Working for Justice

Did you know? 



Every two seconds, somewhere in the world, a forest area the size of a football field is destroyed – for things like paper towels, napkins, printer paper – and the loss of those trees is disastrous for the environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen. In the U.S. alone, 6,500,000 tons of paper towels are sent to landfills each year, where they release deadly methane gas into the air. The paper industry uses more water to produce a ton of product than any other industry.

What can you do? 



Buy Swedish dish cloths (or a bunch of regular dish cloths); they are durable, super absorbent, and air-dry quickly. Plus they are washable which makes it easy to reuse them over and over again. Or cut up old tee shirts and towels and keep nearby; launder when needed. Use cloth napkins at home. Each family member can use the same one for many days before it needs laundered. When printing something, always print double sided. Change your habits to change the world!

Did you know?



In the U.S. we throw away 16 billion disposable “to go” cups annually after we drink our coffee, tea, or cold drink (50 billion globally). Made out of paper, plastic, or Styrofoam, the entire lifecycle of disposable cups, from raw material extraction to production and transportation, requires significant energy, contributing to environmental degradation. Even though most are now made of paper, they are most often coated with polyethylene, which is a plastic and makes these cups next to impossible to recycle, therefore ending up for decades in landfills generating methane.

What can you do?



BYOC – bring your own cup! Most coffee shops, including Starbucks, Dunkin, and mom and pop shops, are willing to pour beverages into customers’ own cups, so bring your own clean reusable insulated or ceramic mug to significantly cut down on waste. It’s a habit we can all adopt!

Did you know?

It takes 3x as much water to produce a plastic water bottle than it does to fill it. The U.S. uses 17 million barrels of oil each year just to produce water bottles, not counting the oil used for their transportation. Every day, people in the U.S throw away more than 60 million plastic water bottles, of which only 10-20% are recycled; most end up in landfills, on the side of the road, or polluting oceans and other waterways. Bottled water has been found to contain hundreds of thousands of micro and nanoplastic particles; scientists are actively studying the effects this may have on our bodies.

What can you do?

BYOB! Carry and use your own stainless steel or glass reusable water bottles that you fill up at home. Tap water has been found to have significantly less plastic than bottled water; a filtered water pitcher is a good way to make your water even safer. Plus, you will save a significant amount of money. Bottled water costs an average of $1.11 per gallon, while tap water costs less than half a penny per gallon.  Ditching the plastic water bottle habit is a win, win, win – for the earth, for your health, and for your wallet!

Did you know?

More than 100 billion plastic bags are used in America each year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes and then either properly recycled (less than 10%), thrown in landfills or become litter. Plastic bags that end up in landfills or in the environment take more than 500 years to decompose. During this time, animals and sea life come in contact with the material and are at risk. As the plastic breaks down, microplastics are leached into our soil and water.

What can you do?

BYOB – bring your own bag! They are tougher and way more durable, and hold much more than flimsy plastic bags. Whether you use cotton, canvas, or non-woven polypropylene, a more durable type of plastic, the key is to use them again and again and again. Keep a supply in each vehicle you use to make it harder to forget them. You can find nylon material bags that fold up small (keep in your purse) for use in drugstores, clothing stores, etc. Do your part to make reusable bags the new norm!

Did you know?

You can take your leftover food from restaurants home in your own container, rather than using their Styrofoam (which is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable) or plastic containers.

What can you do?

Bring your own take-out container when eating out.  We all have a multitude of glass, metal, and plastic containers in our cupboards.  Make it a habit to take one or two with you (in your own reusable bag of course), and pack up your leftovers yourself.  This is good for the restaurant, as they save money on buying all those single use containers, and is one more simple thing we can all do in our quest to reduce our use of single use plastics.

Did you know?

Ziploc and similar brands of plastic sandwich and storage bags are made from fossil fuel-based products and are a major contributor to plastic pollution, either ending up staying forever in landfills or in our waterways. Right now, in every square mile of ocean, there are more than 40,000 pieces of plastic. It is predicted that by mid-century the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton. Every year the average American uses about 540 plastic bags.

