RACHEL Torres

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

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

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.