A Plastic Free Church

 

Achieving a ‘Plastic-Free Church’ Requires Not Only Individual Action but Also Supporting Systems and the Catholic press gives the readers some help in understanding the issue. 

Plastic, used indiscriminately in daily life, is identified as a major factor hindering carbon neutrality throughout its entire lifecycle, from production to recycling. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea's Ecological Environment Committee setting this year's Catholic Environmental Award theme as ‘Solving the Plastic Problem in the Era of Climate Crisis’ clearly demonstrates the Church's commitment to addressing this issue.

In line with the Church's recommendation to minimize the use of plastic products, dioceses and parishes are also presenting practical tasks to reduce single-use items and promote a culture of resource conservation. Specific measures include providing reusable cups, installing umbrella rainwater removers, utilizing reusable fabric banners, establishing separate collection systems for paper packs, and expanding the availability of water purifiers and drinking fountains.

If these external changes in parishes lead to improved awareness among parishioners, they could expand into environmental campaigns linked with local communities or the operation of resource recycling centers. Many churches already operate resource recycling shops that reward parishioners with mileage points or cash based on the weight of cleanly washed and sorted recyclables they bring in.

The head of an Ecology and Environment Subcommittee at one of the parishes, stated, “When the resource recycling corner first opened, some parishioners were unfamiliar with it, but through consistent education, they came to understand the meaning of environmental practice and now actively utilize it. By naturally practicing waste separation and reducing single-use items at the church, we are participating in preserving God's creation.”

Ecological conversion requires not only individual action but also efforts to improve climate and environmental policies. Pope Francis stated: “Without citizens exercising political power over national, regional, and local governments, environmental damage cannot be prevented. Moreover, when neighboring communities agree to support the same environmental policies, local laws become more effective.”  

The Consumer Climate Action, recipient of the 20th Catholic Environmental Award, is an organization putting this spirit into practice. They gather the voices of environmentally conscious consumers and strive to change climate and environmental systems, actively promoting campaigns and legislation to address the plastic problem.

The representative of Consumer Climate Action, stated, “While individual actions are important for solving the plastic problem, we need regulations that reduce the amount produced in the first place,” adding, “Special legislation requiring compliance with safety standards for microplastics when manufacturing or importing products is also absolutely necessary to build a sustainable society.” 

Consumer Climate Action is focusing its efforts on enacting relevant laws through campaigns and signature drives that raise awareness about the impact of plastic consumption on the climate crisis and the dangers of microplastics. A leader in society said, “We hope Catholic parishes and organizations will also take an interest in how current systems and laws affect environmental issues and join efforts to improve them,” adding, “Especially during parish clothing swaps, sharing and recycling a lot of clothing would also greatly help reduce microplastics.”  

Secretary General of the Ecological Environment Committee of the Bishops' Conference stated, “Plastics produced from petrochemicals are a major obstacle to carbon neutrality, so this year we focused on solving the plastic problem.” He added, “Alongside the practices of parishes and individuals using less plastic, institutional improvements are also needed to enable us to voluntarily choose environmentally friendly products for the protection of creation.”