Sisters of St. Joseph promote Plastic Free July

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are joining with people around the world to recognize Plastic Free July, a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. They have issued an eco-challenge asking people to analyze the amount of single-use plastics in their regular shopping purchases, and then search for and buy alternative purchases without plastic.

They also urge people to contact their UN Permanent Representative to urge them to support the Global Plastic Free Treaty. The congregation’s website notes that, “as plastic pollution increases, researchers are finding plastic in our food chain, our water supply and the air we breathe. Only about 9% of all plastics are recycled, so the only solution to the problem is curbing plastic production in the first place.”
 
Furthermore, they say, developing an enforceable global treaty that sets standards can make a huge impact. This year, 175 countries agreed to initiate a legally binding instrument to address the full life cycle of plastic globally by 2024.
 
Sister Patty Johnson, CSJ, a member of the Congregational Leadership team, said, “This momentum comes at a critical time. Addressing the full life cycle of plastic in meaningful ways will allow us to reduce plastic pollution as a global community. A systemic solution is needed. Working together, the countries of the world can put forth meaningful legislative solutions that will force the needed changes and lead to decreased threats to our health and environmental sustainability of our planet.”