Implementasi Laudato Si’ melalui Gerakan Zero Waste dalam Pembentukan Kesadaran Lingkungan Remaja Katolik di Sekolah

Abstract

The study is grounded in the increasing prevalence of practical lifestyles among adolescents, which has led to a high consumption of single-use products and growing waste production in school environments. This phenomenon reflects not only an ecological issue but also a crisis of awareness in how creation is treated. From the perspective of Catholic faith, Laudato Si’ emphasizes that the environmental crisis is rooted in distorted ways of thinking and a throwaway culture, thus requiring an approach that engages moral and spiritual dimensions. The study employs a descriptive qualitative approach through observation and brief interviews with students, focusing on the implementation of the Friday Zero Waste Movement. The findings indicate that simple practices, such as: bringing personal food containers, reducing single-use plastics, and managing waste independently, can foster students’ ecological awareness. These habits also cultivate values of responsibility, self-discipline, and solidarity. Therefore, the Friday Zero Waste Movement functions not only as an environmental program but also as a concrete means of developing ecological spirituality. Catholic youth play a strategic role as agents of change who embody their faith through tangible actions in caring for our “common home.”