Powell, OH — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to collaborate with the Calgary Zoo and EcoChallenge.org in leading the second Plastic Free EcoChallenge, taking place from July 1-31 among participating zoos and aquariums in North America to encourage reducing the use of single-use plastic.
This year’s challenge has grown from last year’s internal initiative for zoo and aquarium employees to now encourage the public to join the effort in order to help make an even bigger impact. Participants choose from over 65 actions and seven categories and set realistic goals while also challenging themselves to delve deeper into simple actions that can be taken to reduce reliance on single-use plastic.
Last year, over 5,000 zoo and aquarium employees participated in the challenge across 26 states in the U.S. and four provinces in Canada. This year, more than 45 zoological facilities are supporting the Plastic Free EcoChallenge as sponsors and inviting their communities to take part. So far, more than 10,000 people have signed up to take the 31-day challenge and others are still encouraged to join!
While the use of plastic has benefited modern technology, very little of the single-use plastic is recycled or reused for other purposes. Millions of tons of discarded plastic continue to swirl through the world’s oceans and as plastic takes up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills, they are an environmental issue that can negatively impact humans and marine and terrestrial wildlife for decades to come. After being inspired by a plastic free initiative that originated with a non-profit group in Australia, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Calgary Zoo worked together with EcoChallenge.org to create an initiative specifically for the zoo and aquarium community to help address these issues facing wildlife locally and globally.
“Sometimes, the magnitude of conservation and sustainability issues can seem overwhelming, but the purpose of the Plastic Free EcoChallenge is to show how simple steps can truly add up and make a collective impact. The challenge can be uniquely tailored to each participant, it allows them to track their progress, and it shows how unity in this cause is making a big difference. As zoos and aquariums dedicated to working to protect these species, we’re proud to help continue raising awareness and encourage members of our community to join us in taking actions that directly help protect the future of wildlife,” said Barb Revard, Director of Sustainability at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The Central Ohio community is invited to join the Columbus Zoo Plastic Free EcoChallenge team by visiting https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/users/join and selecting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Community Team. Additional information about the Plastic Free EcoChallenge is also available here.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species from around the globe, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Course. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact; annually contributing $4 million of privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