What can you do?

Use food-grade silicone bags, such as Stasher brand, in place of single-use sandwich and storage bags. Silicone is made from alternating silica and oxygen molecules, and is safe to store food, put in the microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher. It is also free of chemicals like BPA, BPS, and other phthalates. They cost more to purchase than plastic bags, but will last forever and once again stop the single use plastic madness. Also, rather than putting that leftover part of an onion or pepper into a plastic bag in the refrigerator, put it into a glass or plastic container you already have and store it that way until you need it. It will last longer and so might our planet.

Did you know?

Forests are necessary for the survival of our planet. Since European settlement of North America, our treatment of forest land as a commodity has been destructive. American naturalists long ago identified the opportunity to change our ways:

“When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics”.

- Aldo Leopold

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”

- John Muir

What can you do?

Whether you recreate on public lands, have a suburban lot, or own many acres, you can make a positive impact by learning about good forest stewardship, paying attention to what’s happening in the forest, and talking about it with others.

Did you know?

In Pennsylvania, there are hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells leaking massive amounts of methane into our ground, our water, and our air. In addition, we have coal beneath our ground. Between wells, coal, and natural sources combined, we live in an area with a higher risk of methane infiltrating our homes. More often than you might think, methane gas enters houses. Your home could be at risk from methane leaking from an old abandoned well that is not even on your property. Methane is only explosive after it builds to 5-15% of your air. Therefore, houses rarely explode even if they are infiltrated. However, with methane gas from wells, carcinogens and other toxins hitch a ride. You probably don't want them in your house.

What can you do?

Buy an explosive gas detector for your home. It is like fire and carbon monoxide detectors, the risk is small, but infiltration happens enough to justify the cost. If your detector alarms, call 911. If emergency response determines there is a gas problem vs. a defective detector, the gas company will be called to find the source(s). If it is a methane infiltration, not a gas company pipe leak, alert nearby neighbors. Suggest they buy an explosive gas detector. Look on your property and other places you go for evidence of abandoned wells. If you see something, take a picture and report it to the DEP. They will investigate.

Did you know?

Liquid soap was first mass produced in the 1980’s; today more people use liquid body wash for bathing and liquid soap for hand washing, mainly due to the convenience factor of the pump. One is no better than the other at cleansing; bar soap however is the clear environmental impact winner. Liquid soap requires 5 times more energy than bar soap in production. Solid bar soaps often come packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes or thin plastic wrapping whereas liquid soaps are always packed in plastic bottles, adding once again to the single use plastic waste. An astonishing 20 times more energy is needed to package liquid soap, not including more resources used to transport the much heavier liquid soap to the stores. 12.18 oz of liquid soap equates to one 5 oz bar, of which 4.75 oz is soap.

What can you do?

What can you do? Switch to bar soaps! They do not harbor hidden germs and bacteria, a common misconception. Unlike liquid soaps, which are bulked up by water and preservatives, bars are packed full of essential oils that nourish and clean the skin. Avoid “deodorant soaps” as they can be drying to the skin; Dove, Olay, and Basis are good choices with neutral scents, just to name a few. If you still prefer liquid soap, be conscious of how much soap you pump – it’s easy to use much more than necessary. Especially for liquid hand soap, buy a large 64-80 oz bottle and refill your glass soap dispenser rather than buying a new plastic bottle every time.

Did you know?

Global meat consumption increased 500% between 1992 and 2022, with the livestock industry alone generating 15% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Between 60-70% of the world’s agricultural land is used for livestock grazing, causing unnecessary deforestation. Emissions released from the production of animal feed alone exceed the emissions released from producing plant-based proteins. And in the end, animals require twice as much food as what they provide as meat!

What can you do?

