Alaina Drouin

Community Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
196 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

6.0

low-plastic businesses

supported
UP TO

11

ideas

shared
UP TO

80

minutes

spent learning

Alaina's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Learn how plastic is made

Understanding the origins of plastic helps us see its environmental impact more clearly. I will spend 10 minutes learning how plastic is made — from fossil fuels to finished product — and reflect on how that knowledge influences my choices.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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 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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Leave a positive review for a business offering low-waste options

Businesses take notice when we show support for their sustainable choices—and so do our friends and neighbors. I will write a positive review for and personally recommend a business that offers low-plastic or refillable options to help others discover it and demonstrate that sustainability is valued by customers.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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?
Alaina Drouin 7/22/2025 7:44 AM
My two favorite documentaries I've watched so far are "Plastic Wars" and "Just Eat It" both available on YouTube. Go watch them! The second one is more food waste focused but it was super cool and informative.

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- David Mininni 7/22/2025 8:48 AM
  
  Plant Parent 🪴
  Theirs another popular one on Netflix called: Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

How does understanding the origin of plastic change the way you think about using it in everyday life?
Alaina Drouin 7/22/2025 7:41 AM
I already went through all the resources on here and a few more to learn about plastics. I can name all the types, the general manufacturing processes, and whether they are typically recyclable or not. If anyone has anymore videos, articles, books, documentaries to recommend, let me know.

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Alaina Drouin 7/22/2025 7:39 AM
I genuinely don't think we are the major issue in this plastic problem of today. It should have been discontinued a long time ago. These big plastic manufacturing companies and companies who package everything with it are the problem. I debate going vegan or at least vegetarian for this issue. I try my best to stay away from meats and plastic packaging but it's incredibly difficult when EVERY SINGLE THING comes with plastic. We need more local bulk refill shops. If anyone knows any good ones in Texas, Oklahoma. Or any other states or countries. Please give them some shoutout and support in the comments.

I usually thrift my clothes, bring reusable bags, Tupperware, utensils, water bottles and other when I remember. If there is another switch I can make, I think it would have to be a big one. One that requires a community that is on board with saving the planet. If anyone lives near Dallas and knows groups or you would like to meet up, that would be super cool.

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- Nara S 7/22/2025 4:44 PM
  - Plant Parent 🪴
  St. Louis has a store called Leftovers where people can drop off a ton of different types of containers and random stuff. I think you still buy it by weighing it in a paper bag. It's great for dropping off items to be repurposed in some way - I think a lot of people use it for craft supplies
  
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Alaina Drouin 7/17/2025 2:24 PM
I struggle to find alternatives to synthetic plastics that don't use more water, energy, transportation, fossil fuels, etc. Every solution has a con, but as long as the pros outweigh them, I am down for the swap. I especially appreciate shoutouts of small businesses who are ecofriendly. Feel free to leave alternatives to the products I am listing below, THANK YOU!

Want total replacements:
Tape
Clothing, especially swimsuits, rain jackets, and shoes.
Electronics
Gum
Glasses and CONTACTS
Paint, pens, and other art supplies
Furniture

Want recipes:
Snacks especially savory ones like chips. HMU with a good chip or cracker recipe.
Curly hair products
Toothpaste
Detergent
Skincare products like pimple patches and sunscreen

I just started making jewelry out of all natural materials like hemp cord, metals, shells, wood, etc.
If you would like to buy and support, you can reach me through my DMs on Instagram @Alaina_Drouin

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- Nara S 7/18/2025 9:15 AM
  - Plant Parent 🪴
  Depending on what the tape is for, an adhesive alternative is wheat paste, which is just heated water and flour. It's strong. I used it on the cardboard house I made for my cats.
  
  I've looked a bit into waxed canvas for jackets, bags... might work for shoes too.
  
  I've seen people make pigment for watercolor paint from plants. It's time intensive for sure.
  
  I just bought flaxseed to try to make my own hair gel. The internet showed me some videos of people making it, especially for curly hair.
  
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- Nicholas Monak 7/17/2025 3:33 PM
  - Book Lover 📚
  You just taught me that I need to think about gum. Here's my search.
  
  Here are some options for plastic-free chewing gum:
  Simply Gum: Uses chicle as a base and natural ingredients for flavoring.
  Glee Gum: Also uses chicle and natural flavors, with both sugar and sugar-free options.
  Chewsy: Plant-based gum with a chicle base, sweetened with xylitol.
  Greco Gum: Made from 100% pure mastic resin.
  Honest Gum: Plant-based and plastic-free, with natural flavors.
  OH MY GUM!: Uses chicle and avoids artificial flavors and sweeteners.
  True Gum: Uses a plant-based gum base and biodegradable packaging.
  Xylichew: Uses xylitol as a sweetener and is plastic-free.
  
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Alaina Drouin 7/17/2025 1:52 PM
The topic of plastic used to give me so much anxiety, I started my therapy journey almost immediately after I learned how many of our daily products are made out of plastic, where plastic comes from, and why is it dangerous to most life forms. I am writing this post today as an environmental scientist who wants to lower their plastic consumption but struggles as I am sure we all do. In particular I struggle with using some alternatives because I am clumsy and break glass easily. Like Tupperware -> Pyrex isn't the best idea for me. If y'all have other solutions that are preferably cheaper let me know and feel free to exchange your struggle items and let's help each other move to alternatives. <3

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- Nara S 7/18/2025 9:24 AM
  - Plant Parent 🪴
  Also have clumsy and strength issues. I shattered a frying pan lid when it just fell out of my hand one day. I find older PYREX at Savers to reduce the risk of breaking from heat. I use cloth bags a lot to transport, even just across the room sometimes. I also have cafeteria-like trays that I got at Savers to transport my plate or casserole dish.
  
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- Mary Hanks 7/18/2025 12:48 AM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  I also have concerns about breaking glass, as I have neuropathy in my hands. Thank you for bringing up this topic. I hope you get a lot of useful suggestions. I'll be checking back.
  
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