Marissa Ratzenberger
7/31/2024 4:25 PM
I have a compost bin, but I’m not always great to committing to collecting food scraps. I will continue to challenge myself to consistently commit to this action!
July 1 - July 31, 2024
Marissa Ratzenberger
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,430 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO22plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO11public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO1.0conversationwith a person
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UP TO30minutesspent learning
Marissa's actions
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
Brush with Bamboo
In the US, about 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away each year. And because plastic is designed to last, nearly every plastic toothbrush ever created still exists. When it's time to replace my current toothbrush, I will replace it with a plastic-free bamboo option.
Bedroom
Proper Clothing Care
All those symbols on our clothes, sheets, and towels actually have meanings! To ensure that I'm caring for my clothes properly, I will spend 30 minutes learning what the care symbols mean and laundry best practices to make all of my textiles last as long as possible.
Bedroom
Eco Detergent
Ditch the plastic jugs, artificial dyes, and harmful ingredients! When it's time to replace my current laundry detergent, I will switch to a natural laundry detergent that is packaged in glass or aluminum, or an alternative like soap nuts.
Kitchen
Switch to Loose Leaf Tea
Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.
Community
Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions
I will write or sign 1 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.
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.
Bedroom
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.
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.
Bedroom
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
Clean Plate Club
When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.
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.
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 QUESTIONKitchen Get ScrappyHow difficult was this action for you? Is this something you'll be continuing after this challenge ends?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Mend and RepairTime to brag! Show us a photo of what you repaired and tell us about the experience!
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/31/2024 4:21 PMJust small adjustments to a few everyday items make a difference! I’m excited to keep finding ways to mend and re-size clothing. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Clean Plate ClubHow easy was this swap for you? Did you have any concerns before making it?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/31/2024 4:20 PMThis is another swap that I’ve been wanting to make for a while. The only concern I had was the quality of bar dish soap and how well it would clean my dishes, but I’m excited to give it a try! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Embrace ImperfectionHow has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/22/2024 8:23 PMSometimes the plastic-free option isn’t the best option, especially when trying to use things you already have before purchasing something new as a sustainable item. It’s often hard to accept this but nobody’s perfect! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Eco DetergentWas this an easy or difficult swap for you to make? Did you have any concerns before making the swap?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/20/2024 12:59 PMI have been wanting to make this switch, so I was excited to check this off. I look forward to finding the best plastic-free detergent option for my washer/clothing! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Brush with BambooWhat are the benefits of switching to bamboo toothbrushes? How would you implore others in your community to make this switch as well?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/20/2024 12:58 PMLess plastic! If properly disposing of bamboo toothbrushes, they are a great alternative to sending plastic brushes to the landfill. I am excited to make the switch and compost them! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Give Some Green GratitudeThere 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?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/20/2024 12:51 PMSocial media can be a great place for environmental advocacy! Especially when it comes to environmental topics, factual content is key. Social media allows information to reach a variety of audiences, especially when sharing amongst peers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Proper Clothing CareFast fashion depends on consumers buying into constantly changing trends, only wearing their clothes a handful of times, then tossing and buying more. How can you combat those influences to create a more sustainable wardrobe you'll love, value, and care for long-term?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/17/2024 7:50 PMI was not aware of the meaning of the laundry symbols. It was very interesting to learn about how they educate care practices, as well as learn tips for increasing the longevity of my clothes. I have to admit, I do not always give the proper care to my clothing while doing laundry, but I definitely will going forward! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Switch to Loose Leaf TeaTake time to reflect or meditate over your plastic-free cup of tea. Share your thoughts and reflections with us here!
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/17/2024 7:34 PMThis year’s EcoChallenge has brought a whole new lineup of actions that are teaching me so much! It’s been really interesting to explore the “learn more” resources. I’m excited to continue challenging myself! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Write Letters, Emails or Sign PetitionsHow might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?
Marissa Ratzenberger 7/12/2024 9:04 AMCreativity is the backbone of innovation and change! By thinking outside the box to find solutions to environmental issues, we can make further positive impacts. Not only is creativity important for this, but also the uplifting of voices from communities that are impacted by pollution of all kinds, not just plastic.