Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023

July 1 - July 31, 2023

Jesus Ortiz

L.A. Zoo - Team Angeleno Plastic Eliminators (Team APE)

"To meet my survival needs without jeopardizing future generations ability to meet theirs"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
2,256 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

215

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

74

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

53

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted

Jesus's actions

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Family + Pets

Discover Together

I will spend 15 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Natural Paints

I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

All Natural Pet Toys

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

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

Bathroom

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Sustainable Suds

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Eco Deodorant

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

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.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Follow the Chasing Arrows

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.

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 10 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

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 3 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

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

Bedroom

Eco Detergent

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 10 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

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

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

Bathroom

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Choose Reusable Food Storage

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

COMPLETED 7
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

Travel Eating

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Swap the Snacks

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

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

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 23
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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Study Complete a Waste Audit

What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

Jesus Ortiz 7/31/2023 5:02 PM

Plastic has become unavoidable. We see it at home, we see it at work, and we see it in our cars. Unfortunately, we also see it in our streets, in our rivers, in our oceans....and while we may not see it, it is also in our air, in our food, and in our water! It may have its purpose, but it has now created serious problems for all. We need to at least reduce its use and dispose of it appropriately. I will start by reducing my use of plastic bags, and will try to eliminate plastic cutlery in its entirety.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen Travel Eating

Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

Jesus Ortiz 7/31/2023 7:57 AM

It can be hard to eat healthy when traveling, particularly when driving. What do we usually see on the side of the road? McDonald's, Jack in the Box, Burger King, etc. Not to mention the convenience foods at gas stations. But taking my own food gave me the opportunity to choose ahead of time what I was going to eat while on the road.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets Discover Together

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Jesus Ortiz 7/31/2023 7:33 AM

There are just too many to list, but here are a few:

1. Pollution
2. Global warming
3. Overuse of natural resources
4. Deforestation
5. Ozone layer depletion

How can we alleviate some of these issues? Locally, we can start by using only what we need and try to use the items we buy for as long as possible. Then, dispose of items no longer usable in the most appropriate manner. In a global scale, any action is more complex but still attainable if governments and multinational companies start acting more responsible and implement policies geared towards protecting the environment. We are all in this together. At the end of the day, no one will be exempt from suffering the repercussions of a highly polluted earth.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets Natural Paints

How do environmental health, community health, and your family's health intersect?

Jesus Ortiz 7/31/2023 7:13 AM

Environmental health, community health, and family's health are all interrelated. For instance, if we live in a City with high air pollution, it is hard to go outside and exercise. This in turn translates into communities and families with higher indexes of obesity, respiratory problems, and even mental issues. The same can be said about polluted soil and water, which also result in a higher risk of developing all other kinds diseases.

Read More
Jesus Ortiz 7/29/2023 7:56 AM

Getting a headstart on picking up some plastic trash. Good variety....straws, candy wrappers, plastic bags, styrofoam cups...etc.

Read More
Jesus Ortiz 7/28/2023 3:18 PM

Do office trash cans really need to have a plastic bag? Technically, no! But let's say one is needed just in case. If we were to dispose of liquids, food, and any other decomposing material in a centralized location, then there would be no need to change it as often, if at all.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Study Follow the Chasing Arrows

Recycling right requires both systemic change and personal and community awareness. How can you expand what you've learned about the chasing arrows symbol to encourage broader changes in your community?

Jesus Ortiz 7/28/2023 2:54 PM

It is great that many Cities have expanded their recycling efforts and many people have become even more aware of the importance of recycling. However, in recent years there have been stories about how recycling may be more harmful, and that a large amount of the recyclable material ends up in landfills anyway. I am sure this has discouraged a few, but it is important to reiterate that we must continue to recycle as much as possible if we want to preserve a livable environment. Better yet, we must reduce the use of single-use items, particularly those involving plastic!

Read More
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?

Jesus Ortiz 7/28/2023 2:21 PM

The majority of food packaging these days involves plastic, and generally speaking, none of it can be recycled. Therefore, it all ends up in landfills, streets, rivers, ocean, etc. polluting our environment in every possible way. Additionally, I suspect many people heat up food in microwaves without removing the packaging, releasing even more toxins into the food. Some manufacturers claim some wrappings/containers are microwavable. Are they really? Packaged food is not very healthy to begin with, and it has been said that using microwaves ovens is not healthy, either. Do we really need to add plastic as a condiment?

Read More
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?

Jesus Ortiz 7/26/2023 7:30 AM

We as a society have been forced into a use and dispose culture, and plastics have probably played the biggest role due to its perceived 'low' cost. Of course plastics are cheap and very convenient, but the real cost comes in the form of the environmental impact we all have to pay for using such products. Generally speaking, we have adopted the mentality of 'let's make money (those with the means of production), feel good now (the rest of us)' and we will worry about any problems later (or worse, let someone else worry about the problems later). Do we really need to use plastic utensils, straws, or styrofoam plates and cups? I have a feeling these items alone make up a big portion of our trash. Perhaps we can start by eliminating these, especially at home. We can use ceramic, metal, or even multi-use plastic versions. If washing them is an inconvenience, rest assured it is a much smaller price to pay!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen Choose Reusable Food Storage

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

Jesus Ortiz 7/25/2023 4:37 PM

Don't buy them! And if you do have to buy them, try to repurpose them. And lastly, recycle them.

Read More