DAY 1:
Measure your ecological footprint & begin the challenge!

Welcome to the CEMfg Earth Month Challenge!

You might like to kick it off by finding a buddy to take this challenge with you so you can motivate each other as you go. The more people participate, the merrier! We also encourage you to share on social media how you’ve completed each day’s challenge and tag us, thus motivating others.

We’ll start the challenge off easy; measure your ecological footprint. On the last day, we’ll have you do this again so you can see the positive impact you’ve had on the planet :)

Take the test here:
Footprint Calculator

DAY 2:
Eco Movie Night: Plastics

On the second day of Earth Month, CEMfg gave to me, a bunch of movies to see!

Check out the films below which all dig into how plastic pollution is affecting the planet.  Seen all of them? Share the list with a friend to spark a conversation about recycling and how to reduce your plastic waste:
- Watch ‘The Story of Plastic’ on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, DiscoveryGo, Xfinity or Sling.
- Watch ‘Junk Raft’ on Vimeo here.
- Watch ‘A Plastic Ocean’ on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV, iTunes or Google Play.

DAY 3:
Browse these zero-waste stores and do at least 2 swap-outs.

Find your next favorite purchase, without the guilt of plastic packaging at one of these zero-waste stores.  Because sometimes, retail therapy can do good for the planet too:
- Package Free Shop - an ecosystem of brands on a mission to make the world less trashy.
- Precycle NYC - reduce your environmental impact by reducing food and packaging waste.
- Planted – a low-waste market with spices, pantry items and other home essentials.

If you know of any others in your area, post about them and tag us on social media!

DAY 4:
Switch your browser to Ecosia & search for at least 1 plastic swap-out.

Have you ever thought your internet searches could go to better use? Check out Ecosia.org, where your searches plant trees in some of the harshest places on Earth.

Now you can start using it to find other plastic-free alternatives to household items, such as:
- shopping bags
- water bottles
- Q-tips
- Skincare products in plastic containers
- Toothpaste tablets
- Cleaning supplies in plastic containers
- Pantiliners/tampons/pads
- Trash bags
- Wax food wraps

DAY 5:
Shop in your own wardrobe & turn old items into rags / donate them.

Go shopping in your own wardrobe and find new outfits. If you find something you won't ever wear again, cut it (and any old towels) up and roll them up to use as a substitute for paper towels. If they're too cute to be cut up, donate them to Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange, DSNY, Salvation Army or ThredUp.

DAY 6:
Fix at least 1 broken item that you would have otherwise replaced.

The fix is in! Instead of tossing out a broken item, restore it to its former glory with a little elbow grease and ingenuity. Post before and after pictures and tag us on social media to show how you're making a difference in your own home.

DAY 7:
Take old electronics to one of these e-waste facilities.

Everyone has old electronic products hanging around the house; from old cell phones to used batteries, and they can be difficult to toss out responsibly. Today’s your chance to dispose of them in a sustainable way. The convenient locations below all accept e-waste:
- Best Buy
- Office Depot
- DSNY
- GrowNYC

DAY 8:
Make a DIY natural cleaner & put it in a reusable container.

Mr. Clean ain’t got nothing on you! Create your own cleaning products by getting the download from the resources below:
- 7 DIY Green Cleaning Products You Must Try: Natural, Eco-friendly and Zero-Waste
- DIY Natural General Cleaner

Got a lifehack for some DIY cleaning products? Share them on your social media and tag us!

DAY 9:
Eco Movie Night: Sustainable Eating

Time to plop down on the couch and check out another one CEMfg’s recommended eco-centric films. This time, we’re focusing on sustainable eating. Grab some organic popcorn and check out one of these flicks:
- Watch ‘Cowspiricy’ on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play or Apple TV.
- Watch ‘What the Health’ on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV or iTunes.
- Watch ‘The Game Changers’ on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV or Vudu.

DAY 10:
Visit your local farmers’ market & see what you can start buying there.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-Oh have you tried this local Swiss chard? 

Check out your local farmers’ market to see what locally-sourced, organic foods you can find. Find an old favorite vendor or try something new. Also, when you’re there, try to pick the perfectly tasty less pretty produce that others won’t, so they don’t go to waste!

DAY 11:
Cook one of these waste-free recipes.

Today is the day to channel your inner Alton Brown and get cookin’!  Check out these tasty, waste-free recipes and see if you classify any of them as “Good Eats:'“
- No Waste Raspberry and Apricot Ice Cream Cake
- Broccoli Stalk, Kimchi & Zucchini Tangle with Honey Tamari Almonds
- Celery Root, Celery Heart, and Celery Leaf Salad
- Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps
- No waste carrot Top and Spinach Dip
- Vegetable Broth from vegetable food scraps

While you’re at it, check out a few ways to reduce food waste through preservation here to take your sustainable eating to the next level.

