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Welcome to Earth Day Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Earth Day Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
Earth Day Ecochallenge
April 1 - April 30, 2020
Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar

Kimberly Swain Simon

HealthPartners (Sustainability Department)

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 98 TOTAL

Kimberly's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Fresh Water

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Forests

Choose Better Wood Products

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Forests

Forest-Friendly Foods

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 6 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
    Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/31/2020 7:01 AM
    Well, a few years ago my company remodeled it's café area and we got a Starbucks. It was then that I bought a reusable Starbucks cup that looks like the paper cup. Now, saving 10 cents off a drink is a nice gesture, but the greater good is how many paper coffee cups I avoid each day. For that I feel great!
    Read More
  • Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/31/2020 6:51 AM
    I started not to join this challenge - I figured I'll continue learning at my own pace. However, I'm glad to have this as a focal point for the upcoming month. With everything going on, it helps to be in a community thinking of the short and long term actions that impact earth.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
    Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/31/2020 6:44 AM
    This is a loaded reflection question, yet it's so important to know these differences. It has implications for quality, safety, preservatives and shelf life (which are not good things in many instances). In addition to wanting to eat healthy and avoid illness, I also want to make sure I buy in quantities I can consume. This includes paying attention to food labels and I tend to shop several times per week to buy fresh.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Use a Reusable Water Bottle
    Using the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed - both humans and wildlife - by this bottling process?
    Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/30/2020 10:18 AM

    Typically, I do not buy bottled water. I purchase reusable containers and recently started taking an empty one in my luggage when I travel. As long as no fluids are in it, I've had no issues with TSA.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Forest-Friendly Foods
    How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?
    Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/30/2020 10:13 AM
    Not hard at all. Gaining education and knowledge propels me to do better, especially once I know the benefits to the environment and myself.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Choose Better Wood Products
    Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
    Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/30/2020 10:12 AM
    Providing a natural canopy to the sun, and housing many species within its boundaries.
    Read More
  • Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/30/2020 10:05 AM
    I bought some bamboo reusable paper towels and it has drastically reduced my use of regular paper towels. I've only taken a few off the roll, and have washed and reused them several times, mainly in the kitchen where I constantly clean as I cook. Has anyone used these? Have feedback?
    Read More
  • Kimberly Swain Simon's avatar
    Kimberly Swain Simon 3/30/2020 10:02 AM
    Although I've been recycling and such for years, I still feel relatively new and would like to learn from others' practices during this challenge.

    Read More