|
Please take a few minutes to fill out our challenge survey to tell us how the experience went and provide your feedback to help us make it better.
 Almost 1,760 people participated in the Plastic-Free Challenge in February, and your efforts showed big results!
Together, you completed over 19,000 actions to reduce your reliance on plastics. Impacts of these actions include preventing over 5,200 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, picking up over 2,000 pieces of litter, preventing over 11,900 plastic straws, cups, utensils, and bottles from being trashed, preventing almost 500 pounds of plastic packaging waste, and spending over 29,300 minutes learning how to live a low-waste lifestyle. Check out the impacts tab on the website for more.
Living a lower plastic lifestyle for the long term will require you to keep making decisions about the products you use in your household. Here are questions to consider when you need something new that can help you minimize your use of plastic.
Before buying something, consider:
- Why do I want this? How often will I use it? Can I get along without it, or are there alternatives?
- Can I borrow or rent instead of buying this item, or can I buy it used?
- Are the products I’m choosing high quality and made to last? Are they repairable? Are they a classic that I will be happy with years from now?
- Are the products I’m buying free of unnecessary packaging? Is the packaging refillable or recyclable? Can I buy it in a different way to reduce packaging waste?
We hope that this challenge has helped you make small changes that have become sustainable habits you can build upon over time.
|
Send us your feedback
Please take a few minutes to fill out our challenge survey to tell us how the experience went and provide your feedback to help us make it better.
Other ways to stay engaged
Even though the challenge has ended, you still have access to many resources!
- Stay tuned for more waste prevention! We will hold another online challenge, the food-specific Stop Food Waste Challenge later this summer.
- Sign up for your county's environmental newsletter:
- Check out resources for businesses for information to use at work, your place of worship, or other businesses in the community.
- Take a Community Recycling Ambassador class to expand your knowledge even more and put your expertise to use by volunteering in your community.
- Sign up for Hennepin County’s Choose to Reuse initiative to get info about reuse events around the Twin Cities, information on reuse retailers and monthly shopping tips.
- Stay connected with Plastic-Free Challenge partners! Many of these organizations continue to support plastic reduction through education and events. Follow their social media or check out their webpages for more information.
Thank you for participating in the Plastic-Free Challenge! We hope you enjoyed it.
Friday, February 2: Tips for getting started with the challenge
Monday, February 5: The problem with plastics
Wednesday, February 7: Types of plastics
Friday, February 9: Effectiveness of plastics recycling
Monday, February 12: Going plastic-free with your family
Wednesday, February 14: Reducing plastic in your wardrobe
Friday, February 16: Plastic-free pets, your other children
Monday, February 19: Changing how you shop
Wednesday, February 21: Avoiding plastics while dining out and on-the-go
Friday, February 23: Advocating for more plastic-free options
Monday, February 26: Reducing plastic in personal care and cleaning products
Wednesday, February 28: Be a changemaker
|
