The World's First Zero Waste Adventure

Correct Answer: Divert 90 percent or more of all waste produced, while striving for an eventual goal of 100 percent

Explanation: A zero waste initiative diverts (reuses, recycles, upcycles and composts) 90 percent or more of all waste produced. Zero waste strives to generate as little trash as possible with a goal of sending no garbage to landfills. Another aim is to reduce our consumption and use only what we need. By redesigning resource lifecycles, we can create a circular economy in which products are reused rather than discarded. The circular economy mimics cycles in nature—just think of the lifecycle of a cottonwood tree. Seeds are blown from a pollinating tree, planted into the ground and then begin to grow. The trees release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Mature trees then spread their seeds for future trees. At the end of their lifecycle, the trees become compost, leaving rich soil for other plants to grow. This natural cycle benefits the environment, and like the aim of zero waste, no trash is produced!

Correct Answer: Up to 1 trillion

Explanation: People around the world consume 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags each year. That’s 1 to 2 million plastic bags every minute! On average, only one plastic bag out of every 200 is recycled. Plastic bags have caused a crisis for our oceans and marine wildlife, and with little wonder—we dump 8 million tons of plastic into the sea every year. The bags, along with other plastic pollution, have been found in the stomachs of threatened species, including turtles, seals, whales, porpoises andseabirds. In addition to the environmental output, energy input is also an expense: the amount of energy required to make only 12 plastic bags is equal to driving a car one mile.

To help combat this problem, more and more governments are placing fees and limitations on plastic bags. To reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic litter, cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Boston andWashington, D.C., have taken strides to eliminate plastic bags. Abroad, Kenya, coastal towns in Chile, and Karnataka, India, have placed strict bans on single-use plastic bags.

Correct Answer: Book a flight with a layover.

Explanation: Takeoff and landing use the most fuel during a flight. By limiting your number of flights and by taking a direct route to your destination, you are lessening fuel emissions. You can further reduce your carbon footprint by offsetting the emissions from your flight. As the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company, Natural Habitat has offset the carbon output of all our on-trip operations. Bringing a reusable water bottle, coffee mug and snacks for the plane will reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles, cups andpackaging. Bringing warm layers, a large scarf or a neck pillow will help you avoid the need for plastic-wrapped airplane blankets and pillows.

Sustainable Travel Tip: A cloth handkerchief or bandana can come in handy and can be used in place of tissues!

Correct Answer: All of the above.

Explanation: Searching out repurposed travel accessories, or even creating your own, can be fun! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own toothpaste, body cream or deodorant! Zero waste toiletries eliminate the need for "travel-sized" plastic bottles, and upcycled backpacks and sunglasses lessen the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

Sustainable Travel Tip: Did you know you can buy compostable toothbrushes made of bamboo? Plastic toothbrushes are nonbiodegradable and are supposed to be thrown away every three months—that’s 40 toothbrushes per person over a decade!

Correct Answer: 500 million

Explanation: Straw-free policies are being implemented all over the world to reduce ocean pollution and landfill waste. Many animals are harmed by ingesting plastic debris. Highlighting the crisis is the viral video of a plastic straw stuck in a sea turtle’s nasal cavity. Thankfully, organizations around the world are working to lessen the consumption of single-use plastic, and at the forefront is a movement to eliminate single-use plastic straws. Ordinances banning plastic straws are being put into effect from Seattle to Scotland. Natural Habitat has gone to great lengths to remove single-use plastic water bottles and straws from our trips.

Plastic-free partakers have many options for reusable straws, including bamboo, metal, paper, glass andacrylic. Get inventive—use a piece of pasta as a stir-stick or a sugar straw for drinks, and think up other straw-worthy materials! Or, simply go without.

Correct Answer: Buying a new pair of shoes that donates half its profits to an environmental organization

Explanation: Upcycling transforms old, discarded and unwanted products into new materials of better quality or for better environmental value. A new pair of shoes doesn’t make the cut, but some companies have started making shoes and other products out of plastic water bottles!

