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Olivia Close's avatar

Olivia Close

South Carolina Aquarium

"I’m making July my plastic-free month by swapping single‑use plastics for reusable options wherever I can—cups, bags, straws, etc. I’ll share what I’m learning and my favorite low‑plastic swaps with friends and family, so we can all cut down together. I’ll support local zero‑waste shops and attend community events to show real-world change matters. And I’ll speak up online or in person—promoting plastic‑reduction campaigns and system-level fixes—so we’re not just changing habits but shifting the whole conversation!!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 388 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    6.0
    low-plastic meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    low-plastic business
    supported
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastic footprint
    calculated
  • UP TO
    22
    plastic items
    avoided
  • UP TO
    2.0
    bags of litter
    collected
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    4.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    6.0
    ideas
    shared
  • UP TO
    105
    minutes
    spent learning

Olivia's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Try one low-plastic meal

From plastic-wrapped produce to takeout containers, food is one of the biggest sources of single-use plastic. I will enjoy one meal using ingredients and tools that minimize plastic packaging — opting for items in aluminum, paper, steel cans, or glass jars instead of plastic. I’ll also use a water refill station instead of single-use bottles to keep the meal as plastic-free as possible.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Estimate My Plastic Consumption

Understanding my plastic footprint is a powerful first step toward making change. I will complete a short online plastic calculator, like the one from rePurpose Global, to estimate my annual plastic use and explore ways to reduce it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

First Steps: Start with You

Find out why plastic recycling isn’t working as we expect and where plastics end up

Many of us recycle with good intentions, but most plastic doesn’t get recycled. I will spend 20 minutes learning why plastic recycling falls short and what really happens to plastic waste.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

First Steps: Start with You

Track my plastic use for a day or a week

Awareness is the first step toward change. I’ll track how much plastic I use in a day (or week), paying attention to packaging, food containers, and single-use items. I’ll reflect on what surprised me most and what I could do differently.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Support businesses with plastic-free or refillable options

Where we spend our money shapes the market. I will support a business that offers plastic-free, low-waste, or refillable products or services.

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

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

First Steps: Start with You

Design my grocery routine for less plastic

Our grocery habits are one of the biggest sources of single-use plastic, from packaging on produce to plastic bags and containers. I will spend 20 minutes researching low-plastic shopping strategies and make a list of things to look for or do differently the next time I go to the store.

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

Share My Why

Take the Beyond Plastic Ecochallenge Feedback Survey

I will take a short survey about my experience to help the Ecochallenge team improve future events, earn a chance to win a prize, and earn 15 points!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Share My Why

Share My Why

I will share my Ecochallenge story and why I'm taking action for the planet — and earn 15 points!

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 20 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Recommend a documentary, podcast, or article about plastic to others

People are more likely to take action when someone they trust makes a recommendation. I will share a documentary, podcast, or article that helped me understand the impact of plastic to spark curiosity, conversation, and action in others.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Change the Game: Shift Systems and Policies

Support a plastic or climate advocacy campaign

Advocacy campaigns can drive real change by amplifying public support. I will find and support a campaign — through a donation, signature, or share — that’s working to reduce plastic pollution or address the climate impacts of plastic.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lead the Way: Shape Your Community
    What did you share with others? What message from this resource stuck with you—and how might it influence your own or others' behavior?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/22/2025 12:50 PM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    I shared three videos with my family from The Story of Stuff Project about where our trash and "recycled" plastic ends up. They were super eye opening for me and I thought my family would feel the same!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Level Up: Influence Friends and Family
    Which microplastics solution did you choose? Did you learn anything interesting or surprising while deciding what to purchase?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/22/2025 12:34 PM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    I have been researching washing machine filters. I have looked at PlanetCare's microfiber filter and Filtrol's filter. They last for many washes and PlanetCare even has a plan for returning and reusing cartridges. It is a bit of an investment, so I am doing research to decide which model will be best!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What’s one change to your grocery habits that felt more manageable than expected — or harder than expected? Why do you think some products, like produce, started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/22/2025 12:26 PM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    Bringing reusable bags to put groceries in, and also purchasing reusable produce bags eliminates the need for those disposable plastic ones. I have been conscientious about buying plastic wrapped snacks and foods, but that has been much tougher because plastic is basically what everything is contained in now. It's super hard to replace pre-packaged foods with all fresh ingredients, especially when life gets busy. Even though the intention is there! I have been trying my best to choose loose produce, buying local, and bringing reusable bags.

