Jewish Culture Fest Sustainability - The J KC

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Sustainability

Tikkun Olam words wrapped in green leaves

Tikkun Olam - Repairing the World

Tikkun Olam, repairing the world is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. We are commanded to protect the Earth and her resources, both for our own sake and for future generations. We know we aren’t owners of the land; we are simply her caretakers.

Sustainability is emphasized in Jewish teachings on social justice and communal responsibility. We all must ensure that everyone has access to clean air, water, and food.

What we do today will impact our world for years to come. Together, all of our small steps will help repair our world.

Being Greener at Home

Thanks for helping to repair the world. Let’s all increase our sustainable impact, starting today. We’ve identified some easy ways for each of us to do our part, from composting to reducing single-use plastics.

Check out these articles for some great environmental resources and ideas:

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Refuse single use plastic bottles & containers

Plastic is one of the single most damaging products that humans have ever produced, and its legacy will last much longer than our lifetimes. Plastic-based materials take hundreds of years to degrade, meaning every plastic item you’ve ever owned still exists somewhere on the planet.

Nearly 8 million pieces of plastic contaminate our waterways every day. 85% of all plastic made is not recyclable. What’s left impacts the entire food chain, including humans.

Sadly, the following items are no longer recyclable in the KC area:
View the Recycle Better Flyer

Clamshells
Cups
Disposable tableware
Fast food containers
Pill containers
Styrofoam
Trays
Lotion and Toothpaste Tubes

Take action:

Bring a reusable bottle with you wherever you go.
Check out places that will refill your existing containers for soap and lotions.
Bring your own storage containers to restaurants for your leftovers.
Ask restaurants and grocery stores to replace their containers with compostable ones.
Shop from companies that have committed to eliminating wasteful plastic packaging.
Use organic cotton reusable grocery bags.

Protect the bees & butterflies

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are examples of pollinators. More than 80 percent of the world's flowering plants–including most of our food plants–need a pollinator to reproduce. Unfortunately, pollinator populations have dropped alarmingly across North America. Some bumblebee species and monarch butterflies have declined nearly 97% in the last 25 years. Much of this decline is because of pesticides, climate change and invasive species crowding out native plants.

Water crosses city, county and state lines. Our individual decisions impact all of us. Stormwater running off of all of our paved surfaces picks up pollutants like lawn chemicals, litter and motor oil before draining into our waterways – untreated.

Take action:

Plant native plants – they feed pollinators and their deep roots reduce runoff. Learn more >>
Use rain barrels and rain gardens to conserve rainwater. Learn more >>
Plant trees – They absorb carbon dioxide, clean the air and act like a natural air conditioner - which is especially important in urban neighborhoods. Learn more >>
Garden Organically – Don’t use fertilizer or pesticide, especially neonics like Roundup in your yard. Learn more >>
Check out the Grow Native! website for information about growing native plants.
View Clean Water KC's information on watershed.
Read about wildlife gardens on Green Works in KC website.

Switch to Electric Vehicles, Tools, & Appliances

As the electric grid becomes increasingly powered by renewable solar and wind energy, vehicles, tools and appliances that run on electricity also become cleaner.

The Inflation Reduction Act has made switching much more affordable. This article from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) will help you figure out how the act can benefit you.

In the meantime, turn off your vehicle if you are going to idle for more than 10 seconds. Idling wastes gas and spews out the same pollutants as moving cars.

Eat Greener & Compost

What we eat, how much we throw away, and how we handle food waste has a large impact on our environment. Organic food minimizes pesticide use on farms. Locally grown food cuts down on travel-related emissions. Meat production, especially beef, generates at least 14 percent of all global emissions. Planning ahead or buying frozen or freezing fresh ingredients cuts down on food waste and saves money at the grocery store. Food waste that ends up compressed in a landfill is a huge source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that’s even worse for the planet than excess carbon dioxide.

Turn your unwanted food scraps into rich organic soil by subscribing to a curbside service or composting at home.

Use Green Cleaning Products Like Vinegar & Baking Soda

Most consumer cleaning products like multi-purpose and glass cleaners and air fresheners contain volatile organic compounds that lead to increased cancer and asthma risk. They also increase ozone, contribute to air pollution and contaminate our waterways.

You can make your own cleaning supplies using vinegar, alcohol, baking soda, dish soap and essential oils. Check out this article from The Good Trade for advice on how to make cleaning products at home.

Or if you want to buy commercially prepared products, opt for naturally derived, nontoxic, and biodegradable cleaning products made using sustainable manufacturing practices and packaging.

Support and volunteer for a grassroots environmental organization

There are thousands of organizations dedicated to protecting the Earth and her resources. Here are just a few. Their websites are filled with information and easy ways that you can take action.

Bridging the Gap - working to make the Kansas City region sustainable by connecting environment, economy, and community
Climate Council KC - educating, partnering, and advocating for solutions that reverse global warming
Greenability - your local source for news, events, resources, products and sustainable living ideas
Greenworks KC - inspiring the next generation of nature lovers and environmental leaders
Mid-America Regional Council - creating and sustaining a healthy environment for our region
Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) - creating resource efficiency, environmental health, and economic vitality in the Kansas City region and beyond.
Mitzvah garden - a volunteer-supported, nonprofit garden to provide for those in need
Natural Resource Defense Council - using science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature
Nature Conservancy - advancing effective, lasting conservation in more than 70 countries and territories including Kansas and Missouri'
Way to Go KC - helping us find a better way to ride, walk and roll around the KC region

Teach children to respect nature and the environment

We often talk about leaving the world a better place for our children. Part of that job is giving kids the tools they need to become stewards of the earth.

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