Plastic Free July 2025
“The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.” - Laudato Si’
From Beyond Plastics
No plastic ever breaks down.
Nearly 98% of plastics are made of carbon. Turning these substances into plastic involves the addition of chemical additives - quite a lot of them. Over 13,000 chemicals are known to be involved in the production of plastic. More than 2,300 of these are known as “chemicals of concern.” Some of these are highly toxic carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. These chemicals pose serious risks to human health because they can leech or migrate at any stage of plastic’s life span.
Plastics don’t biodegrade.
They break into smaller and smaller pieces known as micro-plastics and nano-plastics, which are so small they get caught up in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. These pieces are present almost everywhere, including inside the human body. Scientists have detected plastic particles in human lung, heart, and intestinal tissue; in bodily fluids including blood and breast milk; and in the placenta and human fetuses.
Nearly half of all the plastic manufactured today is single-use and packaging.
Legislation that reduces the manufacture of these items and mandates extended producer responsibility will go a long way toward relieving health risks. It is vital that lawmakers regulate the chemical and toxicity of plastic. Many of the chemicals used to manufacture plastic are unnecessary and can be banned or substituted with safer alternatives.
Let us, as members of the SNDdeN Dorothy Stang Initiative, join together during Plastic Free July in our consciousness and prayer regarding the crisis of plastic pollution. During this first week of Plastic Free July 2025 you are invited to read and ponder the implications of the above reflections. There will be a new reflection offered each Tuesday.