or recycle them after enjoying my wine.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Declutter Sustainably

While it can be tempting to throw away (or drop off at Goodwill) any and everything that no longer brings us joy, there are so many options that are better for the planet! This month, I will declutter my home and properly dispose or re-home the things I no longer want.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Plastic Free TP

Most toilet paper is wrapped in plastic #4, or low-density polyethylene - a thin plastic film that cannot be recycled back into more plastic film. To avoid this plastic wrapping, I will purchase toilet paper wrapped in paper instead, or use a reusable toilet paper option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Go For a Walk

Science has shown that focused time in nature calms our over-worked frontal lobe and gives space for the areas of our brain associated with emotions, pleasure, and empathy to take over, providing a sense of calm that is measurable in brain scans and even blood tests. Each day this month, I will spend 30 minutes outside in nature, and share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the Participant Feed.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Plastic-Free Produce Storage

Produce doesn't need to be stored in plastic bags to stay fresh! I will learn how to properly store my produce to extend its freshness without single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Rethink Returns

While most stores offer lenient return policies, what actually happens to all of those returns? I will spend 30 minutes learning about what happens to returns and how I can make better purchasing decisions to avoid returns in the future.

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

Family + Pets

Mend and Repair

We've all got it - that thing in the back of our closet we keep saying we'll fix "one day." I will make today that day by learning how to mend or repair ripped or broken items in my home - or by finding a local offering to do it for me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

One of the best ways we can create change in our communities is simply by talking about it! This month, I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Study

Embrace Imperfection

Eliminating 100% of all plastic from our lives simply isn't possible. Throughout this month, I will embrace imperfection in my plastic-free journey while exploring and testing new ways to reduce my plastic footprint.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    There are many pros and cons to social media use in today's society. How can you mindfully use social media as a tool for connection and sharing your values with your community?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/31/2024 7:45 PM
    By staying positive. Giving props to businesses that are eco-friendly (and not greenwashing) will only help build their impact. Being careful to not rant or force my values on social media will keep a reader reading, thus spreading my message.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family + Pets
    Time to brag! Show us a photo of what you repaired and tell us about the experience!

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/31/2024 7:40 PM
    I had a strap fixed on a cute pair of kitten heels. I love wearing them to elevate a summer night out.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study
    How has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/31/2024 7:19 PM
    Having this Action has allowed me to feel a little better on those days I didn't meet my own expectations when it comes to PFJ. Also, just the fact it was added as an Action tells me there are a large number of people who, although they try, just can't carry the torch consistently. However, as a group, we are making HUGE impact, and ultimately know the imperfections must stay low.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    What have you noticed about your mental and/or physical health while going on daily walks? How has it affected other areas of your life?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/29/2024 3:15 PM
    Sadly, I don't think I've noticed much of a difference. I'm very affected by the bad stuff I see around me. So, taking a walk means witnessing garbage strewn about (which I pick up if I have gloves or a picker), invasive species, huge "barren wasteland" lawns, trees coming down (this is usually an auditory clue), and unsafe drivers (not an environmental thing as much as an additional worry I don't need). This all adds to my eco-anxiety, but I can't live with my head in the sand. PFJ makes me feel like I'm helping counter all that at least.

    • Christine Kitch's avatar
      Christine Kitch 7/29/2024 8:27 PM
      I hard relate. I have to exercise in areas that I know to be relatively litter-free like affluent neighborhoods or county-run parks or else I’ll be distracted by the trash. But I get a huge dopamine fix from a walk that yields a large trash pickup. I think your self awareness is healthy! The best workaround for me is mentally preparing for the worst and sometimes being pleasantly surprised.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/27/2024 5:37 PM
    Have you been living under a rock?! Haha, no not really that, but I'd be thinking it. What I think is less prominent in the communication of why we should stop using them is the EJ issue. When I teach about Cancer Alley in LA, students' mouths drop open. Many think of plastic as the thing in their hand, but the process of getting the raw materials and processing them to get to the point of making that final "thing" is so important to know.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    In the United States, 30-40% of all edible food goes to waste. What are some other ways you can reduce food waste in your home?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/26/2024 7:00 PM
    Just think before buying it for one. With warehouse club stores out there, you can get like a gallon of mayonnaise. If you aren't making a thousand deviled eggs, it probably isn't a wise buy. Also, thinking ahead for use of something that isn't going to all go in one recipe. Rotisserie chicken is a perfect example. Prep a shopping list for that 2nd dish with the leftover chicken when you're prepping for the first.

