🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Watch this to learn what biodiversity is & why it's important.
• Share what you learned with at least 3 people!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Buy 100% local + organic foods at your preferred location. Do your best, trying is what matters!
• If there's a very limited selection of local + organic, talk to, call, or email the manager requesting organic .
• Thank the farmers + store managers to recognize them for the important work they do in the community!

• Alternative: If you're not in charge of grocery shopping, join the person who is on their next grocery trip. Share what you learned & help them find local + organic options.

You have the power to tell vendors what you want. The real MVP vendors will listen. Support them.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Volunteer at a local garden (e.g. farm's, community's, neighbor's, friend's) to help out with.
• Bring a friend along with you!
• Refer to the 'Wanna learn more?' section for tips on getting started

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Perennials require less maintenance than annuals and have greater impact, so we're focusing on perennials (Annuals are important too though!)

• Choose a perennial you'd like to plant
• Invite others (at least 1) to join you!
• Get the necessary materials & plant your perennial together!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Advocate for the pollinators!

• Assess the space you have in + around your home for planting
• Select a pollinator friendly plant that thrives in your home climate at this time of year
• Get the necessary materials & grow your pollinator-friendly plant!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Be the standout soil advocate our environment needs!

• Start your own compost pile in your home or in your patio/backyard/frontyard!
• Refer to the 'Wanna learn more?' section for tips on how to get started

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Speak up: ask your workplace, campus, or wherever you spend time in your day about what they use to manage their land. Specifically, how do they manage pests? What products do they use to maintain the land?
• If they use potentially unsafe methods for your community, voice your disapproval; explain to them why; and propose alternatives.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Calculate your water footprint.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Eat more plant-based meals & snacks (local + organic when possible) (i.e. whole vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits)
• Reduce your meat (e.g. beef, pork, chicken) consumption
• Reduce your dairy consumption (e.g. cheese, milk, yogurt)
• Reduce your packaged + processed food consumption

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Carpool; take mass transit; bike/skateboard/scooter; or walk to your destination
• Just don't ride in a car alone.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

We're not trying to get you to shower with a bucket everyday of your life; that's unreasonable + inconvenient. We simply want you to be more mindful about your water usage.

• Place a bucket/large cup/bowl next to you when you shower to collect excess water
• Take your shower normally
• Water any plants around the home with the water you collect

Avoid getting any non-biodegradable products (e.g. soap, shampoo, conditioner) into your bucket, especially if you're reusing the water for edible plants.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Bring your own reusable water bottle everywhere you go
• Use it instead of plastic cups or buying bottled water
• Bust the bottled water company hustle: tell at least 3 people what you learned!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Refuse taking any receipts. Tell the cashier you don't need it.
• If you need the receipt, opt to take a photo of the computer screen or have it emailed instead (when possible)
• Share your knowledge about paper receipts with at least 3 people!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Many people don't associate fashion with water consumption, but simply wearing a piece of clothing 9 months longer reduces its water footprint by 5-10%.

• Share share share! Inform at least 3 people about what's up with the fashion industry
• Make posters + send emails informing the community about the relationship of water & fashion, why it matters, and how it affects people + environment
• Bring your friends on board! Get them to commit to buying less + buying better, more sustainable fashion with you.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

There's more to the clothing industry than you may see and think.

• Take this fashion footprint quiz
• Read about the sources for the quiz you just took
• See what's up with the clothing industry in the 'Wanna learn more?' section
• Share what you learned with (at least) 3 people

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Seriously, chill out on the clothes + window shopping, online scrolling, and subscriptions to clothing brands
• Spend that shopping time focusing on your top priorities in life instead
• Hold yourself accountable. Get (at least) 2 people to do this challenge with you!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Clean out your closet of clothes you won't wear anymore
• Repurpose them (e.g. bag, cleaning rag)
• Swap with friends
• Pass them onto someone who will wear them (Maybe a sibling or cousin?)
• Do the research to find a charity that will actually reuse your donations
• Or, sell to a local thrift store or secondhand shop (ex: thredUP)

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Take this challenge when you need new clothes.

