Brandon Regan

Akron Zoo

"We connect your life to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and conservation action."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
248 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

plastic items

avoided
UP TO

1.0

low-plastic business

supported
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

1.0

conversation

with a person
UP TO

1.0

idea

shared
UP TO

10

minutes

spent learning

Brandon's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Discover the difference between bioplastics, compostable plastics, and recyclable plastics

Not all “eco-friendly” plastics are created equal. I will spend 20 minutes exploring the differences between bioplastics, compostable plastics, and recyclable plastics—and what happens to each at the end of its life.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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 3
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

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 1
DAILY 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

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

Change the Game: Shift Systems and Policies

Contact a civic leader about a plastic reduction policy

My voice matters. I will contact 1 civic leaders or elected officials to express support for a local, regional, or national policy aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable alternatives.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Change the Game: Shift Systems and Policies

Ask a local restaurant to allow reusables or reduce packaging

Food businesses are major sources of single-use plastic. I will talk to a local café, food truck, or restaurant about allowing reusable containers, more sustainable materials, or cutting down on unnecessary plastic packaging.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

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?
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 10:07 AM
- Book Lover 📚
I am fortunate enough to be the only person in my household, so I have made some sweeping changes in how I operate at home. If there is an opportunity to reuse containers that otherwise would find their way into a landfill, I do. Additionally, I limit frivolous impulse purchases by avoiding online shopping (for the most part). I also pride myself in the furniture in my household. I have made a point of only purchasing used/vintage furniture (and saving some pieces from the curb). This keeps what are perfectly acceptable furniture pieces out of the dump and in use for many years to come.

Read More
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?
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 9:37 AM
- Book Lover 📚
Every day, I try to highlight the sustainable offerings at our Gift Shop. We offer toys that use wheat fibers in place of plastic to lower their ecological impact as well as plush animals which are made with recycled material and fill. Your personal actions can help make big waves of change.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Why did you choose that particular gift, and how was it received? What conversations did it spark? Post a pic of the gift in the feed!
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 9:31 AM
- Book Lover 📚
I bought a t-shirt from our eco-friendly line which is made with more sustainable materials. When I explained this to my friend, they were impressed not only in the quality of the product but in the reduced impact it had on the environment. We hope to increase our offering in this line to continue promoting sustainable alternatives in our Gift Shop.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

What conversations came up when you invited someone? Did anything surprise you about their response or perspective?
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 9:28 AM
- Book Lover 📚
I had a conversation with a co-worker about the environmental impact of our Gift Shop product lines and how finding plastic alternatives for our shelves can indirectly teach our guests how to lower their plastic footprints.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

What influenced your decision on what to swap, and how does that small change feel in the bigger picture? Was the swap easy or difficult? What did it make you realize about convenience, cost, or access to better options?
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 8:17 AM
- Book Lover 📚
I was able to swap out my grocery bags for reusable bags. This has been one of my greatest weaknesses in my eco-friendly lifestyle and the change has been significant. Plus, these reusable bags just work better!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

How do these different materials shift your sense of what’s truly “sustainable” — and what’s just marketing? Are bioplastics accepted by your city's waste management?
Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 8:15 AM
- Book Lover 📚
While this reading was enlightening, I find it even more important to differentiate utility of these products between single vs multi use. Very often I find myself saving paper-based bags and using them for shopping or to bring things into work. I am fortunate to have a waste management system which accepts a large variety of recyclables and at this point in my life I will often have more recyclables than trash produced by my household.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

What patterns did you notice in your plastic use — and what would it take to shift one of them?
Brandon Regan 7/06/2025 6:02 AM
- Book Lover 📚
While I typically utilize more cans than bottles, I never thought about the impact of the plastic cups that I would get with my breakfast at McDonald's from time to time.

Read More