C O'Donnell

I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.

When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

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

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

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

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

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

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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

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

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

I will spend 10 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 5 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 10 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will spend 10 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

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

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

I will replace 10 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

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

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

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 10 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

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

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 10 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

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.

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

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.

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

I will donate 5 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.

I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.