August 2020

Identify one consumable that you will transition to reusable in the next 30 days.  

 
Tips to meet the challenge:
 
1) Look beyond the water bottle
  • Using a reusable water bottle instead of single use plastic is a fantastic personal action that you can take to help reduce the amount of waste and pollution on our planet.  In fact we had a past EcoChallenge that focused on single use plastic.
  • The fact is that our lives are filled with products designed for convenience that ultimately contribute to our growing global issue of waste.  
2) Take a week to note the consumables you use in your daily routine
  • As you go through your routines, notice the items you are using.  Are they made to be thrown away? 
  • Use a note taking app on your phone or simply snap a picture of the objects that you use with the intent to throw away after one use or just a few uses. 
  • Review the list at the end of the week and choose one to eliminate from your routine by replacing it with a reusable option.
3) Consider reusable alternatives for the consumable you currently use
  • Counters were cleaned and dishes were washed with reusable rags prior to the invention of paper towels and synthetic sponges.
  • Dryer sheets can be replaced with dryer balls made of wool or plastic or even clean tennis balls.
4) Is there a consumable in your routine that can be reused and make the purchase of a second consumable unnecessary
  • Use bread bags for picking up after your dog instead of buying dog doo bags.
  • Use an old toothbrush (washed) as an eyebrow brush.
  • Use food containers with lids (sour cream, butter, yogurt etc..) for leftovers rather than using plastic wrap or purchasing special food storage containers.
  
 
This challenge originated after hearing from Ludovic Grosjean and his passion for saving the word's oceans.  We learned that 90% of the plastic pollution in the word's oceans comes from just 10 rivers in Africa and Asia.  We also learned that our actions in Minnesota can help reduce the pollution in those rivers.  The action we can take locally that will have the greatest impact globally is to reduce our consumption. 
 
By participating in the Rotary EcoClub EcoChallenge for August 2020, you will notice the myriad of ways that consumables have become a way of life.  You will imagine reusable alternatives or interesting ways to reuse consumables that used to end up in the trash. 
 
Share your progress - the hurdles and the success - with Rotary EcoClub and your family and friends!