DAY 12:
Start collecting your food scraps.

Ok, I guess it’s time for us to practice what we preach. Check out the CEMfg Compost 101 workshop and see how you can start composting. Come for the composting tips, stay for the witty banter and informative Q&A session.

For an easy kick-off, just start collecting your food scraps in any container, keep them in the fridge or freezer to avoid any possible odors, and either take them to a food scrap collection site or see if your neighborhood has curbside collection. It’s so easy to have such a great impact!

DAY 13:
Cook & eat vegan all day. Yum!

Where’s the beef? Not here, not today. We’re going all-vegan today. If you’re already vegan, then congrats! You’ll still get to try these great recipes for a new favorite to add to the rotation:
- Scrambled Eggs w/ tomato & spinach - vegan (tofu)
- Vegan French Toast
- Lentin Ragu - vegan
- Rosemary Focaccia bread
- 5 Easy Vegan dinners
- Vegan Fish and Chips
- Micro Merengues

Share your vegan delicacies with us on social media and encourage others to try them, too!

DAY 14:
Check out Loop and see if you’d like to subscribe.

Imagine zero-waste versions of your everyday essentials from your favorite brands. That’s Loop.

Why own a product's packaging (and have to throw it away when you're done), when all we really want is the stuff inside? With Loop, temporarily place a refundable deposit to borrow the packaging, and they’ll professionally clean and reuse it once you've finished.

DAY 15:
Subscribe to these food-saving services.

Momma always said beauty is on the inside. Well, our friends below might not have the prettiest produce, but they’re helping reduce food waste across the country by selling perfectly fresh and delicious food that normally would get thrown away. Check out these for a subscription to produce delivery:
- Misfits Market
- Imperfect Foods

And check out this great app that gets you huge discounts on food from eateries that are about to close for the day and still have a bunch of food left that would otherwise just get thrown away. It’s a genius invention, really.
- Too Good to Go

DAY 16:
Eco Movie Night: Climate Change

What’s your favorite scary movie? Ours are the movies below which delve into the terrifying facts behind climate change. Spend your Friday movie night in watching one of these masterpieces:
- Watch “An Inconvenient Truth Sequel: Truth to Power” on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu or Pluto TV.
- Watch “Climate Change: The Facts” on PBS, DocumentaryMania.com or on NatureDocumentaries.org
- Watch “Chasing Coral” on Netflix.
- Watch “The True Cost” on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi or iTunes.

DAY 17:
Buy at least 1 edible potted plant at the market.

It’s Saturday again! And you know what that means… Yup. Farmers’ market day!

Today, buy an edible potted plant (herbs, leafy greens, chilies, and those of the like) and get home decor, clean air, and (basically) free food, all at once. If you start collecting them, you can end up with a cute little windowsill garden. Yay!

DAY 18:
Take the whatsyour2040.com test and take at least 1 action.

Imagine a better, more sustainable future. That’s what the film “2040” presents; showing how we can change the world for the better if we start taking the right steps, right now.

So, the creators of the film have generated a way for you to start activating your “2040” plan by plugging in your relative location and lifestyle to receive ideas of ways to help the planet, specific to you. Activate your plan today.

DAY 19:
Switch to a water-saving showerhead.

Today’s challenge is easy. For as little as $22, you can start saving water every day without any further effort. Swap out your showerhead for a water-saving one by checking out these options:
- Tree Hugger
- Home Depot

Once you’ve done so, remember to donate your old one to any charity shop, including the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

DAY 20:
Go solar with one of these services.

Going solar has never been so easy. With the assistance of our friends below, you no longer have to install your own solar panels to live off of solar energy. Check out the renewable options below:
- ConEdison Renewable Energy
- Community Energy
- Common Energy
- Green Mountain

Also, make sure to use Ecosia to search for Community Solar Gardens near you.

DAY 21:
Support your most sustainably-focused government representative.

While everyday changes to your consumption patterns make a huge difference, oftentimes it takes more than just the individual effort. Today, we’re challenging you to do the research (using Ecosia, obviously) and vote for environmentally-conscious government representatives in your area. We all need to work together to help build a better future, and electing officials that lean green can potentially help enact the most change.

DAY 22:
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
Compare your footprint & watch our panel.

The day has come!

Have you been following along with our daily challenges? Now is the time to check in on your ecological footprint again to see how the changes we introduced might have changed how you affect the environment.

Make sure to also celebrate today by watching our Earth Day panel discussion featuring Loop, Ace of Air, The New School, Terracyle and Solar SEED! What a panel!

Now go have a picnic in the park, enjoy the nature and appreciate the wonderful Earth we live on! Thank you for taking this challenge and making it a better one, together.