March Focus: Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle
Electronics, clothes, plastics and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to market. To protect the climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, and repair what you can. Plastics alone generated 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 – 3.4 per cent of the global total. Less than 10 per cent is recycled, and once plastic is discarded, it can linger for hundreds of years. Buying fewer new clothes – and other consumer goods – can also reduce your carbon footprint. Every kilogram of textiles produced generates about 17 kilograms of CO2e. Attached is a website for ideas to reduce, reuse, and recylce crafts and learning experiences for families with kids. Try one out: 21 Awesome Reduce Reuse Recycle Activities for Families with Kids
This piece for March on Economic & Creation Care Justice is the third Installment of 12 over the next year of 2024.
Previous Focuses:
January – “Saving Energy at Home”
February – “Speak Up” (centered around Washington State Legislation)
This Month’s focus:
March - “Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle”
Future Installments will Focus on:
April – “Plastics” or “Consider Your Travel”
May – “Walk, Bike or take Public Transport”
June – “Plant Native Species”
July – “Switch to an Electric Vehicle”
August – “Eat More Vegetables”
September – “Throw Away Less Food”
October – “Clean Up your Environment”
November – “Change Your Home’s Source of Energy”
December – “Make your Money Count”
(Each Monthly Focus was selected to correspond to the Season of the Year)
The First Congregational Church ‘Green Team’ hopes to help our faith community focus on just one or two items or ideas you and/or your family can try each month: to reduce our carbon footprint; suggest ideas for what you can specifically do; reinforce our monthly ritual in Worship; bring hope to our efforts individually and together on Climate Justice. Comments? Send them to Nancy Fayram or Mark Gale.
What Can YOU Do?
Try one or two ideas each month. Give us feedback how we are doing.