• Buy less
• Buy secondhand
• Alternatively, buy clothes made of the most sustainable fabrics (e.g. hemp, linen, recycled organic cotton), NOT synthetic material (e.g. polyester, rayon, acrylics, blend of these)
• Shift your mindset towards investing in a quality; reduce the cost per wear
• Bring friends along shopping & share what you learned

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Choose a fashion brand with a low rating

• Ask the brand's rep for transparency via email or social media (in person is best, if possible): who made the brand's clothes? How much are they paid? Get started with these scripts
• Share what you learned with (at least) 3 people
• Start a movement! Get (at least) 3 people to send an email to the brand rep asking for transparency

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Use non-toxic laundry detergent
• Wash with cold water, might as well save energy
• Line dry when possible to save energy too (Pro-tip: this helps your clothes last longer)
• Keep teaching! Share what you learned with (at least) 3 people

• Avoid perc when dry cleaning

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Find a brand that makes clothes with synthetic materials.

• Write to the brand rep what you've learned about synthetic material's impact on the environment. Ask about the brand's plan for bettering their supply source for the future.
• Share with (at least) 3 people what you've learned
• Start a movement! Get (at least) 3 people to send an email to the brand rep asking for no more synthetics

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Take a bag with you today
• Collect every piece of waste you generate (trash, recyclables, and compostables)
• At end of day, separate your collection into compostable, recyclable, and trash
• Evaluate the size of each pile and reflect. Could you have refused something to reduce or used an alternative to reuse?

• Alternative: Track your waste by making a list + mark them as compostable, recyclable, and trash

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Before you take any "free" stuff (e.g. straw in drink, napkin for takeout), pause and ask yourself: will I use this more than 5 times? If no, say 'No thank you. I won't use this enough.'
• Consider: do I already own something that can serve the same purpose? If yes, then say 'No thank you, I don't need this.'
• If you do need it, feel free to take it. This challenge is about knowing when to say 'no' and when to say 'yes'.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Bring your own reusable bags and jars
• Opt for loose goods (e.g. fruits, veggies, meat, cheese, bread) instead of packaged
• Shop at bulk bins
• Get 3 friends/fam to join you!

• We know it's not always possible to go 100% zero waste, but try. Do your best to avoid any disposable packaging

*If goods charged by weight (e.g. lb or kg), don't forget to tare your reusables before filling them up!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Refuse any single-use disposables (e.g. food containers, utensils, straws, napkins, bags)
• Bring your own reusable alternatives to events
• People will notice. Some will say something. If they do, you can respond: "I bring my own reusable __ because I don't want to contribute more waste to our oceans and landfills." Feel free to engage in conversation and share what you've learned

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Composting can takes many forms. You can: start your own compost pile, put biodegradable materials in your green bin, give your food scraps to local farms, or toss it into a community compost bin

• Compost any compostable and biodegradable waste
• If it's not compostable but recyclable, recycle it
• As a last resort, send your trash into the landfill if it isn't reusable, compostable, or recyclable

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Curate a waste-free menu. Purchase ingredients with no packaging waste, and serve on reusable dishware
• Provide reusable dishware, utensils, and napkins
• Decorate as you wish with nature + reusable items
• Make a compost bin accessible
• Invite at least 3 people to your zero waste party!
• Clean up together! Put things in the dishwasher or handwash; toss dirtied cloths into laundry; and empty the compost bin. Don't worry, this is bonding time and not as bad as it sounds
• Have lots of fun!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Choose your target audience. (e.g. local business, government)
• Draft a proposal of what you want them to change & why it matters to them. Be specific. (e.g. Ask a local restaurant to provide plastic straw only upon request.)
• Reach out and give them your pitch
• Offer to work with them to create this change for the community

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Take 5 minutes (or more) to educate yourself.
• Read the ingredient list on your skincare products
• Look them up if you don't know its purpose. Is the ingredient necessary for this product to be effective + do its job?

