Ncumisa

What should we use for cleaning our homes? Microfiber clothsThese are very popular now and are made of microfiber fabric made from polyester and nylon. Microfibers are thinner than human hair. They are split in such a way that they create space within each fiber, this makes them very absorbent. However, they are not biodegradable, and are adding to microplastic pollution. This happens when tiny bits of polyester and acrylic rinse off during washing and end up in rivers and oceans. Paper towelsMany families use paper towels on auto-pilot. For meals, cleaning, snacks, drying hands and so much more, paper towels are standard in many homes. However, you don’t actually NEED paper towels. Not only do paper towels create a major drain on the earth’s resources, they’re expensive, and not very strong or useful. I get it. Kids are messy, and as a parent, paper towels can be a fast fix.. Consider the far-reaching benefits of ditching paper towels: You’ll save trees. You’ll reduce pollution You’ll conserve water and energy. You’ll save money. Most importantly, you’ll set an excellent example for your kids. Imagine if your child grows up not even knowing about paper towels. Cotton tea towelsCotton is absorbent, easy to wash and biodegradable, but it has a huge environmental impact. Conventional growers spray the crop with toxic pesticides, which can hurt soil and water quality as well as farm workers’ health. And even organic cotton requires lots of water to produce; we’re talking 2,700 liters for one T-shirt. So it’s best to limit our consumption of virgin cotton as much as we can. What is the answer?Re-use cotton cloths. Most of us already have a never-ending supply of worn-out cotton socks, tees, and towels cycling through our lives. Only 15% of unwanted clothing is actually recycled? You can (and should!) donate the still-usable ones, but the ones that don’t pass muster can serve you faithfully as cleaning rags. By doing this, you’re relieving a bit of pressure on the cotton market and extending the product’s life span, not to mention saving some cash. What’s not to love?When they reach the end of their life, cut them into tiny pieces and add them to the compost.  

Many people first enter the gates of a church at a large function, perhaps a funeral, wedding or church bazaar. Our Catering practices show a lot about our relationship with the Creator God, and our neighbours. After that event is the Church yard strewn with rubbish, some of which will be blown into the neighborhood? Do we buy cheap meat which is coming from harmful practices to animals? How much compassion do we put into our catering practices? Here are some helpful guidelines prepared by the WCC3.1 Buy ecological, fair, and regional“We prefer buying from local producers and respect ecological and social criteria.” Supporting local establishments promotes economic wellbeing and coherence in our regions as well as has a positive impact on theenvironment. Introduce officially the ‘best offer’ instead of‘cheapest offer’ principle.For instance we prefer to offer in our cafeterias:• fair-traded coffee, tea, juice, and chocolate and vegetarian food.In our offices we choose to procure:• products that adhere to social and ecologicalstandards; and long-lasting products. 3.2 Reduce waste“We avoid disposable (single-use) articles and buy reusable products and recycled materials.”The huge and still growing plastic island in the ocean is showing how we drown in our own rubbish. Plastic is even becoming a part of our food chain. There is no need for using beverages in plastic bottles or tin in daily life. Avoid every form of throwaway articles. Depositing waste for recycling is good. Reducing waste is better. Where using throwaway articles seems unavoidable, opt for compostable ones, if possible. Reducing paper consumption in the office can be another importantstep. 3.3 Re-use and recycle“We want to reuse instead of waste.” Give items the chance for a second life: in the hands of someone else or in new applications. Let’s be creative. Organised exchange circles bring people together and help to save money and protect the environment. Creative, secondary-use concepts can be of unexpected beauty. Nowadays one can find good quality recycledpaper. The positive effects of this choice on the environment are often underestimated. If you “love your neighbour as yourself”, you are interested in who is producing the goods that you need and how. Can you find the respect of life in the whole production process? This material was produced by Norman Tendris who was tragically killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Crash.https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/diakonia/economy-of-life/roadmap-for-congregations-communities-and-churches-for-an-economy-of-life-and-ecological-justice