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Rona Bobey's avatar

Rona Bobey

South Carolina Aquarium

"Reduce plastic use and educate others so they feel the need to help the environment as well. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 973 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    low-plastic meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    177
    plastic items
    avoided
  • UP TO
    3.0
    bags of litter
    collected
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastics audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    96
    ideas
    shared
  • UP TO
    125
    individuals
    recognized for sustainability
  • UP TO
    92
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    16
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    3.0
    community events
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    309
    minutes
    spent learning

Rona's actions

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Create a reminder system or routine for remembering reusables

Even the best intentions can be forgotten in the rush of daily life. I will create a system — like a note on the door or a checklist — to help me and others in my household remember to grab our reusables before we go.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Visit a local recycling center, landfill, or transfer station

Seeing where waste goes can change how we think about what we throw away. I will visit a local facility to learn more about the waste stream in my community and share what I learn with others and in the feed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Make a room plastic-free with someone else

Transforming a space together can build momentum and spark conversation. I will work with someone else to remove or replace plastics in one room of our home or work place, such as the kitchen, lunch room, or bathroom.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Organize a plastic audit in my workplace or community group

Understanding what types of plastic show up most can inspire smarter solutions. I will organize or take part in a group plastic audit to track what’s being used and start a conversation about alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Create or distribute a guide to reducing plastic in my community, organization, or a group

Clear, accessible information makes it easier for others to take action. I will create or share a simple guide with tips, resources, or local options to help people in my community, organization, or group reduce plastic use.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Participate in or organize a community clean up

Plastic pollution is visible in many communities. I will take part in or organize a cleanup event to remove litter, raise awareness, and spark conversations about how plastic ends up in our environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Invite others to join the Ecochallenge

Our actions are more powerful when we take them together. I will invite someone to join the Ecochallenge with me so we can learn and take action together.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Prepare a low-plastic meal with a friend or family member

Reducing plastic can be easier — and more fun — when shared. I will plan and prepare a meal with friends or family that minimizes single-use packaging and plastic waste.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Start a household challenge to reduce plastic

Change starts at home. I will create a fun challenge with my household — like using no single-use plastic for a day or swapping out a product — to make plastic reduction a shared goal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Host or attend a clothing swap

Fast fashion is a major source of plastic pollution. I will organize a clothing swap with friends, neighbors, or coworkers to keep clothes in use longer, reduce plastic-based textiles, and build community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Swap ideas for reducing plastic with someone close to you

Sharing ideas helps us stay motivated and discover new ways to take action. I will share ideas with friends or family members about ways we each reduce plastic in our lives.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Keep my reusable kit with me and model it in public

My everyday choices can influence others. I will carry and use a reusable kit in public spaces, modeling plastic-reducing behaviors and showing that small changes are possible.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Celebrate someone else’s plastic-free effort

Positive reinforcement goes a long way in fostering sustainable change. I will celebrate someone’s effort to reduce plastic — whether big or small — by acknowledging their success in the feed or on social media and encouraging them to keep going.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Catch microplastics in laundry before they spread

Washing synthetic fabrics releases tiny plastic fibers that end up in our waterways. I will install a washing machine filter or use a microplastic-catching device to capture microplastics before they leave my home — and I will share what I did and why with others to inspire more sustainable laundry habits.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Give a small gift that helps someone reduce plastic (e.g., tote, bottle, soap bar)

Giving can be an act of change and inspiration. I will give a thoughtful, plastic-free or plastic-reducing gift — like a reusable bag, bottle, or bar soap — to someone in my life and share why I chose it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Prep a reusable kit for on-the-go

Having reusables ready and integrated into your daily routine can help you avoid single-use plastic while out and about. I will put together a kit with items like a mug, water bottle, utensils, or tote bag to take with me when I leave the house.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Pack a low or no-plastic lunch and talk about it with others

Food packaging is a major source of plastic. I will pack a lunch with little or no plastic and use it as a conversation starter with coworkers, classmates, or friends to share tips and inspire change.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Start a plastic reduction conversation at school, work, or a community group

Big changes often begin with one bold conversation. I will bring up the topic of reducing plastic at school, work, or in a group I’m part of, planting the seed for collective action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Set up a Free Store for surplus items

Sharing or giving away unwanted items can reduce plastic waste and build community connections. I will set up or promote a free store at my workplace, school, or church to help redistribute surplus items — like office supplies, kitchenware, clothing, or books — and keep them in use rather than buying new.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Encourage my workplace to switch to reusable products