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Choose a product you use regularly (e.g. chapstick, lotion)
• Find a recipe to make your own!
• Share the fun! Invite at least 3 people to join

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Find affordable, safe, and sustainably sourced bodycare alternatives to products you use regularly (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, bug repellent, sunscreen)
• Share your knowledge with (at least) 3 different people

To avoid greenwashing:

• Find the company's website + understand their mission and values.
• Read through those ingredient lists.
• Do a little research and know the ingredients' funciton or check the EWG database (aim to use products with 1-2 ratings)

🤔How do I do this?🤔

This challenge isn't just for females.
For females:

• Use a menstrual cup or organic cotton pads, tampons, or pantyliners during your period
• Share your knowledge with (at least) 3 people!

For the males:

• Share this information with your close female friends + family
• Be careful how you word your message when sharing. Don't tell them what to do. Simply say something like, "Saw this and feel like it's important for more females to know. What do you think about it?

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Minimize your bodycare product waste by making your own products in a reusable container.
• Alternatively, purchase goods with no plastic. Glass or aluminum packaging is okay, although no packaging is ideal

The goal is to aim for #plasticfree (1st priority) & #paperfree (2nd priority)

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Reach out to conventional brands that you’ve purchased from or know others who purchase from. (e.g. email, call)
• Tell them a) why you don’t support their products anymore, b) what you would like them to change, and c) anything else you’d like them to know. Be polite but firm.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Teach (at least) 3 people what you've learned about bodycare
• Help them make (at least) 1 switch to a better alternative bodycare product

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Evaluate your current mental, physical, and spiritual health. What's good?
• Look at the questions in the 'Wanna learn more?' section. Honestly answer (at least) 3 of Q's & write your answers down on a piece of paper
• Having answered these questions, reflect upon how you can make life better for yourself

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Get at least 7.5 hours of sleep. Period.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Connect with your friends, family, and people you're interested in getting to know
• Do something together for at least 1.5 hours. (e.g. cook a meal + eat! stroll in the neighborhood or hike. play a game or sport.) Basically, spend time together
• In that time, ask (at least) 3 questions about the other person. Get to genuinely know them!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Get active for at least 30 minutes each day
• We don’t care how intense this activity is. Just don’t sit for 30 minutes straight
• Stand, walk around, run, swim, bike, stretch, dance, move every part of your body

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Let's be clear: we're not saying, "Don't eat anything with sugar." We simply encourage you to eat less foods with added sugars, because we want you to feel better every day.

• Eat foods without added sugars. Whole, unprocessed fruit is okay!
• Check for added sugars by reading the ingredients list on packages
• Don't make assumptions. If someone homemade the food, ask if any sugar was added
• If you're ever unsure, just don't eat it for this challenge

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Do what you want
• Say 'no' to things you really don't want to do. Either 1) don't do it (if reasonable), or 2) do it later
• Respect your me-time

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Meditate for at least 10 minutes each day. Pay attention to your thoughts and observe them
• Try out yoga each day for 5-10 minutes
• Write each day for at least 10 minutes. Reflect upon your day, feelings, and thoughts. Just let them flow into words on paper

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Read the ingredient list of all the cleaning products you use in your home
• If you don't know what an ingredient is or its health rating, look it up in this database.

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Choose a cleaning product you use often (e.g. all-purpose cleaner, degreaser)
• And go make your own! Stop by the 'Wanna learn more?' section if you need help getting started
• Once you've made it, get cleaning!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

When you're ready to shop for your cleaning products:

• Find safer cleaning alternatives that are within your budget. Be careful of greenwashing!
• Buy them
• And use them!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Reach out to brands that you’ve purchased from (e.g. email, call)
• Tell them a) why you like their products or don't like their products anymore, b) how they can improve for you, and c) anything else you’d like them to know
• Don't do it alone: get at least 2 peers to take this challenge too!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

When your current cleaning tools have reached the end of their life:

• Repurpose old t-shirts into cleaning rags
• For cleaning tasks that can't be accomplished with a rag (e.g. scrubbing, protection), get reusable non-plastic tools made of plant-based materials (e.g. bamboo, wood, natural rubber)

