We are in the fourth week of the Season of Creation. Last week the theme was using “eat for the planet”; this week the theme is “From Single-use to Multi-use.”
So why is plastic such a big deal if you recycle your plastic? Well, first there is the carbon footprint of manufacturing plastic. Hint: it comes from fossil fuels! And, unfortunately despite what you might have heard, most (around 90%) of the plastic we use either isn’t recycled or can’t be recycled, and even when it can be recycled, remember that recycling itself exacts a carbon footprint, not to mention its impact on the poor and marginalized. For an eye-opening film on plastics, please watch the Story of Plastics, which you can watch on YouTube at youtu.be/PCNanJNJ8JA.
A better approach to buying and recycling plastic is to reduce your consumption of plastic, especially single-use plastics! Start by taking an accounting of the plastic in your home and office. Walk through each room of your house and note what items are made of or housed in plastic. Then start reducing those plastics, especially single-use plastics, one by one.
Ideas for reducing plastic usage:
- Refuse to purchase single-use water bottles. Carry a metal or glass water bottle with you when you are away from home.
- Say no to straws. (Seattle has banned plastic straws, but remember to stay vigilant when traveling elsewhere.)
- Stop using paper cups (usually lined and topped with plastic) at your coffee shop. Bring your own steel coffee mug to your espresso stand and to work. (During the pandemic this was harder, but many coffee shops are allowing you to bring your own coffee cups again.)
- Bring metal flatware and reusable dishes to work so you can avoid single-use plastics.
- When purchasing food, look for items in glass bottles, cardboard boxes, or metal cans (not lined in BPA plastic). As much as possible, purchase bulk items in reusable containers and store them in glass jars.
- Purchase cloth shopping and produce bags. We use organiccottonmart.com.
- Get rid of vinyl shower curtains, pillow, and mattress covers and replace them with natural fabrics.
- Consider replacing your foam mattress with a natural cotton mattress.
- Replace plastic food storage containers with glass (even with plastic lids, they are better), metal tins, or reusable alternatives to plastic wrap such as etee (shopetee.com).
- Purchase cosmetics and other bathroom supplies in non-plastic containers. Buy bar soap rather than liquid soap in plastic bottles.
- When purchasing appliances look for ones that have minimal or no plastic.
- Download the Detox Me app on your phone to get more suggestions on reducing your exposure to plastics and other toxins. See tinyurl.com/lsia-detox-me.
Working together, we can help take care of our common home.
Paul Litwin
Saint Francis of Assisi at St John the Evangelist 