Can you explain Reconstructionist Judaisms “eco-Kashrut” concept?
Eco-kashrut incorporates our awareness of the importance of conservating resources into the activities involved with eating. This updates the ta’amey kashrut–some of the reasons for keeping kosher. Eco-kashrut is new enough that it does not yet have a fully fixed definition, but it includes avoiding wasteful packaging, eating less processed foods, and eating “lower” on the food chain so that less resources are consumed. Vegetarianism is least resource-consuming; eating poultry but not red meat is less resource-consuming than most Western diets; and eating beef is the most energy-consuming. Using a mug instead of a disposable cup, avoiding styrofoam (a major petroleum consumer), and attempting to avoid buying products needlessly shipped long distances are other examples of keeping eco-kosher. This approach can easily be combined with traditional kashrut and/or vegetarianism.