    • Jennifer Klotz's avatar
      Jennifer Klotz 7/27/2024 5:26 PM
      Oh fully agree Julie! Leftovers are a big part of our meal planning. Luckily, my husband eats them! It's just 2 of us too, so we definitely have them. But yes, this is a good point when it comes to controlling waste- simply eat leftovers. Baffling why some don't.

    • Julie Mapes's avatar
      Julie Mapes 7/26/2024 8:10 PM
      Hi Jennifer,
      Most meals supply food to feed 3-4 people. My husband and I eat for 2, leaving leftovers. He doesn’t eat leftovers, so I get to take the leftovers for my lunch daily at work. I learned a few years ago that warming up in plastic containers at work creates a toxic chemical reaction. So I bought a glass plate to reheat on. This past year I realized to purchase glass storage containers that I can reheat in and store leftovers in. I haven’t needed to buy lunch at work for a couple of years now!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How difficult was this action for you? Is this something you'll be continuing after this challenge ends?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/24/2024 6:09 PM
    This has been extremely challenging. I didn't think it would be this hard, but without a plan ahead of time, I revert back to tossing them in my counter compost bin. I will say the advice about using veggie scraps to make a broth is great- as long as you purchased organic produce. No where did I see that mentioned, but it's critical. No one wants their broth filled with pesticides and fertilizers!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Besides the economic benefits of using the things we already own, how can this practice impact our lives in other ways and influence the way we interact with "things"?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/24/2024 6:07 PM
    Thinking twice before buying something, or adding something to your wish list, could come from the heightened awareness of using what we already own. This pause may make you realize you'll only use the "thing" once or twice, so it's not really worth it. Hopefully, it also makes you look around your house, garage, attic, shed, etc. and take the "use it or lose it" approach (sustainably decluttering of course).
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study
    Did anything you learned surprise you about plastics, fossil fuels, and oil subsidies? If we eliminate oil subsidies, what are some externalities we, our communities, and our society may face as a result? What's one way you'll advocate for social justice alongside these necessary environmental protections?

    Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/23/2024 9:08 AM
    This was eye opening. The financial world is not my strength, finding it confusing. So I never really understood the connections made here. Now that I do, I'm angry about yet another layer of the plastic pollution crisis. I hope to channel it! I'd always read that virgin plastic is cheaper to make than material from recycled, but I didn't realize subsidies was the reason why. This is all just insane to me. There are very logical conclusions one can draw from impact of chemical plants, yet politicians are being swayed by shiny objects like a dog. No diss on dogs! And the majority of these companies are overseas so tax breaks can't even be spun as helping fellow Americans. It's all baffling and with our upcoming election, I fear it could tailspin if Trump wins. He has zero interest in protecting the environment, so my fear for it extends beyond plastics. I digress, and if understanding correctly, eliminating these subsidies would funnel money back into the communities and clean up the air, soil, and water on which we depend. I've read and taught teens about Cancer Alley. It's a horrible situation and I hope they get the support they need to keep Formosa out. I plan to be more alert for EJ locally, and help where I can.

  • Jennifer Klotz's avatar
    Jennifer Klotz 7/21/2024 7:16 PM
    Check out this neat kit from The Humble Co. I use it in an assortment of weekly prizes to encourage the team to keep going with the challenge. I've also given it to students in a conservation program when we talk plastics.