By Rev. Chris West & Avery Davis Lamb

America is facing a significant chemical dependency crisis, and it may not be the one you’re thinking of. In addition to the ongoing opioid epidemic, an addiction to synthetic plastics and its waste is poisoning our bodies and the body of creation.  

From The Great Pacific Garbage Reef to the microplastics found in breast milk, it is clear that the commercial and convenience benefits promised by cheap single use plastics have been a farce. By educating our communities and replacing our destructive habits with liturgies of sustainability, we can contribute to mending the world, rather than misusing the gift of creation.  

The Background 

The advent of synthetic materials marks a new era, paralleling the historical transitions from the Stone Age to the Bronze and Iron Ages. This era, the Anthropocene, is one where humans have an impact on the earth on a geological scale. Beginning in the 1860s, the introduction of plastics revolutionized manufacturing, offering alternatives to traditional materials like ivory and tortoiseshell. World Wars further accelerated plastic production, making it indispensable in various industries, promising further economic prosperity and convenience in a post-war world determine to fulfill the promise of progress and domination.  

For a time, it fulfilled its purpose. The shelves of our stores were filled with plastic: Barbie dolls, dog bowls, Tupperware and more! Some items may be more surprising—like tea bags, sponges and metal cans of soda, which are suffused with a super thin plastic interior lining. Even the bags used to carry out heaps of these cheap products were made from thin plastic. The problem, not obvious until later, is that these cheap alternatives, while convenient in the short term, came with a much larger environmental and societal price tag.  

Plastics, derived from natural gas, oil or plants, contribute to environmental degradation, manifest in marine plastic pollution, wildlife ingestion and urban waste crises. The discovery of persistent chemicals in plastics intensifies these concerns, posing significant public health risks. Additionally, plastics substantially contribute to the climate crisis, with over 99% of plastics being made from fossil fuels, 40% of which is single use.  

New Liturgies 

Acknowledging this issue’s magnitude is crucial, akin to recognizing an addiction problem. Thankfully, all hope is not yet lost. Individuals and communities can make a difference by adopting sustainable practices such as:  

1. Ditch the single use plastics. By opting for reusable stainless water bottles and recyclable soda cans, we can ensure that these products do not end up in the garbage. This also has the benefit of saving us money in the long run.  
    

2. Advocate for legislation banning plastic bags and encourage companies to adopt eco-friendly packaging. Policies must be carefully written and must come alongside consumer choices that do not allow companies to skirt the rules—like merely switching to thick plastic bags in place of thinner alternatives.  
    

3. Consider offsetting plastic use by supporting cleanup initiatives or recycling. This has the dual benefit of allowing us to clean up our communities and get some exercise while contributing to a good cause. There are thousands of group cleanup efforts all around the nation. Perhaps your church could host one!  

4. Embrace second-hand purchases and repair broken items to reduce waste.  
    

5. Invest in quality products to minimize frequent replacements and environmental impact. 
    

6. Challenge yourself by adopting a plastic-free lifestyle for 10 days to raise awareness.  (You may find this more difficult than you imagine as plastic is everywhere.)  
    

7. Educate yourself and others about plastic pollution to foster collective action. The Creation Justice Ministries Plastic Jesus curriculum contains great resources for your congregation and community.  

We cannot solve this alone. This is a communal problem that spans borders, industries, time zones and generations. Creation is God’s gift that we are called to care for and use wisely—not to have dominion or domination over, but to serve and protect. By preaching this on Sunday morning, leading book studies, teaching small groups and contributing to public/community education efforts, we can join the ongoing movement to heal the world that has been so badly injured by our sin.  

The Church should be a leader and not a follower in this effort. Let’s take our rightful place at the front of the pack. Together, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of plastic dependency and work towards a sustainable future where all God’s children find rest in healthy, hopeful and flourishing communities.  

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Rev. Chris West serves as a food and faith coordinator for a major environmental nonprofit and is the co-chair of the CBF Environmental Stewardship Network steering committee.

Avery Davis Lamb is a co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries. He has a background in both ecological research and faith-based environmental organizing, studying ecology in various ecosystems and organizing faith communities across the country in support of action on environmental justice.