Eat more plants! Try cutting back on your beef consumption. Substitute ground turkey or chicken for some or all of the beef in recipes; chopped up mushrooms are also a good substitute for some of the beef. Poultry requires less land, less feed, and less water than beef. A plant-forward diet generally uses less land, water, fertilizer, and energy than a diet high in animal products such as meat and cheese. Producing plant proteins requires about 100 times less water than producing animal proteins. 

Did you know?

The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 20% of global wastewater, which is often polluted with toxic chemicals and dyes. A cotton shirt requires 713 gallons of water to make; a pair of denim jeans requires 2000 gallons of water, both to grow the cotton that is needed and in the production process. The fast fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and human labor (mainly young women in low-income countries) to deliver garments following the latest trends to its consumers at an unprecedented rate - fast fashion brands today produce twice as many clothes as they did in 2000. Of the 100 billion garments produced worldwide annually, 80% is landfilled or incinerated.

What can you do?

Invest in quality; purchase durable clothing items you’ll wear for years - the average garment today is worn just 7-8 times. Spend time researching about slow fashion brands before purchasing. Only wash your clothes when they really need it. The synthetic materials many clothes are made of shed hundreds of thousands of microfibers during each laundry cycle, particularly during drying. Consider using laundry bags that catch microfibers. Research indicates that 551,000 tons of plastic microfibers are estimated to pollute the ocean each year from washing clothes, equivalent to the plastic pollution of more than 50 billion bottles. Repair, donate, or resell your old garments instead of throwing them in the trash. Next week’s Creation Care will list many options for donating or selling your clothes and shoes, much of which can be recycled or reused. 

Did you know?

The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 20% of global wastewater, which is often polluted with toxic chemicals and dyes. A cotton shirt requires 713 gallons of water to make; a pair of denim jeans requires 2000 gallons of water, both to grow the cotton that is needed and in the production process. The fast fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and human labor (mainly young women in low-income countries) to deliver garments following the latest trends to its consumers at an unprecedented rate - fast fashion brands today produce twice as many clothes as they did in 2000. Of the 100 billion garments produced worldwide annually, 80% is landfilled or incinerated.

What can you do?

Invest in quality; purchase durable clothing items you’ll wear for years - the average garment today is worn just 7-8 times. Spend time researching about slow fashion brands before purchasing. Only wash your clothes when they really need it. The synthetic materials many clothes are made of shed hundreds of thousands of microfibers during each laundry cycle, particularly during drying. Consider using laundry bags that catch microfibers. Research indicates that 551,000 tons of plastic microfibers are estimated to pollute the ocean each year from washing clothes, equivalent to the plastic pollution of more than 50 billion bottles. Repair, donate, or resell your old garments instead of throwing them in the trash. Next week’s Creation Care will list many options for donating or selling your clothes and shoes, much of which can be recycled or reused. 

Did you know?

Scientists now understand that there are 9 critical thresholds that we must not cross to protect God’s creation and for our own wellbeing.. Of course, we are all familiar with the need to limit global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here are all 9 criteria, in layman’s terms: ocean acidification, ozone layer depletion, fertilizer runoff, fresh water, deforestation, biodiversity, chemical pollution, particulates in the air, and global warming.

The thresholds that we have most severely exceeded are global warming, and fertilizer runoff. Next are biodiversity losses and chemical pollution, such as plastics and hazardous waste spills. And it is important to know that biodiversity is not just an ethical concern but is also necessary for our survival. We have not yet crossed the tipping points for the other systems, but fresh water and deforestation are also in trouble. Read more here.

What can you do?



We must all take both personal and communal action. Perhaps the most important personal action is to waste less of everything: water, land, plastic, fuel… but whatever we choose, we need to follow through. So, make a plan with reminders and prompts that will help you live out the decisions you make. We also need to act as a community, which includes seriously considering Creation Care when we elect our representatives in government. They are making important choices on our behalf to either protect God’s creation or to let it be harmed.