I decided to test out a typical day by going to the office and doing grocery shopping to see the challenges firsthand. I realized that my daily sandwich from the canteen comes in a plastic bag, I will choose to pack my own sandwiches. At the grocery store, I found the biggest hurdle was buying bread, as it was all packaged in non-recyclable plastic bags!
Anca Laslau
"Here to make the world better and more sustainable "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,286 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO54meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO1Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO31pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO5hoursvolunteered
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UP TO31advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO732minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO30treesplanted
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UP TO157minutesspent learning
Anca's actions
Climate + Air
Online Energy Audit
Energy use and waste is often invisible. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Climate + Air
Calculate My Carbon Impact
Carbon emissions can show up in many surprising ways in our life. I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 20 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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Plastic in Clothing and Water
Synthetic clothing can contain plastic and shed harmful microplastics into our water. I will use a microplastics catcher in my laundry, or install a microplastics filter for my washing machine.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Save the Bees
Bees are vital to ecosystems. To help save the bees, I will learn which local flowers provide nectar and plant them in my backyard or in a pot on my balcony.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 60 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
Land + Forests
Personal Waste Audit
The waste we create daily can go unnoticed. I will track the waste I create in a day and post a photo log on the feed to see how much I create and where I can make different choices to reduce my waste going forward.
Land + Forests
Zero Waste Day
The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.
Land + Forests
Borrow Before I Buy
Why buy something I will only use once or a few times if someone nearby has it for me to borrow, and why not share something I have that someone may only need a few times a year? To reduce my consumption and waste, I will create or support the sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 15 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 30 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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
Action Track: Community
JOIN OR CREATE A GREEN TEAM AT EMERSON
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.
Action Track: Community
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EMERSON
I will sign up to the Sustainability Aficionados distribution list to receive global news on sustainability at Emerson, including world news and Greening OF, BY, and WITH news.
Action Track: Community
TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE ON LINKEDIN
I will take at least one photograph that is connected with this year's theme of Nature Conservation & Biodiversity (for example an urban park, bee hives, birds and other animals...) and I will post it on LinkedIn with the hashtags #EarthMonthEcochallenge #EarthMonthAtEmerson.
Action Track: Community
ATTEND THE ECOCHALLENGE CONSERVATION WEBINAR
On Wed 24th April, I will attend the Earth Month Ecochallenge Webinar on Conservation to learn about what individuals, companies and other organizations can do to promote biodiversity and nature protection.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Reduce Animal Products
One kilogram of beef and cheese emits 71kg and 24kg of greenhouse gasses, while 1kg of rice, grains, and legumes emits between 2-4kg. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts emit less than 1kg per 1kg. I will reduce my climate impact by enjoying 1 meatless meals and/or 1 vegan meals each day this week.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 5 hours in my community.
Climate + Air
Low Carbon Diet
Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere in a variety of ways, including through the foods we eat and food we waste. I will learn about low carbon foods and replace higher carbon foods with them in my diet.
Land + Forests
30 for 30 in Nature
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Go Plastic-Free
Millions of tons of plastic is produced each year worldwide. Each day, I will conduct a plastics audit of what I buy and use throughout the challenge (kitchen, bathroom, personal care products, etc.), to see how single-use plastic shows up in my life. I will find plastic-free alternatives to these products and advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, product manufacturers, at work, or on campus.
Action Track: Community
Keep My Community Clean
At times it may not feel like it's up to us to keep our community clean and healthy, but we all have a role to play. Each day I am outside, I will pick up any litter I see.
Action Track: Community
Plant Trees
Trees capture carbon and produce oxygen that is essential to life on earth. I will support this important piece of nature by organizing or joining a community group to plant 10 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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?
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Anca Laslau 4/30/2024 10:32 AMAs we wrap up this year's EcoChallenge, I must admit it was the most challenging one yet, out of the three years. But one thing I'm certain of is that with each passing year, these actions become more natural to me and they stick with me throughout the whole year. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Anca Laslau 4/30/2024 10:18 AM
I decided to test out a typical day by going to the office and doing grocery shopping to see the challenges firsthand. I realized that my daily sandwich from the canteen comes in a plastic bag, I will choose to pack my own sandwiches. At the grocery store, I found the biggest hurdle was buying bread, as it was all packaged in non-recyclable plastic bags! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
Anca Laslau 4/30/2024 10:13 AMWe went for a hike in the forest next to our house, but this time we wanted to explore it further, we were plensently suprised when we ended up in a beautiful green meadow :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests 30 for 30 in NatureWhat have you noticed about how it feels to spend consistent time outside?
