Sustaining A Force For Good [Earth Day Challenge]

I did fine. I didn't even realize my first failure. Debi called me out and I wasn't even aware I was using a plastic bottle, so who knows how often that happened. But, I only chose to use 1 plastic bottle, similar to others, just really wanted that green tea. Some habits changed, I switched to aluminum cans when getting gas station drinks and brought out my old nalgene. It wasn't very hard, honestly, just took a little bit more effort to find the can/glass variant of whatever I wanted or needed. If plastic is the devil, what are can goods? An observation was that I wasn't reducing a lot of waste, just switched my waste from plastic to cans/glass. Would be curious to know the environmental impact there. Another observation was how much plastic I used outside of bottles; packaging being the biggest in our household.

This challenge went fairly well for me, but I did grab a bottled water once, while in a restaurant, and I immediately realized I left my travel bottle in the car. I try to be conscious of my consumption habits regularly, and this challenge encouraged me to focus on not only water bottles but all other one-time use plastics that I put in the trash. The challenge helped me to take a step back and look at my habits with a fresh set of eyes. I also thought about other one-time use items that are regularly used and discarded by us as consumers. Through second hand information from someone else that did the research, I've learned that glass requires more energy to recycle than aluminum, but I'm not sure about plastic. I did ponder which type of one-time waste has the most significant negative impact, and it seems it's often the case that in solving one problem, we create another. With a little research, we could discover various negative impacts of other one-time use materials, and I think this was a great exercise to help us all be more conscious of our regular consumption habits.

There were multiple times where I would have normally said yes to an offer from someone to take a water bottle. I would think, “I should have brought my reusable canteen to this meeting,” and I did keep it at my side more. Simple habit to change. I did not fully succeed. I used 3 ginger ale bottles mixed with my favorite bourbon. Not sure how to solve this one and it made me think about the waste. Perhaps moving to bourbon and water.

I got lucky on this challenge. I don't care for soda and hate paying for water. That being said I did have to consciously not get bottled water on one occasion. It was a long workday while covering the coast for the day and sometimes my 64 OZ water container does not cut it. In those situations I typically grab a gallon jug from a gas station or other store because I can use it as a backup for multiple days. Luckily I remembered what month it was before seeking the water...

I was surprised at the challenge of this challenge -- I thought I hardly ever used plastic bottles but networking events and even our celebration lunch yesterday got me! I also found myself turning down plastic water bottles offered to me (and taking the hit of going thirsty as a lesson to myself). I also realized I need to make a better effort to really make my fancy SEM canteen a habit. I have also been mixing sparkling water and OJ lately, and dang it if those larger Pierre are only provided in plastic bottles. Hmmmmm, maybe we can get a bulk deal on those soda streams?

I did okay but didn't fully succeed. Looking back on the month, I purchased only two single use plastic bottles, but other single use plastic waste included: 3 solo cups at a friends or family member's house; 2 small condiment cups; 2 small plastic drinking cups; at least two drinks to go that had plastic lids. I'm reminded that the choices I make can determine the amount of waste I generate on a given day/week/month. To help curb my consumption of plastics, I've started to consciously put my reusable shopping bags and bulk bin bags in my car before any shopping and try to keep a travel mug/canteen on me or in my car.

My experience was very similar to Daniel's. It wasn't a difficult challenge because I made a conscious effort to switch to aluminum cans but also wondered if this was really helping at all since the waste was about the same. I think I slipped and used 2 single use bottles of flavored water because I already had them at home and grabbed them out of convenience. Towards the end I began missing my red NeuroSonic vitamin drinks that only come in single use plastic bottles. I enjoyed this challenge because it made me aware of a decision I make to purchase plastic bottles without thinking about it.

I felt I did well with the challenge. I only purchased one 2.5 gallon water jug from the grocery store to appease my wife. To redeem myself, I cut off the top and used it to store hardware parts in my shop. I did consume one single use, previously purchased bottle while in a 3am stupor, desperately searching for some Sudafed. Like many of you, I made the switch to aluminum cans and use the water refill bottle stations on campus. As a previous sustainable tech student, I conducted a lot of footprint research on many different recyclable containers and knew aluminum cans are the overall winner. I have been saving these cans in a box at home and currently have 8.7 lbs. worth. (This challenge also revealed that I drink a lot of soda). I intend to carry on this challenge to reduce my single use plastic consumption. So far, I have been able to influence my in-laws which switched to aluminum last week.