Every reusable cup, plate, or utensil at work makes a difference. I will talk with my team or leadership about switching to reusable products in shared spaces like break rooms or kitchens.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Host a “bring your own container” lunch or event

Gatherings are a great time to model new habits. I will plan or participate in a lunch or event where people bring their own containers, utensils, or cups to reduce single-use plastic.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Find or suggest a refill station or reusable system

Access is key to making sustainable choices easier. I will suggest a refill station (like for water, soap, or dry goods) or a returnable container system in a space I use regularly — such as a school, office, store, or gym — to help make plastic-free options more visible and convenient for everyone.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Promote plastic awareness during an event or meeting

Events are powerful moments to inspire change. I will include a brief message, resource, or tip about reducing plastic at a meeting, celebration, or community gathering I attend or help organize.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Teach or learn a skill to extend the life of a product I have

Learning or sharing repair skills can keep useful items in use and out of the landfill. I will teach or learn a skill to extend the life of a product — like sewing, electronic repair, or furniture restoration — and share what I did with my community, workplace, or group to encourage others to do the same.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Learn about community-level options to reduce plastic

Widespread change starts with local action and community innovation. I will spend 5 minutes learning about programs or initiatives in my area that reduce plastic use, such as third-party sanitization services, repair cafes, food gleaning, lending libraries, bulk or thrift stores, bans on single-use items, or zero-waste businesses.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lead the Way: Shape Your Community
    What’s one thing you learned that surprised you about your community’s plastic systems or policies? Did you discover any new options to move beyond plastic or more sustainably dispose of plastic in your area? Share it in the feed!

    Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/31/2025 10:50 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I was so excited when CHS County had lawyers look into the extra thick bags that some companies began to use when the county implemented no plastic laws. It was a Loophole and now they all are using paper bags which are so much better than plastic bags for environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Level Up: Influence Friends and Family
    What new ideas or perspectives came up in your conversation? Did anything surprise or challenge you? Did anyone share ways they reduce plastics with you? If so, post the new ideas in the feed!

    Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/31/2025 10:45 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I purchased reusable silicone zip lock bags to try and reduce the plastic in my lunches. I find them great and they are washable and even dishwasher safe!

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/31/2025 10:29 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I’m giving these earrings to a friend at work that is going back to school. They are from a company called Jabebo Studio. Their products are eco friendly and made from Cereal Boxes! They feel like plastic but are Not!

    • Nara S's avatar
      Nara S 7/31/2025 10:55 AM
      • Plant Parent 🪴
      These are adorable! I must check them out!

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/29/2025 7:59 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I purchased this bracelet in Hawaii from a Macadamia Nut farm stand and the man who made it was there at stand. It is made from recycled plastic material! I love the colors and how fun it is and find it a great way to reuse plastic material in a positive way!

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/26/2025 5:12 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I have a rule of picking up at least 3 pieces of trash each time I go to beach - when you go with others I share this and they do same! Hope they share with others to get everyone who visits the beach to not only clean up what they bring but take 3 pieces from others that have washed up or been left on beach.

    • Fred Desai's avatar
      Fred Desai 7/26/2025 7:20 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      Thanks great, Rona. In addition to the people u talk to about this action, there are likely others who observe u do that and may get inspired to do so themselves as well.

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/25/2025 3:36 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I reuse old orange lemonade containers as water for my dog on boat or in car when we leave beach. I use it to rinse sand off me & for water for Indi after beach days.

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/22/2025 6:12 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    • Walked Sullivan’s Island with my Pup & daughter and. Picked up 4 pairs of Sunnies in low tide to recycle! Also several pieces of other trash while enjoying the beach!

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/19/2025 11:59 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    Gave a local goat milk local soap to a friend for gift with a loofah.

    • Julie Mapes's avatar
      Julie Mapes 7/19/2025 4:43 PM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      I love giving homemade, local and/or ecological gifts to friends. Great idea!

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/17/2025 7:44 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    I would like to celebrate Rich with GS! He has researched and shares interesting information about reducing plastics in our lives everyday for our morning meetings!

    • AJ Warren's avatar
      AJ Warren 7/18/2025 10:02 AM
      • Pet Parent 🐾
      The perfect shout out! He has done such a wonderful job going above and beyond to help educate everyone about how we can reduce plastic use in our everyday lives in a very digestible way. Props to Rich for doing this and to you as well for recognizing his work and shouting him out. (:

  • Rona Bobey's avatar
    Rona Bobey 7/15/2025 3:52 AM
    • Water Protector 🌊
    Swam out in Beaufort River to grab this as it floated out toward the open ocean as tide was going out.