in the next 18 minutes over 600,000 pounds of plastic will enter our ocean
pounds of plastic will enter our ocean
pounds of plastic will enter our ocean this is equivalent to 18 garbage trucks
this is equivalent to 18 garbage trucks
this is equivalent to 18 garbage trucks pulling up to the beach and dumping the
pulling up to the beach and dumping the
pulling up to the beach and dumping the entire load right in the water and said
entire load right in the water and said
entire load right in the water and said a garbage truck worth of plastic enters
a garbage truck worth of plastic enters
a garbage truck worth of plastic enters our ocean every single minute of every
our ocean every single minute of every
our ocean every single minute of every single day plastic is poisoning our
single day plastic is poisoning our
single day plastic is poisoning our oceans
oceans
oceans which in turn is poisoning our food
which in turn is poisoning our food
which in turn is poisoning our food chain but let’s face it it’s not the
chain but let’s face it it’s not the
chain but let’s face it it’s not the plastics fault it enters the ocean
plastics fault it enters the ocean
plastics fault it enters the ocean I mean plastic doesn’t grow legs and
I mean plastic doesn’t grow legs and
I mean plastic doesn’t grow legs and magically fulfill a lifelong dream to go
magically fulfill a lifelong dream to go
magically fulfill a lifelong dream to go sit on a beach or swim in the ocean and
sit on a beach or swim in the ocean and
sit on a beach or swim in the ocean and plastic doesn’t reproduce and make
plastic doesn’t reproduce and make
plastic doesn’t reproduce and make little baby plastics every single year
little baby plastics every single year
little baby plastics every single year Oshin plastic is not a plastic problem
Oshin plastic is not a plastic problem
Oshin plastic is not a plastic problem it’s a human problem and though you’re
it’s a human problem and though you’re
it’s a human problem and though you’re probably not the human dumping the
probably not the human dumping the
probably not the human dumping the plastic into the ocean you are the one
plastic into the ocean you are the one
plastic into the ocean you are the one with the power to help stop it from
with the power to help stop it from
with the power to help stop it from happening and your power goes well
happening and your power goes well
happening and your power goes well beyond the world of plastic so how do
beyond the world of plastic so how do
beyond the world of plastic so how do you unleash that power by shifting your
you unleash that power by shifting your
you unleash that power by shifting your mindset and changing the way you think
mindset and changing the way you think
mindset and changing the way you think about consumers in our modern world we
about consumers in our modern world we
about consumers in our modern world we are all consumers and it’s your voice
are all consumers and it’s your voice
are all consumers and it’s your voice and your vote as a 21st century consumer
and your vote as a 21st century consumer
and your vote as a 21st century consumer it actually makes you one of the most
it actually makes you one of the most
it actually makes you one of the most powerful and influential people in
powerful and influential people in
powerful and influential people in history and just like in Parker once
history and just like in Parker once
history and just like in Parker once told spider-man with great power comes
told spider-man with great power comes
told spider-man with great power comes great responsibility every purchase you
great responsibility every purchase you
great responsibility every purchase you make is a vote for how a product was
make is a vote for how a product was
make is a vote for how a product was made and a vote for the company who made
made and a vote for the company who made
made and a vote for the company who made it and you have the power to reward what
it and you have the power to reward what
it and you have the power to reward what you want repeated through your purchases
you want repeated through your purchases
you want repeated through your purchases blind consumers is when we reward
blind consumers is when we reward
blind consumers is when we reward without research I’ll admit it for most
without research I’ll admit it for most
without research I’ll admit it for most of my life I was a blind consumer until
of my life I was a blind consumer until
of my life I was a blind consumer until I came to realize that blind consumerism
I came to realize that blind consumerism
I came to realize that blind consumerism is dangerous and unsustainable but
is dangerous and unsustainable but
is dangerous and unsustainable but consumerism doesn’t have to be a dirty
consumerism doesn’t have to be a dirty
consumerism doesn’t have to be a dirty word as long as we use our consumerism
word as long as we use our consumerism
word as long as we use our consumerism with purpose the opposite of blind
with purpose the opposite of blind
with purpose the opposite of blind consumers is responsible consumers and
consumers is responsible consumers and
consumers is responsible consumers and responsible consumers so when you take
responsible consumers so when you take
responsible consumers so when you take an extra five minutes to use your voice
an extra five minutes to use your voice
an extra five minutes to use your voice in your vote to do a little bit of
in your vote to do a little bit of
in your vote to do a little bit of research and learn a little bit more
