Emily Matheney

Not sure where to start? Across this sprint, the actions most participants are focusing on fall into three areas: minutes spent learning, pounds of CO2 saved, and plastic items reduced. Browse all five categories, but if you're feeling overwhelmed, look for 🔷 actions tied to these three impacts as your starting point.

I will pack waste-free or low-waste snacks (e.g., fruit, homemade snacks, bulk snacks in reusable containers) when I'm on-the-go, instead of buying individually packaged items.

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

I will create an "Eat First" area in my fridge to prioritize food that needs to be used right away for my household of 4. Doing so will prevent 0.34 pounds of food per household member from entering the landfill.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the energy and resource impacts of AI and automation tools and identify 1–2 ways to use them more intentionally.

I will spend 15 minutes unsubscribing from unnecessary email lists and deleting old emails to reduce digital storage.

I will repair at least one item that is broken, but is repairable. This might be items like garden tools, sewing machine, small appliances, wood furniture, electronics, clothing, and more.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

Unnecessary waste is spoooooky! For Halloween this year, I will create a low-waste costume for myself or someone else in my family (pet, child, spouse) and share a photo of the final result in the feed.

Donating gently used goods not only prevents waste but also strengthens social safety nets. I will donate items at least 1 times through a local shop or drop box in the next two weeks instead of throwing them away.

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-waste, biodegradable, or refillable options to help others discover it and demonstrate that sustainability is valued by customers.

I will spend 60 minutes organizing and deleting unneeded files on my desktop and downloads folder.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about nonprofits in my area that tackle sustainability and waste challenges that I could get involved with.

I will spend 15 minutes learning how data storage works, including where my files are stored (e.g., local device vs cloud) and how that impacts energy use.

Fallen leaves, logs, and brush provide shelter and food for wildlife. I will leave natural features in my yard or community space to help strengthen biodiversity and soil resilience.

Rainwater collection reduces water waste and supports gardens. I will install a rain barrel or collect rainwater to use for outdoor tasks, such as watering plants or cleaning.

I will plan to host 1 low-waste lunches or gatherings with family, friends, or colleagues over the next few months to reduce waste. The upcoming holidays are a great opportunity to show off a new low-waste dish!