Plastic Tracker

Time:45 min Difficulty:Easy  

Did you know that almost half (40%) of all plastic made each year is used just once and then tossed away? We can cut down on plastic by making better choices! Let’s start a Plastic Journal to see how much plastic you can save!

• A notebook or some paper
• Something to write with like a pencil, pen, or marker
• Friends or family to join you

It’s time to get creative! Make a list that you will use to track all the things you buy with plastic packaging on your next grocery trip. Decorate your list with paint, pencils, or markers!
Here is an example of a packaging list to get you started! You can also take a screenshot of this example to keep it handy.

Click on the image below to zoom in!

Time for a shopping adventure! Head to the store with a grown-up. Bring your new packaging list. Before you start writing anything down, look around and see how many items you can spot with plastic packaging. It’s like a treasure hunt, but for plastic!

Track all of the groceries your parent(s) or guardian(s) have added to your cart and see which ones are or have single-use plastics. Write them down on your packaging list in the column “Did it come with single-use plastics?”

Once you’re back home, look at your list, and think about whether there might be eco-friendly packaging options or other products with less packaging that you and your family can keep an eye out for next time! Write down these ideas in the “Is there a better choice?” column of your packaging list. The goal is to see how much plastic you can avoid!

Once you’ve added these ideas to your packaging list, it’s time to team up with a grown-up! Hand it over before they go on their next shopping trip.

Help stop the entire Single-use Plastic Gang with the More Plastic More Problems Mission! Look for it in the Mission section in the Earth Rangers App!