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Sydney Hwang's avatar

Sydney Hwang

Foundations and Practice of Sustainability 2020

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 320 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    28
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    17
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    15
    petitions
    signed
  • UP TO
    420
    minutes
    spent outdoors

Sydney's actions

Transportation

Walk Instead

I will walk 2 mile(s) each day this week instead of driving and avoid sending up to 16.88 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Consumption and Economy

Track my Purchases

I will maintain a record of all my purchases.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Watch The Story of Bottled Water

I will watch The Story of Bottled Water to learn more about bottled water's impacts on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. This week, I'll say "no" to plastic bags at the store and plastic straws in all of my drinks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Reduce My Footprint

I will calculate my ecological footprint and talk with my family or roommates about way we can reduce our negative enviromental impact.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 4 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Recycle Everything I Can

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Connect with a Nonprofit

I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Pay Attention to Current Events

I will watch or read the news each day this week with a specific focus on sustainability issues and happenings.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Practice Gratitude for Earth

This week, I will spend 60 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Sign a Petition

I will sign petitions in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?


  • Sydney Hwang's avatar
    Sydney Hwang 11/29/2020 10:13 PM
    This week was a good time for a transportation related goal, since I usually do not go off campus much during a normal week. During break I went out on Friday and Sunday. Friday I used the metro to get to and from the St. Louis Arch (and I was able to go to the top!). Sunday I walked and took the bus with friends, and we took an Uber back (not ideal but the ride lasted less than 10 minutes). That was my first time using the bus, and I did have to walk a bit to get to the bus stop, but it was very convenient and cheaper than an Uber! 

  • Sydney Hwang's avatar
    Sydney Hwang 11/15/2020 7:31 PM
    This week I tracked all my purchases, and I realized that I have not been buying a lot of products. Other than food at WashU, the only other purchases I have been making are on clothes (my friends and I occasionally go thrifting) and groceries (my friends and I go once every two weeks). I used to shop online a lot, but that has stopped now that I have been thrifting with my friends, which is great! 

    • Dan Sabella's avatar
      Dan Sabella 11/16/2020 9:25 AM
      Hi Sydney,
      Thrifting is great! Not only can second hand save a lot of money, its fun to find unique treasures. 

  • Sydney Hwang's avatar
    Sydney Hwang 11/15/2020 7:31 PM
    This week I tracked all my purchases, and I realized that I have not been buying a lot of products. Other than food at WashU, the only other purchases I have been making are on clothes (my friends and I occasionally go thrifting) and groceries (my friends and I go once every two weeks). I used to shop online a lot, but that has stopped now that I have been thrifting with my friends, which is great! 

  • Sydney Hwang's avatar
    Sydney Hwang 11/08/2020 3:18 PM
    I watched The Story of Bottled Water and didn't get any plastic bags from the grocery store this week. Watching the video was surprisingly familiar, and I think I actually watched it when I was in middle school (we had a whole unit on saving water and we learned about our local watershed). I think WashU makes a big effort not to sell plastic water bottles, and has water bottle refilling stations everywhere instead. For me, the main draw for plastic bottles was their convenience when I was out, but now I have gotten used to bringing a water bottle everywhere. 

    When I go to the grocery store I have reusable bags that I usually bring, but I recently misplaced them :( so this week I brought my own plastic bags. My friends and I usually walk to the grocery store so I have also been bringing a backpack for groceries, which is more convenient and better for the environment.  

  • Sydney Hwang's avatar
    Sydney Hwang 11/02/2020 9:39 PM
    Last week's challenge to eat less meat was surprisingly easy! Since I am in college, not eating meat is quite easy. I do not need to do any cooking as I get almost all of my meals from the WashU dining hall. I ate four vegetarian meals last week, and I have decided to try to eat five vegetarian meals every week. 

    • Isabelle Hilder's avatar
      Isabelle Hilder 11/05/2020 4:05 PM
      When I lived on campus at Wash U, the amount of meatless options was one of my favorites parts of the dinning experience! I'm not sure if it's open this year, but my personal favorite was the stir fry station in The Village- lots of great veggies! 

    • Mary Ann Lazarus's avatar
      Mary Ann Lazarus 11/04/2020 1:24 PM
      Congrats Sydney. this is good for your health and the planet. Did you miss meat? there are so many other protein options. Good thing that WashU has so many meat-less options