Ashley Oki
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,165 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO54plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
Ashley's 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.
Kitchen
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.
Kitchen
Skip Plastic Bags
Whenever possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags. I will either use my own reusable bags, or keep my items loose.
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.
Kitchen
Better Gum
Ever wonder how gum can stay chewy for so long without ever breaking down? Yep - it's plastic! This month, I will give up gum or choose gum made from chicle or other plastic-free gum bases.
Kitchen
Is it trash...or a trash bag?
The plastic industry has convinced us that some plastic bags are "trash bags," while others are just "trash." Instead of throwing empty bags away (such as bread bags, pet food bags, etc.), I will reuse them as trash bags.
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.
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!
Bathroom
Say No to "Flushable Wipes"
Even when advertised as "flushable" these wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but instead combine with fat to create massive clogs. This month, I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.
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.
Kitchen
Save Jars for Reuse
Pinterest may want you to think that you need a cupboard full of matching mason jars, but reusing what we already have is one of the best ways to reduce our waste. This month, instead of recycling glass jars (such as pasta sauce, pickles, and salsa jars), I will save them to reuse for food storage.
Bathroom
See the Green
An estimated 50,000lbs (23,000kg) of contact lenses end up in sewage sludge in the US each year. This month, I will learn how to recycle used contact lenses and packaging or switch to wearing glasses instead.
Bedroom
Multiple Wears Before Washing
The simple, necessary, daily act of washing our clothes slowly degrades the quality of our clothes due to the friction involved in the process. To extend the life of my clothes, whenever possible, I will wear items multiple times before washing.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Rethink ReturnsHow has learning what happens to returns influenced how you make purchasing decisions?
Ashley Oki 7/31/2024 4:01 PMIt has definitely influenced my decisions when ordering things. It makes me less likely to impulsively purchase things because I like them, or to take things to try them on at home instead of in the store. I am able to be more conscious of the impact my purchases have on both the environment and the people responsible for handling these items. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom See the GreenTake a moment to estimate how many disposable daily contacts you may have used over the years. What would be your impact now of switching to a contact brand with a longer lifespan?
Ashley Oki 7/31/2024 4:00 PMI have used hundreds of contacts over the years. If I switched to a contact brand with a longer lifespan, I would go from using 24 contacts a year to having 2 for multiple years, reducing the packaging and waste created from my monthly lenses. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Save Jars for ReuseWhat's the most creative way you've reused a jar in your home?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:30 PMI use jars for propagating plants, storing rocks and other collectibles, pencil holders, and storage for things like my dog’s toothpaste, homemade lemon juice for cooking, dried herbs, soup broth for my lunch, etc. If I happen to open an item that comes in a single-use plastic bag but needs storing, I will also use the jars for those.-
Jaden Brodie 7/23/2024 9:18 AMLots of good ideas to take away here! -
Jordyn Lewis 7/20/2024 5:36 PMI love using any and every jar for propagation, my house is filled with them!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Use What You HaveBesides 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"?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:27 PMIt allows us to think about necessities and be creative with what we have. It encourages to purchase things that are quality instead of single use; things that can be used to their full potential instead of being an impulsive purchase that will sit around the house. It allows for less clutter and appreciation for what we do have. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Is it trash...or a trash bag?It's only "single-use" if it's only used once! What are some other creative ways to reuse unavoidable "single-use" items?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:26 PMArts and crafts, using cardboard and scrap paper for enrichment for pets, reusing plastic saucers from takeout for lunch containers or to giveaway food/baked goods, using plastic lids and containers for potted plants, etc.-
jade hilliard 7/31/2024 5:19 PMSeconding the pet enrichment! We reuse a lot of items like this in the zoo world. -
Kerry Keck 7/21/2024 8:57 AMI also reuse plastic cups for propagating native plants (after drilling holes in the bottom for drainage). Plastic containers can also be used to organize office supplies (pens, permanent markers, rubber bands). If desired, you can decorate the office containers to make your work spaces more enriching.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Skip Plastic BagsIt can be easy to forget to bring your reusable bags to the store with you - especially if you're going somewhere besides the grocery store. What are your favorite ways to remember your reusable bags?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:23 PMMy favorite ways to remember are to keep reusable bags in my purse and in the car. Because they are always there, I can almost always ensure I have a bag at the ready for all my groceries, takeout, and other needs. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Better GumWhy do you chew gum? What habits could replace and meet your reasons for chewing gum?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:22 PMSome reasons for chewing gum are boredom, breath freshening, and jaw strengthening. Some alternatives include fidget toys, breath mints, and/or chewing mint leaves.-
Kerry Keck 7/21/2024 9:00 AMThe only time I chew gum is when flying: I am prone to my ears not “popping” (adjusting to the decreasing altitude). It is a very painful experience and deadens one’s hearing for 1-2 days. I now empathize with screaming youngsters on airplanes coming in for landing - they are hurting! -
Jordyn Lewis 7/20/2024 6:05 PMI used to be addicted to gum as a kid, now i dont even think about it and the last time i had a piece years ago it hurt my jaw!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Get ScrappyHow difficult was this action for you? Is this something you'll be continuing after this challenge ends?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:20 PMThis challenge is difficult because it requires me to plan ahead not only what I will eat, but how I can make the most of a single item. I will definitely be considering the type of food I consume going forward (including fresh vs preserved, Whole Foods vs pieces, etc.). -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Embrace ImperfectionHow has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:18 PMEmbracing imperfection is an ongoing struggle, both with this challenge and day to day life. It is important for us to realize that imperfection is unattainable, so instead our goal should be to always improve. Improvements for one person may look different than for another, but success is relative. We are all at different stages of our journeys, so it is important to respect people where they are at, even if it is different from where we ourselves are. In the same vein, it is important to respect ourselves and give ourselves grace for where we are at compared to those who may appear to be further along in their paths. The important thing is to do the best we can with what we have and where we’re at, no matter how small or large that impact may seem, and to trust that others will do the same. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Say No to "Flushable Wipes"Even though they are marketed as "flushable," disposable wipes do not disintegrate in water or the sewer system, and actually release microplastics into our waterways. How does it feel to learn this information? What do you want to do about it?
Ashley Oki 7/20/2024 5:14 PMIt makes me frustrated because the marketing is deceptive and makes it difficult for consumers to make responsible choices if their time is limited. I would like to raise awareness and talk to my friends and family about how important it is to ensure that even if an item is mark sustainable, it is still worth investigating to ensure it is, not just automatically trusting a manufacturers claim.