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Lizzy Simpson's avatar

Lizzy Simpson

Reid Park Zoo

"My goal this year is to bring this challenge to my students and families so I need all the ideas!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 2,420 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    8.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    67
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    909
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    121
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    109
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    160
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    63
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Lizzy's actions

Kitchen

Go Strawless

I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 30 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.

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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

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

Bathroom

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

A Sustainable Flow

I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.

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

Bathroom

Sustainable Suds

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Host a Watch Party

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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 30
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

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

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

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

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

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

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Brush with Bamboo

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 4 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 30
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 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Clean Plate Club

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

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

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

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

COMPLETED 28
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?


  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/31/2023 1:38 AM
    Go team! Great work this month

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/29/2023 7:40 PM
    We just got home today and found the rest of the complex with 13 more trees down and many buildings with damage. If it wasn’t clear about climate change, I think this is a great example. Extra reminder that every little thing we can do can help

    • Susan Rubin's avatar
      Susan Rubin 7/30/2023 6:17 AM
      My brother hiked phone line trail in Sabino Canyon after the micro burst. Very sad that many of the Saguaro were down.

    • Connie Peterson's avatar
      Connie Peterson 7/29/2023 8:28 PM
      We ran some errands today driving north on Kolb Road... from Davis Monthon base to as far as we went on Broadway was absolute devastation from a huge microburst. Unbelievable... found a video on you tube of the microburst... wow it covered a huge area... they were using huge boom cranes trying to lift these monstrous trees off apartment complex land, parking lots... trees on homes, cars etc. Be safe team!

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/28/2023 7:39 PM
    Anyone have good Halloween decorating that is eco friendly? I want to decorate my class this year with repurposed things. Was thinking of plastic bottles turning into ghosts

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/27/2023 3:38 PM
    I was feeling so accomplished but then a tree fell on my house last night and the boyfriend and the 5 cats and gecko and I are all displaced at the moment. Gecko is with one friend and the rest of us are with another so I’m feeling like there will be back peddling on the progress since we don’t have our reusable things or food right now. At least the rain is helping the rest of the plants

    • Connie Peterson's avatar
      Connie Peterson 7/28/2023 7:35 AM
      Oh no Lizzy! I am so sorry this happened to you and your family. Glad you are all safe and hoping your home is repaired quickly. Blessings

    • Susan Rubin's avatar
      Susan Rubin 7/27/2023 4:05 PM
      Sorry this happened. Is there anything I can possibly help you with?

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/27/2023 3:38 PM
    I was feeling so accomplished but then a tree fell on my house last night and the boyfriend and the 5 cats and gecko and I are all displaced at the moment. Gecko is with one friend and the rest of us are with another so I’m feeling like there will be back peddling on the progress since we don’t have our reusable things or food right now. At least the rain is helping the rest of the plants

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/26/2023 8:43 AM
    Just picked up a bunch of reusable water bottles for my students this year. They are on my class supply list but kids always forget them or can’t afford them so I’m happy to have a small collection for them to use.

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/24/2023 9:14 PM
    Went out to lunch and remembers my reusable Tupperware for my leftovers. :)

    • Connie Peterson's avatar
      Connie Peterson 7/26/2023 2:29 PM
      Good girl! I thought that team members post was the BEST idea that I have seen on this site!! I actually set up a soft sided lunch box with our reuseable containers too. Put right by our back door. Wish me luck remembering to grab it Saturday when we go for Indian Twist lunch

  • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/23/2023 12:19 PM
    I want ideas for gift rapping to save for December holidays. What do you guys do to help the planet when wrapping gifts?

    • Susan Rubin's avatar
      Susan Rubin 7/26/2023 3:45 PM
      I save gift bags and tissue paper and reuse many times. I also, give gifts in recycle bags as an extra gift.

    • Lizzy Simpson's avatar
      Lizzy Simpson 7/24/2023 9:18 PM
      We always reuse gift bags and I’m slowly getting through the wrapping paper my mom has collected but I love these ideas! Excited to look into furoshiki wraps :)

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 7/23/2023 5:27 PM
      Reusable gift bags, furoshiki wraps, a festive tea towel, newspaper with some evergreen sprigs and natural twine, reused Kraft paper with some festive stamps - there are so many ways to wrap gifts zero waste! I love finding creative ways to wrap gifts, but I gotta say furoshiki are my favorite. There are basically unlimited ways to wrap things with them and they're so pretty to look at 😍

    • Connie Peterson's avatar
      Connie Peterson 7/23/2023 1:58 PM
      My husband's family has, for many decades always wrapped family gifts in newspaper! My daughter in law tells our grandkids "Santa doesn't have time to wrap the worlds presents" the wrapped presents are the one special gift from the parents, grandparents.... nothing from Santa is wrapped 😀 I love the page of desert themed wrap in the newspaper here, I always us it for small gifts but we dumped the paper with the price increases... i'll miss that...
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Use a Reusable Mug
    Since the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?

    Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/23/2023 12:19 PM
    We have a coffee maker at work and I use it to make hot coco but using my own mug and donating extra mugs to co workers has really be great and has given me more room at my house since teachers have so many mugs
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Try a New Recipe
    How do you feel about being more involved in the food preparation process? Joyful, overwhelmed, engaged, empowered? What are the benefits of choosing to process or produce your own food instead of buying it pre-processed?

    Lizzy Simpson's avatar
    Lizzy Simpson 7/23/2023 12:17 PM
    We usually do Blue Apron meals but looking for recipes every day has become something super fun to work on and I’m finding recipes for my coworker who has a daughter that is gluten and dairy free

    • Connie Peterson's avatar
      Connie Peterson 7/23/2023 2:32 PM
      My friend across the street is the sourdough bread queen. She's been home in Alaska all month. I am going to add this task to my commitment.... I want to learn her soughdough methods.... so many amazing add in's.... its different every loaf!