Our family is not typically a buyer of plastic bottles, so this was not that difficult for me. The only time I had to be careful was after my younger son's (Carter) basketball games. I am the head coach and we always have snacks after the games. I had to make a legit effort to turn down the Gatorade's and Powerade's that were offered to me after games this past month. Luckily I was always thinking about this challenge so always turned them down. I would have a much harder time with an aluminum can challenge.

I honestly forgot I was taking part in this challenge... Needless to say, I clung to my big steel barrel ( which I am sipping out of while typing this email), and did not use a single plastic bottle...for drinking. However, I did use one bottle of hot sauce that was in a plastic bottle; alas. Echoing Daniel, I find that most of my beverage waste is in the form of glass or aluminum. Perhaps I should try to focus on reducing the overall consumption of materials as well.

Overall my experience was pretty good with the water bottle challenge however I will have to say; I too did not fully exceed. I used 2-3 soda water bottles (also, used in my cocktails). A simple, cheaper, and less wasteful solution would be for me to buy the sodastream…

To echo Jacob, I partially forgot about this challenge but ever since leading the Appalachian State Sustainable Energy Society (which we educated people/students on a lot of sustainable practices but pushed hard on the notion of using reusable bottles) I take pride in saying I rarely buy and use a single use plastic bottle for drinking. For this challenge I succeeded with no problem. My wife and I always have our Hydroflasks and or Yeti's within an arm's reach. But, as I'm writing this email I realize that my coconut milk (that I use instead of creamer) comes in a PLASTIC Bottle!

When you think of all the quick ways to have or buy lunch, most often the thought of, “what will my beverage come in” does not typically enter into anyone’s thoughts. I found myself searching in the grocery store for alternatives as I would naturally begin to reach for the Soda bottle when I got lunch. I purchased the aluminum can instead. I did encounter at Bojangles when I ordered my breakfast and requested chocolate milk that it came in little plastic bottles so there was the 2 that I used in the month. It has brought awareness to me in that not always do we think of how the beverage we like may be packaged and sold. What happened to the chocolate milk that came in the little cartons?

Avoiding single use plastic bottles was not a tremendous challenge in my household as we enjoy well water and avoid sodas. Milk is necessary in high volume with kids, so I am not really sure if a gallon of milk counts as single use, since there are many servings? Like most of you, there was a moment where I slipped up realizing that one of my favorite drinks, Gatorade is only available in plastic! The eye opener here was the sheer amount of single use plastic products that are out there! From cling wrap and product packaging, to the single serving snacks my kids take to school every day. It is easy to see how we have a global plastic problem. It's in EVERYTHING!

Not a full success with this challenge. I slipped up with a single use water bottle after an Eno River outing. (I ashamedly hid it under my passenger seat on the way home). This challenge did bring more consciousness to my waste stream and lead me to the decision to start an indoor vermiculture bin for waste veggies, paper and cardboard.

This challenge, as Jamie said, was a challenge in itself as I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be. I did fail twice with gas station soda bottles providing myself with the reasoning that I was driving and the can could possibly spill. The remainder of the month I purchased my juice in aluminum cans and reused a quart bottle at home for my flavored water use. The reuse of the quart bottle is normal; however, the small aluminum cans of juice are not basically due to cost. Water bottles themselves were not an issue as I have a hard time justifying purchasing water in a bottle - hence the reason why I always have my crocheted wrapped Starbucks container. The one area I did not succeed was in the actual food department. I have been purchasing items from Graze which come in small (one use) plastic containers making it great for work but..... I can live without these and will be making my own granola bars and high protein snack mixes using reusable plastic storage containers. I did find myself looking for yogurt containers with lids so to be reused vs recycled and then dished into smaller reusable containers for work. I like Kelley's idea of a soda stream as I mix packets of flavoring with club soda - haven't had any of those all month and quite frankly craving them. The small glass containers just don't hold enough for my purpose but for those who enjoy in their drinks, works quite well.

Overall, this was a pretty easy challenge for me. We don't really drink soda and I always have a water bottle or glass with me. But I loved having this challenge and bringing into our consciousness how we can help to reduce waste.