Justicia, Paz y Tierra / Justice, Peace and Earth: Plastic-free July

Take the challenge to have your life be plastic-free: Register for the official Plastic Free July Challenge

Plastic is made of fossil fuel. This contains chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Before we even buy anything with plastics, consider thinking about the life cycle of the plastic that you just bought whether it is packaging, or the product that you bought is made of plastic.

July is one single month dedicated to being plastic-free. This awareness is rooted in the fact that the plastic pollution is a growing problem of our world. Our society has been addicted to plastic especially the big companies which we can easily see in the big supermarkets.

Plastic-free July is a non-profit organization that originate from Plastic Free Foundation. The World Population Review shows China and United States outrank all the countries in the world in terms of plastic pollution having 37,606,230 tons and 22,867,246 tons of plastic pollution respectively followed by India, Brazil and Mexico with 7,408,124, 4,911,580, and 4,911,580 tons of the same.

Everyone is invited to make a pledge to have a plastic-free world by starting from plastic-free July. This is a challenge to refuse convenience and lack of awareness, and reflection that led us to opt for plastic and styrofoam cups in the fast-food restaurants and food trucks, to opt for single-use plastic containers from grocery bags, yoghurt cups, carton-milk jugs, laundry detergent jars, containers use in daily household consumptions. Here are 10 ways to contribute to having a plastic free world starting from your lifestyle:

1. Home Cooked Meals lessen plastic pollution.

By cooking your own food at home, you can already lessen your plastic pollution as you have the control of ingredients and produce that you will include as part of your menu. A lot of the food outside your home that are for to-go make use of a lot of plastics or styrofoam not unless you buy it from establishments that have a green/sustainable policy.

2. Carry reusable kit with you. Bring your sustainable lifestyle with you by carrying your own reusable containers, water container, and utensils in your work place, school, and events.

3. Refuse to use plastic containers.

You can refuse plastics and ask for a change. You can be in a parish event, in your own organization's event, or in the restaurant. You can ask the restaurants or cafeteria to change their purchasing policy, change your source of food while your usual establishments do not carry the sustainable practices. Ask your usual restaurants that you visit to make the shift. If they are using Styrofoam or plastic containers, invite them to opt for compostable containers.

If you are in a cafeteria and there is an option of using a real cup over a throw away cup, choose the real cup. If there is a stainless spoon and fork over plastic spoon or fork, use the stainless option.

If you belong to a parish church that carries styrofoam or plastic utensils, invite the business manager, pastor, and event organizer to be sustainable either using the reusable items or compostable items. Our late Pope Francis has left us a legacy of Laudato Si' and Pope Leo XIV has officially included the Mass for Creation as part of the official Missal of the Catholic church. It is all the more that the church has to lead the way of the faithful and the rest of our fellow brothers and sisters.

You can advocate for a plastic-free event. Host an event without Styrofoam, plastic-made throw away containers but use real plates, cups, glasses and spoons or choose compostable containers if you are not yet ready to practice grade A sustainable lifestyle to your parties and events.

4. No to plastic-packaged produce. Buy the produce not packaged in plastic. You may even save yourself a headache since some of the packaged fruits in plastic may have some rotten parts. You can also ask the management of the grocery to carry an alternative sustainable option if your favorite fruits are not packaged in sustainable container or are only packaged in plastic.

5. Do not use plastic straws. United States use 500 millions of straws every day. Straws are unnecessary part of our lifestyle. This is a top 10 contributor to plastic marine debris in the ocean. Marine animals die from plastics debris. Plastic straws came in 20th century although straws have been in the world since the ancient times. You can carry your own reusable straw if you must use it for health reason.

6. Choose cotton-fabric clothes over polyester. More likely a lot of your clothes are made up of plastic which is normally called polyester and some other synthetic fabrics. Most of these polyesters are non-biodegradable and only pollute our landfills and oceans with toxic chemicals. Single polyester fabric can discharge 700,000 micro-fibers that eventually land into the landfills. There are 92 million tons of textile that are produced globally. EPA recorded 11.3 million tons of MSW textiles in 2018 where 60% of our fabrics are made of plastics.

7. Shop at Farmers Market. Farmers Market carries more sustainable containers such as cardboard boxes, or containers for produce and glass containers for preserved jams, and canned vegetables and fruits.

8. Use sustainable pens and pencils. The traditional pencils make use of wood rather than the plastic mechanical pencils. Use sustainable pens that are made of metal, bamboo, wood or patronize those brands that offer buyback such as Payne. EPA estimates that 1.6 billion of pens go to landfill every year.

9. Choose eco-friendly made products than plastics merchandise. You have the option to choose the right thing. As a consumer you have the voice, and you have the right to patronize what is ethical for our planet. For example, instead of using ziplock, why not use eco-friendly sandwich paper bag or reusable container.

10. Systemic Change. Writing legislators, and politicians to create policies in stopping some of the sources of these unnecessary and preventable plastic pollution by not allowing establishments to carry some of these unsustainable practices.

Washington State is one of the states in United States that have banned the single-use plastics while the expanded polystyrene is about to be phased out, single use service ware is only provided on a request basis.

Having a less plastic pollution-world is possible if we take steps in reviewing our lifestyle, making our own changes in the choices we make. It is time to look at our un-reflected purchasing habits and begin transforming our way of life from unhealthy and unsustainable choices. When we do so, we can be an incarnational witness, and we can invite others to do the same. As we share this planet, it is everyone's responsibility to be mindful of the pollution that we contribute to our environment which eventually affects our heath, the health of the wild animals, and the environment. The chemicals in plastic (including the expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam) are carcinogenic and thus create more reason for us to get these away of our environment and homes.

As we begin to reflect our lifestyle in July, this is a reminder that we are preparing ourselves to be united with creation for the biggest Season for Creation is coming. September 1 to October 4 is the period when all Christians around the world are invited to reflect, celebrate, and take actions to care for our Common Home. Let us all begin by reflecting our plastic footprint and start our journey in reducing our carbon footprint through these lifestyle changes.

Let us Lament by TearFund
Our God, The God who suffered, The God who wept, and who weeps.
How long before you answer our cries?

The world is not as it should be. Injustice is everywhere. It feels like there is nothing we can do.
How long before you ease our sorrow?
How long before you heal this pain?

The world groans beneath the weight of greed. Governments fail to serve the vulnerable.
Not enough is being done to protect creation.
How long before you respond to this anger?

You are good and just, and you take the side of the oppressed.
So do not delay, Lord – hurry to help those in need.

Amen.

Justicia, Paz y Tierra / Justice, Peace and Earth

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Sunday, July 20, 2025

Plastic-free July

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