The Creation Care Ministry of First Lutheran Church, Aitkin, MN, celebrated Earth Day, 2022 by distributing a cloth shopping bag made of recycled plastic to each family in our congregation (266). This project was funded by the EcoFaith Network and The Thrivent Action Team. Four members of our ministry team placed a trifold fact sheet about plastic pollution and why we should use recycled cloth bags rather than single-use plastic into our bags. These attractive trifold fact sheets were designed and formatted by Janine Johnson, daughter of Bob and Darlene Munneke. We placed the cloth bags in the individual mailboxes of our congregational families on April 29, prior to our celebration of Earth Day on May 1, 2022. We intend to remind our congregation to use these bags through notices in our Sunday bulletins and monthly newsletters.

WHY WE SHOULD USE CLOTH, NOT PLASTIC BAGS

Single-use plastic bags are made from oil and natural gas and end up as waste in landfills or as pollution throughout the earth. Five trillion plastic bags are produced globally each year, and Americans use 100 billion every year. Less than 3% of plastic bags are recycled.

The majority of plastic bags do not decompose within hundreds of years, but they do degrade through physical wear and photolysis (sunlight degrades them). These degradation processes turn plastic bags into smaller and smaller pieces that eventually become microparticles that are transported all over the globe by wind, rain, runoff and ocean currents. These plastic microparticles are mistaken for food by many animals, such as birds, fish and turtles. Ninety percent of all seabirds and 100% of ocean turtles have microplastics in their guts. Humans consume microplastics from food, water and air, and our individual dose equals a credit card each week.

The various plastic polymers used to make bottles, bags and food containers contain toxic chemicals that are proven to cause endocrine disruption and immunosuppression. Other contaminants in water and air, like pesticides and PCBs, are adsorbed by microplastics and transferred to the food chain as animals eat them. In other words, plastic products are contributing to the contamination of ecosystems and humans in numerous ways.

The global plastics industry emits over 200 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, the equivalent of 116 coal-fired power plants. Plastic packaging, including bags, is the largest source of plastics pollution, followed by synthetic clothing (e.g. polyester). Nine billion tons of plastic products have been produced globally since 1950, and 300 million tons are now made each year. Currently, one-half of all plastic products produced are single-use items, and only 9% of all plastics used in the U.S. are recycled.

We canʼt totally avoid buying single-use plastic products because there are few non-plastic alternatives; however, we can reduce our “plastics footprint” by using cloth shopping bags instead of the disposable plastic ones offered at stores.

We hope that you will be inspired to use the bag that we have provided you.

Sources: Grist: 12/1/21: Sierra Magazine: 3/31/22

WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT?

First, we must acknowledge that our consumptive behaviors result in a very large national impact on Godʼs creation; i.e. Americans are responsible for more pollution and resource depletion than most other people on earth. Given that, we also must understand that individual behavioral changes to reduce consumption and practice non-polluting actions will only help a modest amount to solve the serious environmental problems that face us. The most effective and immediate solutions require a political will to pass effective government policies and regulations.

However, we recognize that political priorities often stand in the way of progress toward solutions. So, if we truly wish to be a positive force in protecting Godʼs beautiful creation, we must become more politically aware and active, by advocating and voting for appropriate government action.

Some of the other effective actions we can take as individuals are:

1. Eat lower on the food chain: less meat, more local organic foods. If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 50%, the greenhouse gases from agriculture would be reduced the equivalent of removing 42 million gas- powered cars from the road. Try gardening for fresh, uncontaminated food.

2. Reduce food waste: currently 25% of the total food purchased is wasted.

3. Buy renewable electricity, if available, or produce your own with solar panels.

4. Reduce your heating, cooling and lighting costs by adding insulation and LEDs.

5. Replace inefficient appliances with Energy Star products

6. Buy sustainable, used and recycled products. Avoid single-use plastics and poly clothing.

7. Reduce your travel and fuel use: Our largest individual carbon footprint (CO2 emissions) comes from our transportation choices. If possible buy hybrid or EV vehicles. Reduce flying, as this is much more carbon intensive than driving.

8. DONʼT FORGET TO USE YOUR CLOTH BAG WHEN SHOPPING!

Creation Care Ministry