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Patricia Hofmeister's avatar

Patricia Hofmeister

Akron Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,081 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    6.0
    plastic items
    avoided
  • UP TO
    3.0
    low-plastic businesses
    supported
  • UP TO
    893
    minutes
    spent 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY 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 29
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed


  • Patricia Hofmeister's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/31/2025 4:58 AM
    I 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 QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/27/2025 5:50 PM
    I 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/19/2025 6:46 PM
    Some of our teammates haven't been checking in. You can post date. Come on. Please check in!
  • 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?

    Patricia Hofmeister's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/19/2025 6:42 PM
    It 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/15/2025 8:15 PM
    I 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/14/2025 1:33 PM
    While 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 QUESTION
    Level Up: Influence Friends and Family
    What 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/14/2025 1:30 PM
    Focus 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/12/2025 9:17 PM
    While 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/12/2025 9:14 PM
    My 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's avatar
    Patricia Hofmeister 7/06/2025 5:54 PM
    I 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's avatar
      Stacey Stamps 7/12/2025 3:51 PM
      • Pet Parent 🐾
      Brilliant. Proud of your zoo!!

    • Mary Hanks's avatar
      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.