research and learn a little bit more
research and learn a little bit more about your options and alternatives as a
about your options and alternatives as a
about your options and alternatives as a responsible consumer you expand your
responsible consumer you expand your
responsible consumer you expand your definition of cost and value to include
definition of cost and value to include
definition of cost and value to include the
the
the environmental and the social impacts of
environmental and the social impacts of
environmental and the social impacts of your purchases and simply put them as a
your purchases and simply put them as a
your purchases and simply put them as a responsible consumer you consider it
responsible consumer you consider it
responsible consumer you consider it your responsibility to make the
your responsibility to make the
your responsibility to make the responsible purchase so I’ll ask do you
responsible purchase so I’ll ask do you
responsible purchase so I’ll ask do you recall the last time that you took an
recall the last time that you took an
recall the last time that you took an extra five minutes to make a responsible
extra five minutes to make a responsible
extra five minutes to make a responsible purchase now if something came to mind
purchase now if something came to mind
purchase now if something came to mind no matter how small that something may
no matter how small that something may
no matter how small that something may feel you should be proud of that
feel you should be proud of that
feel you should be proud of that something because I am always amazed
something because I am always amazed
something because I am always amazed just how often people completely
just how often people completely
just how often people completely underestimate the impact that they make
underestimate the impact that they make
underestimate the impact that they make with just five minutes so I’d like to
with just five minutes so I’d like to
with just five minutes so I’d like to share an example of using your voice and
share an example of using your voice and
share an example of using your voice and using your vote to create sumer driven
using your vote to create sumer driven
using your vote to create sumer driven change four years ago I joined my
change four years ago I joined my
change four years ago I joined my business partner David Katz on a quest
business partner David Katz on a quest
business partner David Katz on a quest to proactively stop the flow of ocean
to proactively stop the flow of ocean
to proactively stop the flow of ocean plastic
we discovered that 80% of ocean plastic
we discovered that 80% of ocean plastic starts on land in vulnerable regions
starts on land in vulnerable regions
starts on land in vulnerable regions that have almost no existing waste
that have almost no existing waste
that have almost no existing waste management systems
management systems
management systems this is Peru and shortly after I took
this is Peru and shortly after I took
this is Peru and shortly after I took this picture all the plastic you see was
this picture all the plastic you see was
this picture all the plastic you see was washed into the river as soon as it
washed into the river as soon as it
washed into the river as soon as it rained this is the Philippines and the
rained this is the Philippines and the
rained this is the Philippines and the Philippines is one of the largest
Philippines is one of the largest
Philippines is one of the largest sources of ocean plastic on the planet
sources of ocean plastic on the planet
sources of ocean plastic on the planet and this is Haiti and all around the
and this is Haiti and all around the
and this is Haiti and all around the world environments like these are more
world environments like these are more
world environments like these are more common than most people realize and in
common than most people realize and in
common than most people realize and in these environments people see plastic
these environments people see plastic
these environments people see plastic it’s something that has no value they
it’s something that has no value they
it’s something that has no value they see it as waste and it’s actually common
see it as waste and it’s actually common
see it as waste and it’s actually common practice to just throw plastic into the
practice to just throw plastic into the
practice to just throw plastic into the rivers the canals in the ocean bound
rivers the canals in the ocean bound
rivers the canals in the ocean bound waterways and they do it as a means of
waterways and they do it as a means of
waterways and they do it as a means of throwing it away but when we throw
throwing it away but when we throw
throwing it away but when we throw something away it has to go somewhere
something away it has to go somewhere
something away it has to go somewhere and all too often away means the ocean
and all too often away means the ocean
and all too often away means the ocean but after some research David Katz and I
but after some research David Katz and I
but after some research David Katz and I became confident that we could create a
became confident that we could create a
became confident that we could create a self-sustaining business solution to
self-sustaining business solution to
self-sustaining business solution to stop the root cause of ocean plastic we
stop the root cause of ocean plastic we
stop the root cause of ocean plastic we could make plastic waste too valuable to
could make plastic waste too valuable to
