Barbara Pilert
"Together we can change the world. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 705 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO11pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO31plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO7.0plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO8.0conversationswith people
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UP TO910minutesspent outdoors
Barbara's actions
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 90 minutes outside in nature, and share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the Participant Feed.
Kitchen
Fill a Water Bottle
Bottled water corporations make plastic bottles, not water. If the tap water in my area is safe for consumption, I will use a reusable bottle instead and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottles a day.
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.
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
Choose Unpackaged Produce
I will purchase unpackaged produce at the grocery store or at the farmer's market.
Bathroom
Homemade or Refillable Cleaners
Surface cleaners, glass cleaners, floor cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners...there's a whole lot of plastic waste involved in cleaning our homes - plus ingredients that can be harmful to aquatic ecosystems and our health. This month, I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.
Bathroom
no more plastic Laundry detergent bottles
Start using laundry sheets. Packaged in recycled paper, and uses less water, takes up less space, and the brand I use (Earth Breeze) donates laundry sheets to homeless shelters. :laundry detergent buttes have a lot of plastic in them, most wind up in landfills. Laundry sheets are easy to use.
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.
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.
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.
Community
Keep My Community Clean
In addition to refusing and reducing my consumption of single-use plastics, I will pick up 2 piece(s) of litter each day of the Plastic Free Ecochallenge.
Bathroom
Green Beauty
Globally, packaging manufacturers make about $25 billion each year on plastic beauty and personal care packaging. That's a whole lot of plastic - nearly all of which ends up in landfills. When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.
Bathroom
Eco Deodorant
Conventional deodorant tubes are typically made from plastics #4 and #5, which are rarely accepted for recycling - especially together. When it's time to replace my current deodorant, I will replace it with a plastic-free option.
Bathroom
A Greener Shower
Most conventional shower curtain liners are made from polyvinyl chloride (or PVC), which contains chlorine, phthalates, and plasticizers, and typically need replaced often. When it's time to replace my shower curtain liner, I will replace it with a plastic-free option and research the best ways to care for it.
Bathroom
That Was a Close Shave
Who says we need 5 blades and a ribbon of shaving cream on every $5 razor blade cartridge, when a single blade causes less irritation and costs 92% less? This month, I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.
Bathroom
Travel Toiletries
Travel-size toiletries aren't just more expensive per ounce, they also have a higher plastic-to-contents ratio, and result in over 980 tonnes (2.2 million pounds) of plastic waste each year. If traveling this month, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.
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 QUESTIONBathroom Eco DeodorantDo 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?
Barbara Pilert 7/31/2024 12:21 PMI stopped using deodorant many years ago. As long as you bathe regularly, people smell good. -
Barbara Pilert 7/31/2024 12:16 PMI feel very connected to my community. I never want to see my neighborhood filled with trash on sidewalks, lawns and streets, like so manly neighborhoods in the city. -
Barbara Pilert 7/31/2024 12:14 PMI don't. walk as far or as long in this dreadful heat, but I get out every day. I tend to forget that the folks at the zoo are all conservation minded. Most of the rest of the world go with whatever is convenient for them without exerting effort. It is so difficult for people to change their habits, when they don't see a change based on what they are doing. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Choose Unpackaged ProduceWhy do you think these produce products started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?
Barbara Pilert 7/29/2024 1:48 PMI really dislike produce packaged in plastic. I think that grocery stores do it to try to sell more of a product. I either leave it loose, or I have a mesh bag that holds a small amount of produce. -
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Share My ActionsHave you noticed a difference in how your community, friends, and family members use plastics since you've shared your own actions?
Barbara Pilert 7/27/2024 10:56 AMSadly, I have not made a significant difference with my friends and family. I am trying to convince my church to switch from plastic plates and cutlery to paper and bamboo. Also the church does not recycle. The rector has said that he will look into it. After our last potluck supper I took home and recycled all of the glass bottles and aluminum cans.-
Christine Kitch 7/27/2024 11:59 AMI told my daycare I’d meet them halfway! I’d source a recycling bin for them and arrange pickup. Sometimes the organizational tasks seem insurmountable
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Barbara Pilert 7/27/2024 10:47 AMHard to remember to sign in and post, but I am glad I can do it retrospectively. -
Barbara Pilert 7/08/2024 2:50 PMdoes anyone have a recipe for dish soap? I looked at all those plastic bottles in the grocery store, and though this is wrong. Why can't they put them in waxed paper cartons, like milk and juice?-
Juli Dennis 7/08/2024 3:26 PMWhat I did for selfish reasons is I bought a big bottle at warehouse club and just refill my sink side bottle from big bottle. It's not perfect but it does cut down on amount of plastic i'm using and since I don't have curb side recycling it helps with clutter until I can take empties to recycle place. -
Jaime Webster 7/08/2024 3:15 PMPersonally, I take a glass jar to MOM's with me, then when I arrive I have the cashiers weigh the glass, and they write the tare on the lid. I fill that bottle from their bulk dishwashing liquid (they also have laundry and other liquids like cooking oils), and they weigh the bottle at checkout and minus the glass tare. I find this concentrated bulk liquid lasts me a long time, as I dilute it in my dish brush. -
Krystina Jarvis 7/08/2024 3:00 PMHi Barbara! There are a couple of DIY guides under the "Learn More" buttons on the "Clean Plate Club" action!
And, interestingly, beverage cartons are typically much harder to properly recycle than plastic bottles, even though on the surface they seem like they'd be a much better option :/ If you want to learn more about it, check out the action "Fill a Water Bottle" in the Kitchen category and read the article "Is Boxed Water really better?" in the Learn More links!
Hope that helps! 💙
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Barbara Pilert 7/08/2024 2:48 PMI use my water bottle daily. I stay hydrated in this awful heat, and keep plastic bottles out of landfills.-
Juli Dennis 7/08/2024 3:27 PMI actually find my reusable water bottle helps me drink more and keeps my drink colder longer
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Homemade or Refillable CleanersWhat did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?
Barbara Pilert 7/06/2024 6:31 AMIt is so much cheaper to use vinegar and baking soda than buying commercial products.-
Robyn Jones 7/06/2024 9:16 AMPlus it's safer to use while you're cleaning. For example, I can't clean too long with chemical products because I'll get lightheaded (even with windows open and air circulation).
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