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Dana Thomason's avatar

Dana Thomason

NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 990 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    18
    whole food meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    16
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    5.0
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • UP TO
    5.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    3.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    310
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    80
    minutes
    spent learning

Dana's actions

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

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

Say No to Styrofoam

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

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.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Dive Into Expiration Dates

Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 15 minutes learning about the difference between best by, use by, and sell by dates and how to tell if my food is actually expired.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 45 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

In addition to refusing and reducing my consumption of single-use plastics, I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day of the Plastic Free Ecochallenge.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Bathroom

Plastic Free TP

Most toilet paper is wrapped in plastic #4, or low-density polyethylene - a thin plastic film that cannot be recycled back into more plastic film. To avoid this plastic wrapping, I will purchase toilet paper wrapped in paper instead, or use a reusable toilet paper option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Whole Foods Meals

Prioritizing whole foods is one of the most effective ways to avoid single-use plastic in the kitchen, since most whole foods can be purchased without any packaging. This month, I will prepare 1 whole foods-based meals at home each day.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY 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!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Declutter Sustainably

While it can be tempting to throw away (or drop off at Goodwill) any and everything that no longer brings us joy, there are so many options that are better for the planet! This month, I will declutter my home and properly dispose or re-home the things I no longer want.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

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.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 15 minutes outside in nature, and share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the Participant Feed.

COMPLETED 10
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?


  • Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/30/2024 6:19 PM
    One of the many glass containers I clean and then upcycle/reuse, this one keeps my bacon grease until it gets solid and then an easy scrap and toss in the trash. Other glass jars/containers help to propagate some of my plants, serve as another snack container and always seeking other day to day uses! What do you upcycle/reuse your glass jars for?!?

    • Brittany Murphy's avatar
      Brittany Murphy 7/30/2024 7:26 PM
      Personally anything with an open top and a closed bottom i fill with trinkets and things i collect or change i collect everyday, keeps things organized. And theres always the practical uses! Like holding pens, or toothbrushes!

  • Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/26/2024 5:49 PM
    July has flown by! It’s been a time of research, growth, accepting failure, high-fiving myself for some successes and enjoying other team members go through the same plastic-free journey!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Clean Plate Club
    How easy was this swap for you? Did you have any concerns before making it?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/26/2024 5:47 PM
    Super hard in terms going to my local grocery store, for simple convenience…only to only be surrounded by endless products in a plastic bottle.I had to look online and weigh out the pros/cons with shipping waste vs item packaged in plastic. But did find some zero waste options on etsy. Will also see if I can go to local farmers markets in my area to see if they have some options. No concerns about the swap, other than understanding it does cost me more when I make environmentally-forward decisions.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/14/2024 1:51 PM
    I hope that when I walk the sidewalk and pick up pieces of trash that other walkers, bikers and vehicle drivers see me doing that it then helps spark/encourage themselves to do it and also take pride in keeping our community clean. I feel happy that I am contributing to keeping our community clean for the environment and animals.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Plastic Free TP
    Inquiring minds wanna know... Are you a scruncher or a folder?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/14/2024 1:43 PM
    Haha I am a folder and also prefer the roll to be over, not under :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Buy Only What I Need
    As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/12/2024 5:58 PM
    If you know me, you know I loveee making lists. I have always had a running list of things I would like to purchase for my apartment, myself, vehicle, etc and my budget has always directed each month’s purchases. As I have reassess that list, I starred items that were more essential (researched zero-plastic packaging) and helped me to focus more on things for my health. I think this will hopefully help hone in more on significant purchases versus “in the moment” wanted purchases.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Use What You Have
    Besides 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"?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/12/2024 5:45 PM
    For me, it’s nice to take inventory of what I have, the condition of said items and reflect on how I use it and the benefits it may or may not provide me. I have always leaned more on not filling my space with unnecessary things/objects and to also not be defined by owning certain things. Which at times, I get this wave of “man I really want that item” and my brain starts to rationalize the purchase. I then taking a minute to see if I am being swayed with a hot trend, a “thing” everyone has versus what I truly need. It can be difficult at times and I continue to work on it.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Dive Into Expiration Dates
    Were you surprised by anything you learned about expiration dates in the US? Has it changed the way you make decisions around purchasing or discarding food?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/07/2024 4:39 PM
    Yes, very interesting to learn that they are not required/mandatory by USDA, except infant formula. I learned as long as you manage good food handling practices the “sell by date, freeze by, best if used by, expiration date” are not a hard fast/must adhere to (otherwise you get sick or food is spoiled). I have always aired on the side of caution with food and really took those dates seriously, but now will try to reduce food waste by more observations/smelling and storing properly. Will hopefully no longer be added in the 39% food waste in households.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Embrace Imperfection
    How has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?

    Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/07/2024 4:15 PM
    I sometimes criticize myself in not doing more with reducing my plastic-free life, but then I take a minute and list all the ways I have. I see that it takes a lot of time, dedication, realignment of my financial budget and knowing I cannot achieve a 100% plastic-free life in an instant. I now pat myself on the back on the ways I have swapped out plastic in my life and know my journey continues with spotlighting my small wins!

  • Dana Thomason's avatar
    Dana Thomason 7/02/2024 6:44 PM
    I chose to take this challenge to better identify the gaps of my life where I can continue to remove plastic products and get better educated. As someone who strives to make environment forward decisions, I know I can do better and generally like to research new things. Sharing this challenge with campers can also show how environmental stewardship can turn the tide with marine debris- specifically plastics and small actions can make a difference. Excited to learn, read other challengers stories and find out other ways to have my household more plastic-free.