could make plastic waste too valuable to ever get thrown in the ocean first we
ever get thrown in the ocean first we
ever get thrown in the ocean first we need to create a reward in the sense of
need to create a reward in the sense of
need to create a reward in the sense of system that would transfer the value of
system that would transfer the value of
system that would transfer the value of the plastic into the hands of the person
the plastic into the hands of the person
the plastic into the hands of the person collecting it and we need to create a
collecting it and we need to create a
collecting it and we need to create a means that anyone could just go out
means that anyone could just go out
means that anyone could just go out collect enough plastic the day could
collect enough plastic the day could
collect enough plastic the day could provide for the families and send their
provide for the families and send their
provide for the families and send their children to school second we need to get
children to school second we need to get
children to school second we need to get some of the world’s largest corporations
some of the world’s largest corporations
some of the world’s largest corporations purchasing social plastic to use in
purchasing social plastic to use in
purchasing social plastic to use in their manufacturing and supporting the
their manufacturing and supporting the
their manufacturing and supporting the expansion of these social plastic
expansion of these social plastic
expansion of these social plastic ecosystems around the world and finally
ecosystems around the world and finally
ecosystems around the world and finally to make that happen to get their
to make that happen to get their
to make that happen to get their attention
attention
attention we need to attract and inspire a
we need to attract and inspire a
we need to attract and inspire a movement of responsible consumers asking
movement of responsible consumers asking
movement of responsible consumers asking for social plastic so we started by
for social plastic so we started by
for social plastic so we started by creating a wave of mass media I was able
creating a wave of mass media I was able
creating a wave of mass media I was able to find a storyteller at just about
to find a storyteller at just about
to find a storyteller at just about every major media outlet who’s inspired
every major media outlet who’s inspired
every major media outlet who’s inspired to use their power to share our mission
to use their power to share our mission
to use their power to share our mission and after over 300 media features we
and after over 300 media features we
and after over 300 media features we started to attract the attention of
started to attract the attention of
started to attract the attention of responsible consumers and when a
responsible consumers and when a
responsible consumers and when a responsible consumers see something of
responsible consumers see something of
responsible consumers see something of interest they take that extra five
interest they take that extra five
interest they take that extra five minutes to learn a little bit more do a
minutes to learn a little bit more do a
minutes to learn a little bit more do a little research and look for a way to
little research and look for a way to
little research and look for a way to make an impact and we made it really
make an impact and we made it really
make an impact and we made it really easy we ask people to please like our
easy we ask people to please like our
easy we ask people to please like our Facebook page to help prove the demand
Facebook page to help prove the demand
Facebook page to help prove the demand for corporations to you social plastic
for corporations to you social plastic
for corporations to you social plastic we didn’t ask if they’re like our
we didn’t ask if they’re like our
we didn’t ask if they’re like our company we didn’t ask if you like the
company we didn’t ask if you like the
company we didn’t ask if you like the product we asked if they shared her
product we asked if they shared her
product we asked if they shared her passion and believed in our mission to
passion and believed in our mission to
passion and believed in our mission to reduce ocean plastic and poverty now you
reduce ocean plastic and poverty now you
reduce ocean plastic and poverty now you might ask yourself so what what
might ask yourself so what what
might ask yourself so what what difference does a single Facebook like
difference does a single Facebook like
difference does a single Facebook like make I can tell you this it starts with
make I can tell you this it starts with
make I can tell you this it starts with a like then it becomes multiple likes
a like then it becomes multiple likes
a like then it becomes multiple likes then hundreds and thousands today we
then hundreds and thousands today we
then hundreds and thousands today we have over 1 million people asking for
have over 1 million people asking for
have over 1 million people asking for corporations to social plastic
every single like was part of a million
every single like was part of a million person ask and when a million people
person ask and when a million people
person ask and when a million people asked for the same thing
asked for the same thing
asked for the same thing the world’s largest companies they start
the world’s largest companies they start
the world’s largest companies they start to listen but it didn’t end there a lot
to listen but it didn’t end there a lot
to listen but it didn’t end there a lot of people took an extra step and started