Try these upcycled planter ideas: old colanders can be transformed into hanging flower baskets, upside-down lightbulbs showcase roots for a mini plant aquarium, and corks can be home to tiny succulents! Paint cans and rainboots make colorful, creative planters, and an old wheelbarrow adds a rustic touch.

Correct Answer: 4.4 pounds.

Explanation: Overconsumption is a heightened issue in a time of climate change, shrinking resources anda growing population. Landfills leach toxins into soil and groundwater and are responsible for 15 percent of methane emissions in America. While the average American sendsa lot of waste to landfills, adapting some of the aspects of a zero waste lifestyle can help lessen the load! With enough people participating, we can transform our “disposable” society into one om which more waste is diverted through refusing, recycling, composting, reusing and upcycling.

Correct Answer: Browsing around and deciding on food items as you go

Explanation: Creating a meal plan and writing out a shopping list beforehand can help you reduce food waste by knowing how much to get, so you don’t overbuy. Cloth or canvas bags can substitute for the single-use plastic bags often used for produce and groceries. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even turn an old T-shirt into a shopping bag! You can avoid plastic wrappers and containers by buying food in the bulk foods aisle, where you can fill mason jars or cotton drawstring bags with the unpackaged food stored in large canisters. Reducing red meat consumption can also help conserve resources. It takes 25 times more energy to produce one calorie of beef than to produce one calorie of corn. Animal proteins typically require significantly more land and water use than plant proteins, so lessening your meat intake is a win for the environment!

Correct Answer: All of the above

Explanation: Cutting down on food waste helps decrease your carbon footprint. Land used for agriculture takes away the habitats of wildlife. A lot of water is used in food production to grow crops and, to a greater extent, raise animals for meat and dairy. Energy is used to produce, transport and cook our food.

Sustainable Travel Tip: Dining out can be tricky! You may start to realize the amount of waste that goes into consuming a meal, from paper napkins to plastic utensils. Next time you eat out, try any of these waste-saving tips. Refuse a plastic straw. Request reusable utensils. Share a plate with a dining companion, or if you can’t finish your meal, bring a reusable container to take back leftovers—55 percent of leftovers are thrown out!

Correct Answer: Keep your fridge at 60° F.

Explanations: Keep the temperature of your fridge at 40° F or below to store food safely and preserve its freshness. Before traveling, you can roast vegetables or make them into a delicious soup to freeze while you are away. You can also chop up fruits to store in the freezer! Compost vegetable skins, peels and ends, or make them into a savory broth. Bruised fruits and veggies go well in jams, pies and soups. You can also use overripe produce in a smoothie or to make zucchini or banana bread!

Correct Answer: 1/3

Explanation: About one-third (1.3 billion tons) of food is wasted each year at a cost of $750 billion. The average American throws away 40 percent of their food annually, while one out of six Americans goes hungry. World Wildlife Fund estimates that between 2015 and 2016, 2.5 million acres of North America’s Great Plains were converted to agriculture. Six songbirds found only in the native grasslands are declining as their habitat is lost to crop production. Unfortunately, a portion of those crops will end up in landfills. In Brazil, jaguars are increasingly threatened by rapid deforestation as land is converted into farms and ranches to supply the food on our plates. WWF's Living Planet Report shows that in just four decades, the planet’s wildlife populations have declined by 58 percent, largely due to loss of habitat. We can make a difference by eating sustainably! Look at how and where your food is produced, eat seasonally and try to limit food waste.

Correct Answer: Incinerators as the primary waste disposal method.

Explanation: In a zero waste society, the aim is to replace incinerators and landfills with resource recovery infrastructure that recovers 90 percent or more of our waste. New policies and rules can be implemented through environmentally sound legislature. Smarter designs for manufacturing processes can encourage more responsible use of natural resources. When manufacturers are held accountable for a product’s end-of-life impact, it gives them an incentive to design for the environment, not for the landfill. Conservation programs can educate and involve community members, inspiring them to be advocates for an environmentally friendly planet. Support Natural Habitat Adventures as we debut our first zero waste adventure, and call for zero waste progress in your community!