Iolanda Citti

Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. Native plants are water-efficient and help maintain the balance and diversity of local ecosystems. I will plant native species with water-efficient plants to conserve water and improve the habitat, then post a photo on the feed to share.

I will spend 10 minutes learning more about the importance of freshwater + ocean conservation, and how I can reduce my water use. I will share what I learn with people in person, on social media, and on the feed.

A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 5 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.

Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 5 minutes learning about the beauty and body products I use to see if they are refillable or recyclable. If not, I will reach out to the manufacturer to advocate for those options.

Buy something coming from the regenerative agricolture for a healthier food.

I have to paint my kitchen and my living room. I have chosen again to use a natural paint with natural pigment, to respect the environment

Tomorrow I’ll go to the market to buy some biological vegetables and also to help the local agriculture. I’ll buy also my favourite bread made with ancient wheat

I talk to my son, who lives in London, about environment and sustainability. I share with him opinions and pictures. I do that because he is particularly attentive to the environment and he can teach me what I can do more for it.

This weekend I’ll go out for a walk with some friends and we will speak also about green initiatives.

A little track has stopped in front of my office for a couple of hours with the engine running. When I understood what was that noice, I asked the owner to stop it. I did it to reduce the pollution in the air.

Try to see how the bees work. I leave in the country and probably I will have the opportunity to observe them. I found the bees fascinating.

Walk 30/45 minutes after work. I try to do that for my total wellbeing

Today I’m repairing the solar lamps of my garden to illuminate a part of it.

I have planted two little plants of Jasmine. I’ll help them to grow up. This is my little contribution to the nature. Nice sensation.

Also this year I have chosen plants bee-friendly for my garden. I have done it because I like the bees, because I know their importance for our ecosystem and because I love honey as well.

Together with my neighbour I try to clean the part of the road that we have in front of the main entrance of our houses, removing little pieces of paper, plastic and sometimes cigarette butts. It’s a weekly activity started months ago.

Everyday I’ll try to post a picture of the nature around me, to increase our awareness about the importance to take care of our planet

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

Today it’s raining and I’ll collect the rainwater to water my plants in the next sunny days

I go to the swimming pool at least twice a week. My goal is to be constant in this activity. I go there on foot and not using the car to avoid pollution.

Everyday, during my lunch break at work, I usually eat the leftovers of the last night’s dinner. My goal is to do it every day. I chose this activity to avoid the food waste.

I spend every weekend walking in the country around my house. My goal is to walk at least 10 Km during the weekend. I chose this activity for my health and because it relaxes my mind.

Studies have shown that when we spend consistent time in nature, our health improves, our creativity increases, and our connection to the planet gets stronger. Each day of the Ecochallenge, I will spend 30 minutes outside (in a large or small patch of nature), then share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the feed.

When I travel and I’m in the hotel, I don’t ask to wash the towels every single day. In my next travels in April and in the next months, I’ll do it again. I’ll do it because I respect all the places where I am.

I will continue to contribute to Emerson's environmental sustainability goals beyond April by learning more about the Global Green Teams Network, joining a team near me, or maybe even creating a new team.