of people took an extra step and started
of people took an extra step and started to ask the brand’s by name on Twitter to
to ask the brand’s by name on Twitter to
to ask the brand’s by name on Twitter to use hashtag social plastic and as more
use hashtag social plastic and as more
use hashtag social plastic and as more people kept doing these tweets and
people kept doing these tweets and
people kept doing these tweets and asking brands whose hashtag social
asking brands whose hashtag social
asking brands whose hashtag social plastic I started taking pictures of
plastic I started taking pictures of
plastic I started taking pictures of those tweets and I sent them to those
those tweets and I sent them to those
those tweets and I sent them to those companies and when they got that email
companies and when they got that email
companies and when they got that email they saw the demand they saw the tweets
they saw the demand they saw the tweets
they saw the demand they saw the tweets and more often than not they responded
and more often than not they responded
and more often than not they responded immediately you have my attention let’s
immediately you have my attention let’s
immediately you have my attention let’s chat with just a five minutes of extra
chat with just a five minutes of extra
chat with just a five minutes of extra effort those responsible consumers
effort those responsible consumers
effort those responsible consumers helped us open some of the biggest doors
helped us open some of the biggest doors
helped us open some of the biggest doors possible and we are now selling social
possible and we are now selling social
possible and we are now selling social plastic to some of the largest companies
plastic to some of the largest companies
plastic to some of the largest companies on the planet and we’re even having some
on the planet and we’re even having some
on the planet and we’re even having some of the most powerful partners help us
of the most powerful partners help us
of the most powerful partners help us amplify this around the world for
amplify this around the world for
amplify this around the world for example IBM saw the opportunity to make
example IBM saw the opportunity to make
example IBM saw the opportunity to make a genuine impact and they’re helping us
a genuine impact and they’re helping us
a genuine impact and they’re helping us to literally turn plastic waste into a
to literally turn plastic waste into a
to literally turn plastic waste into a digital currency so in areas that we
digital currency so in areas that we
digital currency so in areas that we operate it’s such a vulnerable region
operate it’s such a vulnerable region
operate it’s such a vulnerable region and it’s dangerous for people to have
and it’s dangerous for people to have
and it’s dangerous for people to have cash but at the same time people can’t
cash but at the same time people can’t
cash but at the same time people can’t qualify for bank accounts so we’re
qualify for bank accounts so we’re
qualify for bank accounts so we’re creating a digital exchange and a
creating a digital exchange and a
creating a digital exchange and a digital currency system that makes it
digital currency system that makes it
digital currency system that makes it safe for someone to transact and someone
safe for someone to transact and someone
safe for someone to transact and someone to earn a living through recycling and
to earn a living through recycling and
to earn a living through recycling and this is using advanced technology this
this is using advanced technology this
this is using advanced technology this is blockchain hyper ledger fabric on
is blockchain hyper ledger fabric on
is blockchain hyper ledger fabric on Linux one which is a fancy way of saying
Linux one which is a fancy way of saying
Linux one which is a fancy way of saying this is an enterprise system meant to
this is an enterprise system meant to
this is an enterprise system meant to empower a billion people to gather
empower a billion people to gather
empower a billion people to gather together to monetize waste and soon
together to monetize waste and soon
together to monetize waste and soon anyone in the world just be able to
anyone in the world just be able to
anyone in the world just be able to download an app and start earning a
download an app and start earning a
download an app and start earning a living through recycling or even just
living through recycling or even just
living through recycling or even just help to prevent ocean plastic and
help to prevent ocean plastic and
help to prevent ocean plastic and poverty from happening and I’m proud to
poverty from happening and I’m proud to
poverty from happening and I’m proud to say that in the next 10 years we
say that in the next 10 years we
say that in the next 10 years we anticipate preventing over 1 billion
anticipate preventing over 1 billion
anticipate preventing over 1 billion pounds of plastic from entering the
pounds of plastic from entering the
pounds of plastic from entering the ocean
ocean
ocean [Applause]
and all of that is possible because a
and all of that is possible because a large number of responsible consumers
large number of responsible consumers
large number of responsible consumers took an extra five minutes to use their
took an extra five minutes to use their
took an extra five minutes to use their voice and use their vote to ask to the
voice and use their vote to ask to the
voice and use their vote to ask to the change they wanted to see now I tell
