

Patricia Hofmeister
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,081 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO6.0plastic itemsavoided
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UP TO3.0low-plastic businessessupported
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UP TO893minutesspent learning
Patricia's actions
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.
First Steps: Start with You
Swap one product for a refillable or plastic-free option
Even small swaps can add up to big impact. I will replace one product I use regularly — like soap, cleaning spray, or snacks — with a refillable or plastic-free version.
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.
First Steps: Start with You
Understand plastic labels
Those recycling numbers and symbols can be confusing. I will spend 10 minutes learning what different plastic labels mean, including what can and can’t be recycled, to make more informed choices when I shop.
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.
First Steps: Start with You
Understand Plastic’s Impact on My Health
Plastics can leach harmful chemicals into food, water, and the air we breathe. I will spend 10 minutes learning about the health impacts of plastic exposure and explore safer swaps — like choosing glass or stainless steel over plastic for food storage and drinking water.
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 10 minutes learning why plastic recycling falls short and what really happens to plastic waste.
Participant Feed
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Patricia Hofmeister 7/31/2025 4:58 AMI learned that one of the reasons so many products come in plastic, is because the products contain so much water. There are companies that are starting to make products such as shampoo and beauty products that do not come in plastic. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFirst Steps: Start with YouWhat surprised you the most about the health impacts of plastic exposure, and how might this new understanding influence the choices you make around food storage and everyday products?
Patricia Hofmeister 7/27/2025 5:50 PMI was surprised at how harmful plastics can be to our health. Microplastics are everywhere. Warming up items in plastic can be very detrimental to our health. Frightening. -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/19/2025 6:46 PMSome of our teammates haven't been checking in. You can post date. Come on. Please check in! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFirst Steps: Start with YouHow does understanding the origin of plastic change the way you think about using it in everyday life?
Patricia Hofmeister 7/19/2025 6:42 PMIt helps me to avoid single plastic. I also reuse single plastic cups. My husband gets Folger coffee. which comes in a large red plastic container. I use the container to put bird seed in my feeders. He has stopped buying coffee in plastic containers ! -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/15/2025 8:15 PMI hadn't realized how much food came in plastic. We ordered a delivery and salads came in plastic container. Strawberries come in a plastic container. -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/14/2025 1:33 PMWhile reading about the garmful effects of plastic on our health. I was shocked to discover that even tea bags contain microplastics that come out when hot water is added. I was pleased that my favorite tea company. Stash, does not. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLevel Up: Influence Friends and FamilyWhat did your household choose to focus on, and what was it like to work toward change together? What helped or hindered your progress?
Patricia Hofmeister 7/14/2025 1:30 PMFocus was on using fewer plastic bottles and plastic bags. Adult children are very environmentally compliant. Biggest issue is my husband. Even though he is well-educated, he doesn't believe in climate change and stoll uses plastic bags at the grocery store, even though I bought him cloth bags. -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/12/2025 9:17 PMWhile speaking with our youngest son about Dasani water in aluminum cans, he shared that a few months ago, he and his wife went to Napa for wine tasting. Their resort provided each guest with cans of aluminum water and provided areas to refill them! We are making progress -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/12/2025 9:14 PMMy husband and I are in Park City, Utah, visiting our youngest son who is in-house counsel for Alterra Ski Resorts. I mentioned that I was doing this challenge, and wondered what his resorts are doing about single plastic use. Turns out Coca-Cola is one of their sponsors, and Alterra is working with them to provide Dasani water in aluminum cans! They have over 20 resorts!! -
Patricia Hofmeister 7/06/2025 5:54 PMI volunteer at the St. Louis Zoo. A few weeks ago, we hosted our largest fundraiser of the year. For the first time we provided Dasani water in aluminum cans instead of plastic bottles! So proud !-
Stacey Stamps 7/12/2025 3:51 PM- Pet Parent 🐾
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Mary Hanks 7/06/2025 8:45 PM- TEAM CAPTAIN
YAAAAAAAAY for your event! I'll bet a lot of the people who attended mentioned that to others...and hopefully that got folks thinking about this great alternative.
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