Anca Laslau 4/30/2024 10:10 AM
It would be beneficial for everyone to spend at least 60 minutes walking outside without a phone or screen nearby. I've even considered starting a petition to make this part of the official work hours (haha)! Walking without distractions really clears the mind and helps me make better decisions afterwards.-
Anna Selders 4/30/2024 12:12 PMTo go for a walk can be really stress reducing. Love it.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Go Plastic-FreeWhere did plastic show up on your life that surprised you the most? What plastic alternative products did you discover you may switch to?
Anca Laslau 4/30/2024 10:08 AM
Avoiding plastic in my daily routine has been tough. I've found easy swaps for fruits and veggies, like using reusable bags and shopping at farmer's markets. Having a water filter and making spreads like hummus and sardine paste at home helps to not buy this products from the shop in a plastic container.But when it comes to nuts, oatmeal, and bread, I haven't found any plastic-free options yet. I tried to look for local bulk stores to see if I can take my own jar to them, haven't found one yet. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Save the BeesWhat did you plant for bees in your area? Please consider uploading a photo!
Anca Laslau 4/28/2024 8:56 AMI planted at my parents house some seeds of wild flowers. It was the end of March when we did that, Next week I am going home and I am so curious if I will be able to see something :)-
Andrea Turc 4/30/2024 3:35 AMI think you will definitely find some flowers there! 😊 Look at mine's!
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Anca Laslau 4/27/2024 7:21 AM-
Mariana Lazar 4/28/2024 10:17 AMWe definitely did Anca! You picture brought back many memories.
I remember how my grandparents, who used to have a big stone oven, used to call all the neighbors who did not have such an oven to bake their bread at their place. Bread united communities. -
Ioana Bontas-Pop 4/28/2024 2:19 AMAnca, that bread looks absolutely divine! 🥖😍 I can almost catch the scent through the screen, taking me back to childhood trips to the bakery in Romania. I remember always grabbing an extra loaf because, let's be honest, half of it would never make it home! There's something about that fresh, local bread that just fills the soul. And hearing about your farmer's market finds, I can imagine your fridge bursting with goodness. Enjoy the feast, and thanks for the nostalgic trip down memory lane! 🇷🇴🍞#LocalBakeryLove #ChildhoodMemories -
Anca Laslau 4/28/2024 1:44 AMMariana, Anna, Lenka, I feel like we shared the same experience! 😅
Maren, the translation is “home bread”, the most common bread in Romanian stores made out of: white wheat flour, yeast, salt, water, potato flakes. -
Maren Sonnenberg 4/27/2024 12:00 PMGreat. What is the name of this bread? -
Mariana Lazar 4/27/2024 11:17 AMSmells amaaazing! 🥰 -
Anna Selders 4/27/2024 9:18 AMAnca, all eastern europeans can smell it :-D -
Lenka Karetkova 4/27/2024 7:49 AMomg Anca, I can smell it all the way to Slovakia :D looks yummy!!!!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Borrow Before I BuyHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?
Anca Laslau 4/23/2024 12:55 PMI'm fortunate to have my cousin and best friends as neighbors. We often borrow each other's bags or clothes, share extra food, and check if anyone needs anything before going shopping to save on car trips. Recently, one of my friends mentioned having two pairs of scissors, so I happily took one off her hands.-
Anca Laslau 4/24/2024 5:48 AM:))))))) I just got it -
Raul Poias 4/24/2024 3:00 AMHaha :)))) , I have no problem borrowing things to people but giving a pair of scissors is where I draw the line. Are you sure "you took one off her hands?"
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Calculate My Carbon ImpactWhere in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?
Anca Laslau 4/23/2024 12:49 PMUnfortunately since last year nothing changed. My result is still: If everyone lived like me, we would need 3.1 Earths, that’s a lot, my goal is to reach 2 Earths in the next 5 years. I knew it would be hard because I always use my car to get around. Changing that will be the toughest thing for me next year.-
Anna Selders 4/24/2024 2:05 AMYes, the thing with the car is very tough... It is also on my list -
Dorothea Sypien 4/24/2024 1:01 AMYou can do it! Every small step counts.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Beauty and Personal ProductsWhat new insights did you gain about the skincare products you use? Did you reach out to advocate for refillable or recyclable packaging?
Anca Laslau 4/23/2024 12:39 PMI’ve noticed that both my shampoo and sunscreen have parabens, so I need to look for options to change them. Thankfully there are plenty of options on the market.
Apparently many sunscreens contain chemicals such as parabens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been shown to have toxic effects on coral reefs, causing bleaching and disrupting the growth and reproduction of corals.