change they wanted to see now I tell
change they wanted to see now I tell this story and I share these tactics
this story and I share these tactics
this story and I share these tactics because proactivity works and the
because proactivity works and the
because proactivity works and the concept of consumer driven change its
concept of consumer driven change its
concept of consumer driven change its universal tools like Facebook Twitter
universal tools like Facebook Twitter
universal tools like Facebook Twitter petition sites like change.org they are
petition sites like change.org they are
petition sites like change.org they are empowering you to cause genuine change
empowering you to cause genuine change
empowering you to cause genuine change and every year we see more and more
and every year we see more and more
and every year we see more and more successful examples of consumer driven
successful examples of consumer driven
successful examples of consumer driven change we’re seeing more ethically
change we’re seeing more ethically
change we’re seeing more ethically sourced products more sustainably
sourced products more sustainably
sourced products more sustainably sourced products we’re seeing more
sourced products we’re seeing more
sourced products we’re seeing more cruelty-free products and we’re seeing
cruelty-free products and we’re seeing
cruelty-free products and we’re seeing more of these because more people are
more of these because more people are
more of these because more people are asking and more people are voting with
asking and more people are voting with
asking and more people are voting with their wallets so the next time you see a
their wallets so the next time you see a
their wallets so the next time you see a problem or cause that you care about and
problem or cause that you care about and
problem or cause that you care about and you catch yourself saying somebody
you catch yourself saying somebody
you catch yourself saying somebody should do something about it remind
should do something about it remind
should do something about it remind yourself that you are somebody and
yourself that you are somebody and
yourself that you are somebody and though the corporation’s have an epic
though the corporation’s have an epic
though the corporation’s have an epic power they no longer have all the power
power they no longer have all the power
power they no longer have all the power you do because corporations only produce
you do because corporations only produce
you do because corporations only produce what consumers buy repeatedly when
what consumers buy repeatedly when
what consumers buy repeatedly when enough people stop buying an item that
enough people stop buying an item that
enough people stop buying an item that item stops getting made but enough
item stops getting made but enough
item stops getting made but enough people stop buying from a company that
people stop buying from a company that
people stop buying from a company that company goes out of business and when
company goes out of business and when
company goes out of business and when enough people all ask for the same thing
enough people all ask for the same thing
enough people all ask for the same thing corporations compete to meet that demand
corporations compete to meet that demand
corporations compete to meet that demand because corporations only exist to meet
because corporations only exist to meet
because corporations only exist to meet the consumer demand and therein lies the
the consumer demand and therein lies the
the consumer demand and therein lies the secret to using your power to create
secret to using your power to create
secret to using your power to create to change and every year it is getting
to change and every year it is getting
to change and every year it is getting easier for you to act like responsible
easier for you to act like responsible
easier for you to act like responsible consumer in our interconnected online
consumer in our interconnected online
consumer in our interconnected online world we are taking trust and
world we are taking trust and
world we are taking trust and transparency to entirely new levels you
transparency to entirely new levels you
transparency to entirely new levels you can now take out your cell phone and ask
can now take out your cell phone and ask
can now take out your cell phone and ask it to help you search the difference
it to help you search the difference
it to help you search the difference between two options and you can do it
between two options and you can do it
between two options and you can do it right from the grocery store and you can
right from the grocery store and you can
right from the grocery store and you can even use that same cell phone to take a
even use that same cell phone to take a
even use that same cell phone to take a picture of any wrongdoing or injustice
picture of any wrongdoing or injustice
picture of any wrongdoing or injustice anywhere in the world as it happens it
anywhere in the world as it happens it
anywhere in the world as it happens it is getting harder for corporations to
is getting harder for corporations to
is getting harder for corporations to hide the bad and easier for you to
hide the bad and easier for you to
hide the bad and easier for you to discover the good and if you think about
discover the good and if you think about
discover the good and if you think about it if you’ve held two products in your
it if you’ve held two products in your
it if you’ve held two products in your hand and they’re the same cost and the