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Bring the safe cleaning solution(s) + equipment
• Get together with your friends + fam & clean their homes together
• Share what you learned about conventional cleaning products + safer alternatives

🤔How do I do this?🤔

Be loud, and raise awareness about this topic in your community! Here are ways to get started:

• Persuade the person in charge of purchasing the cleaning products at your home or workplace (e.g. office manager, school cleaning director) to switch to safe cleaning products
• Make posters and/or send emails to inform the community about buying and using safer cleaning products, why it matters, and how it affects them
• Host a (mini) workshop teaching other people what you've learned

• The goal is to engage your community!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Watch this until minute 3
• Clean out your space. Keep what you need and use. Group the stuff that you don't
• Refer to the 'Wanna learn more' section for tips to get started

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Bring (at least) 2 indoor plants into your home
• If you don't live in a too polluted area, open your windows to let fresh air in once in a while

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Swap out old lightbulbs with LEDs
• Unplug unused devices + appliances
• Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature (e.g. 68F/20C in winter, 78F/26C in summer)
• Use cold water to do laundry
• Invest in quality insulation for your home

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Find environmentally responsible alternatives to the plastic products you use
• Reusable is ideal, but if reusable isn't a viable option, aim for compostable and biodegradable
• When the life of your plastic product comes to an end, purchase the alternative you found instead

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Find bedding that is made of sustainably sourced materials: pillow, pillow cover, mattress, blanket, mattress cover, bedspread
• Share what you learned with at least 3 other people

• If you're in need of new bedding & can afford, purchase sustainably made + safe bedding

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Research to find houseware + furniture made of safe materials
• Keep teaching: share with (at least) 3 people what you learned
• If you find an incredible brand & are happy with a purchase, be sure to send a compliment their way for valuing quality + people's safety. It's important we uplift those doing good work!

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Host a house party at whatever scale you are comfortable with
• Invite (at least) 3 people (who don't already live with you)
• Show off the changes you've made in your home & share the things you have learned!
• It wouldn't be as fun a party without food. Prep some FLOSN foods and enjoy your time together!

*FLOSN = fresh, local, organic, seasonal, non-GMO

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Identify your values that you will not compromise
• Think about how you will constructively respond to a person or event that challenges your values. What will you say and do?

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Find + eat at a place that serves 100% FLOSN food, or as close to 100% as possible
• Zero your waste in this adventure: refuse any single-use disposable items. Bring your own reusable food containers for any leftovers or takeout
• Consider the water + carbon footprint of your eating choices + travel method
• Ask the employees Q's about the ingredients used in their dishes.

FLOSN = fresh, local, organic, seasonal, non-GMO

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Look for products made with Fair Trade practices next time you shop
• If you're not sure if something was made with fair trade practices, ask questions (e.g. send emails, ask store employees)

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Spend at least 30 minutes each day outdoors in nature (not surrounded by buildings)
• If you see litter, pick it up + dispose of it properly. You'll help keep the environment clean from trash

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Take reusable items necessary for your next outing with you (e.g. reusable food containers for eating out; reusable bag for grocery shopping)
• Break up with single-use. Refuse any single-use items (e.g. utensils, dishes, bag, napkin, paper receipt)
• When you refuse an item, include why so other people know. 'No thank you, I don't need that ___ because I don't want to ___.'

🤔How do I do this?🤔

When you need to gift something:

• Get a gift that is sustainably made by a socially responsible company and non-toxic to health. Or, get an experience for your giftee
• Wrap it (if possible) with upcycled materials that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable
• Top it off with a thoughtful little note telling them how amazing they are
• Please do not gift your giftee something they probably won't use

🤔How do I do this?🤔

• Tell someone you care about __. Insert a word that you feel is true, something that RootUp inspired. It can be the environment, food justice, reducing your waste, or learning
• Casually mention it or have a whole conversation
• Do this with family. With friends. With teachers or professors. With strangers. Doesn't matter, just tell people.