    Producers and retailers are the ones that gain the most from using plastic packaging. Consumers benefit in terms of convenience and sometimes price, but at the cost of sustainability. The environment, clearly, is NOT benefiting.

    • Chris Balchen's avatar
      Chris Balchen 7/22/2025 3:45 PM
      • Adventurer 🏔
      Keep up the great work! We can make a difference 😏
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What do you look for when choosing to support a business making sustainable packaging choices, and how do you think we can support more of them?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/22/2025 12:19 PM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    I look for things like...
    Material transparency, what really is the packaging made from? is it recyclable or compostable?
    Are they using only what's necessary?
    Do they offer refillable containers?
    Are they using creative alternatives to plastic?

    We can better support these businesses by...
    Purchasing from them! Every purchase is a vote/signal that this is what we want.
    Spread the word about them
    Give them feedback
    Support local/small businesses
    Push for policy!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What was the most eye-opening fact you learned about the limits of recycling, and how might it shift your habits? How do you feel knowing that so much of what we put in recycling bins may never actually be recycled? What should we do differently?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/22/2025 12:15 PM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    One of the most eye-opening facts about recycling is that only about 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled!! Most of the rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment. Super disheartening, but also motivating to make better choices. Many plastics (like #3–#7 types) are technically recyclable but are not economically viable to process, so they’re often discarded instead :( . This is super upsetting to hear - It’s frustrating, even disillusioning.

    We need to be pushing for systemic change, demanding better packaging options for our products, and educating ourselves! It's time we rethink our reliance on recycling and aim toward prevention and smarter design.

  • Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/20/2025 9:56 AM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    My ecochallenge is going well! It has made me so much more aware of my plastic use, and how much waste I am generating just doing everyday things that I have not considered before. I am much more conscientious of my choices and actions. I think one of the biggest things I've done so far has been to use a refillable metal deodorant. The refills are just in recyclable cardboard, and the deodorant container never gets thrown out. I also decided to research and support a "refillery" where I am able to take reusable containers in and fill them with body soap, laundry detergent, dish soap etc. eliminating container waste.

    • Kerry Keck's avatar
      Kerry Keck 7/20/2025 12:24 PM
      That’s wonderful! I hope that the success of your local refillery leads to more opening across the country/world.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Level Up: Influence Friends and Family
    What did you learn from your visit, and how did it change the way you see your household waste? Post a pic from your visit in the feed!

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/14/2025 8:14 AM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    We dropped our recycling off at a community recycling center in Mt. Pleasant. We were able to see how we need to sort our recyclable items and where it goes!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Level Up: Influence Friends and Family
    What did you share about your lunch, and what kinds of responses did you get? Did the conversation open any doors? Post a pic of your meal in the feed!

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/14/2025 8:13 AM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    My boyfriend and I purchased reusable containers for our lunch, and stopped buying ziploc bags for our fruit, snacks, etc. It has saved a ton of plastic and talking about it has made us a lot more aware of our plastic use and ways to reduce waste.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What does this meal reveal about how deeply plastic is built into our food systems — and what needs to change?

    Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/02/2025 11:07 AM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    The past few months of packing lunches for myself everyday for work has given me the opportunity to invest in reusable containers for my food. I am able to bring everything in a reusable container and this has dramatically decreased use of ziploc bags, plastic cutlery, and convenience meals that come in plastic containers. Lots of people resort to disposable lunch options like plastic bags, to-go meals in disposable containers, etc. which can be cut down with the use of reusable lunch containers.

  • Olivia Close's avatar
    Olivia Close 7/01/2025 6:45 AM
    • Earth Advocate 📣
    I am inspired to gain awareness of how plastic pollution affects our environment, both land and sea, and our health. I want to get a better understanding of how much single-use plastic I use in my daily life, and what I can do to minimize it and ensure that when it is used, it is recycled properly. I hope to be part of the solution and less part of the plastic problem!

    • Matthew Wilson's avatar
      Matthew Wilson 7/01/2025 6:12 PM
      • Earth Advocate 📣
      I also feel the same- I'm interested to try to see how much single-use (or non-recyclable) plastic I use, and have already come to realise it's more than I'd expected! I hope you have a great July!