hand and they’re the same cost and the
hand and they’re the same cost and the same function but you know in confidence
same function but you know in confidence
same function but you know in confidence one product would cause harm to the
one product would cause harm to the
one product would cause harm to the planet and the other would make a
planet and the other would make a
planet and the other would make a positive impact I am confident that you
positive impact I am confident that you
positive impact I am confident that you would make the responsible choice every
would make the responsible choice every
would make the responsible choice every time because it goes against human
time because it goes against human
time because it goes against human nature to want to do intentional harm
nature to want to do intentional harm
nature to want to do intentional harm with your purchases just as it goes
with your purchases just as it goes
with your purchases just as it goes against human nature to change a habit
against human nature to change a habit
against human nature to change a habit overnight but I’ve found change is best
overnight but I’ve found change is best
overnight but I’ve found change is best done incrementally so my wife and I we
done incrementally so my wife and I we
done incrementally so my wife and I we made a simple commitment once a week we
made a simple commitment once a week we
made a simple commitment once a week we would sit down do a little research and
would sit down do a little research and
would sit down do a little research and improve one purchasing habit every week
improve one purchasing habit every week
improve one purchasing habit every week the same routine and this can be simple
the same routine and this can be simple
the same routine and this can be simple little things like finding locally
little things like finding locally
little things like finding locally sourced food or just ensuring that
sourced food or just ensuring that
sourced food or just ensuring that everything you buy can actually be
everything you buy can actually be
everything you buy can actually be recycled in your own community and these
recycled in your own community and these
recycled in your own community and these actions might sound small but over time
actions might sound small but over time
actions might sound small but over time incrementally improving your habits add
incrementally improving your habits add
incrementally improving your habits add up to a huge impact and it’s just
up to a huge impact and it’s just
up to a huge impact and it’s just incremental approach that really gets me
incremental approach that really gets me
incremental approach that really gets me optimistic because I do not believe the
optimistic because I do not believe the
optimistic because I do not believe the world will change
world will change
world will change overnight but I do believe it can change
overnight but I do believe it can change
overnight but I do believe it can change over time for the better and this is
over time for the better and this is
over time for the better and this is what we’re on the verge of seeing we are
what we’re on the verge of seeing we are
what we’re on the verge of seeing we are approaching this new era in which the
approaching this new era in which the
approaching this new era in which the average person is actually starting to
average person is actually starting to
average person is actually starting to act like a responsible consumer and the
act like a responsible consumer and the
act like a responsible consumer and the beautiful thing yes
beautiful thing yes
beautiful thing yes we don’t need everyone to act this way
we don’t need everyone to act this way
we don’t need everyone to act this way for it to work we just need to get to
for it to work we just need to get to
for it to work we just need to get to the average because once we get to the
the average because once we get to the
the average because once we get to the average we hit a cultural tipping point
average we hit a cultural tipping point
average we hit a cultural tipping point where it no longer becomes a hippie
where it no longer becomes a hippie
where it no longer becomes a hippie thing or millennial thing it becomes a
thing or millennial thing it becomes a
thing or millennial thing it becomes a human thing to purchase responsibly and
human thing to purchase responsibly and
human thing to purchase responsibly and thankfully being human is the one thing
thankfully being human is the one thing
thankfully being human is the one thing we all have in common and though it’s
we all have in common and though it’s
we all have in common and though it’s true
true
true since I started talking almost eighteen
since I started talking almost eighteen
since I started talking almost eighteen garbage trucks worth of plastic has now
garbage trucks worth of plastic has now
garbage trucks worth of plastic has now entered our ocean but I know that you
entered our ocean but I know that you
entered our ocean but I know that you have the power to stop that trend and
have the power to stop that trend and
have the power to stop that trend and others like it by using your voice and
others like it by using your voice and
others like it by using your voice and using your vote to ask for and create
using your vote to ask for and create
using your vote to ask for and create the change this planet desperately needs
the change this planet desperately needs
the change this planet desperately needs [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment