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How a TED-Talk changed my life | Imke Neumann | TEDxLeuphanaUniversityLüneburg


mock plastic trash and fish in our

mock plastic trash and fish in our oceans by 2050 when we first hear such

oceans by 2050 when we first hear such

oceans by 2050 when we first hear such predictions our initial reaction is

predictions our initial reaction is

predictions our initial reaction is shock or disbelief but then we just

shock or disbelief but then we just

shock or disbelief but then we just accept them and move on with our lives

accept them and move on with our lives

accept them and move on with our lives so did I when I first heard it I knew

so did I when I first heard it I knew

so did I when I first heard it I knew that it was my trust that I was calling

that it was my trust that I was calling

that it was my trust that I was calling every day week and year which is filling

every day week and year which is filling

every day week and year which is filling up the oceans but since billions of

up the oceans but since billions of

up the oceans but since billions of other people are part of the problem too

other people are part of the problem too

other people are part of the problem too I thought my waste would just be a drop

I thought my waste would just be a drop

I thought my waste would just be a drop in the ocean it’s just easier to throw

in the ocean it’s just easier to throw

in the ocean it’s just easier to throw your trash away and stop thinking about

your trash away and stop thinking about

your trash away and stop thinking about it

it

it especially when the resulting problems

especially when the resulting problems

especially when the resulting problems are not affecting you directly some

are not affecting you directly some

are not affecting you directly some clever scientists might come up with a

clever scientists might come up with a

clever scientists might come up with a solution anyway and until then the most

solution anyway and until then the most

solution anyway and until then the most I could do was abstaining from plastic

I could do was abstaining from plastic

I could do was abstaining from plastic bags or so I thought because then

bags or so I thought because then

bags or so I thought because then something happened which made me realize

something happened which made me realize

something happened which made me realize that I don’t need to wait for anyone to

that I don’t need to wait for anyone to

that I don’t need to wait for anyone to solve the problem that I am creating I

solve the problem that I am creating I

solve the problem that I am creating I can in fact be part of the solution the

can in fact be part of the solution the

can in fact be part of the solution the way I did it was by reducing my yearly

way I did it was by reducing my yearly

way I did it was by reducing my yearly trash to exactly this amount yes all my

trash to exactly this amount yes all my

trash to exactly this amount yes all my trash of over one year fits inside this

trash of over one year fits inside this

trash of over one year fits inside this tiny jars glass and if the people in the

tiny jars glass and if the people in the

tiny jars glass and if the people in the back have a hard time seeing it that’s

back have a hard time seeing it that’s

back have a hard time seeing it that’s exactly what I was going for how did I

exactly what I was going for how did I

exactly what I was going for how did I manage to make this achievement of

manage to make this achievement of

manage to make this achievement of tackling a huge global problem on a

tackling a huge global problem on a

tackling a huge global problem on a personal scale and more importantly what

personal scale and more importantly what

personal scale and more importantly what does this experience taught me about

does this experience taught me about

does this experience taught me about achieving my own goals from a personal

achieving my own goals from a personal

achieving my own goals from a personal life and the world while most people

life and the world while most people

life and the world while most people have some problems projects and plans

have some problems projects and plans

have some problems projects and plans they always want to work on but keep

they always want to work on but keep

they always want to work on but keep postponing most people have something

postponing most people have something

postponing most people have something that takes the top priority on that list

that takes the top priority on that list

that takes the top priority on that list something so important to yourself that

something so important to yourself that

something so important to yourself that you’re willing to change your life for

you’re willing to change your life for

you’re willing to change your life for it and other times you don’t need to

it and other times you don’t need to

it and other times you don’t need to look for a call to change your life at

look for a call to change your life at

look for a call to change your life at all but it finds you for me that turned

all but it finds you for me that turned

all but it finds you for me that turned out to be trash not that it ever played

out to be trash not that it ever played

out to be trash not that it ever played a huge role in my life but I naturally

a huge role in my life but I naturally

a huge role in my life but I naturally cared about the environment the only

cared about the environment the only

cared about the environment the only thing that kept me from acting upon it

thing that kept me from acting upon it

thing that kept me from acting upon it was me feeling unable to do so

was me feeling unable to do so

was me feeling unable to do so I knew about like anyone else I was

I knew about like anyone else I was

I knew about like anyone else I was causing a lot of trash each year about

causing a lot of trash each year about

causing a lot of trash each year about 270 kilograms as I found out later and I

270 kilograms as I found out later and I

270 kilograms as I found out later and I just assumed that this is the cost we

just assumed that this is the cost we

just assumed that this is the cost we need to pay for living a civilized

need to pay for living a civilized

need to pay for living a civilized lifestyle once you take a closer look at

lifestyle once you take a closer look at

lifestyle once you take a closer look at a problem and try to break it down you

a problem and try to break it down you

a problem and try to break it down you might come up with a solution so simple

might come up with a solution so simple

might come up with a solution so simple that you wonder why no one has ever

that you wonder why no one has ever

that you wonder why no one has ever thought of that before so how did I come

thought of that before so how did I come

thought of that before so how did I come up with this ingenious idea that using

up with this ingenious idea that using

up with this ingenious idea that using last classic will lead to last classic

last classic will lead to last classic

last classic will lead to last classic trash the truth is that I didn’t I often

trash the truth is that I didn’t I often

trash the truth is that I didn’t I often stay up really late just watching random

stay up really late just watching random

stay up really late just watching random YouTube videos including TED Talks and

YouTube videos including TED Talks and

YouTube videos including TED Talks and then I would hear all those impressive

then I would hear all those impressive

then I would hear all those impressive stories of scientists journalists and

stories of scientists journalists and

stories of scientists journalists and entrepreneurs that would leave me

entrepreneurs that would leave me

entrepreneurs that would leave me thinking that I should really go out

thinking that I should really go out

thinking that I should really go out there and start changing the world turn

there and start changing the world turn

there and start changing the world turn my life around and start living a

my life around and start living a

my life around and start living a healthy lifestyle but the next day

healthy lifestyle but the next day

healthy lifestyle but the next day reality would kick in and I had no idea

reality would kick in and I had no idea

reality would kick in and I had no idea where to start with all those big plans

where to start with all those big plans

where to start with all those big plans when I watch the TED talk by Lauren

when I watch the TED talk by Lauren

when I watch the TED talk by Lauren singer college why I live a zero-waste

singer college why I live a zero-waste

singer college why I live a zero-waste lifestyle it all changed she talked

lifestyle it all changed she talked

lifestyle it all changed she talked about how she manages to fit her trash

about how she manages to fit her trash

about how she manages to fit her trash of three years inside a tiny jar of

of three years inside a tiny jar of

of three years inside a tiny jar of glass and I was really blown away I

glass and I was really blown away I

glass and I was really blown away I couldn’t believe this was actually a

couldn’t believe this was actually a

couldn’t believe this was actually a possibility and how come I had never

possibility and how come I had never

possibility and how come I had never heard of five before while everyone is

heard of five before while everyone is

heard of five before while everyone is out there living their life accepting

out there living their life accepting

out there living their life accepting that you need to pollute the environment

that you need to pollute the environment

that you need to pollute the environment with your food packaging and empty

with your food packaging and empty

with your food packaging and empty shampoo bottles she made me realize that

shampoo bottles she made me realize that

shampoo bottles she made me realize that there are some alternatives so I was

there are some alternatives so I was

there are some alternatives so I was realizing that sometimes problem seems

realizing that sometimes problem seems

realizing that sometimes problem seems so big that you think that solution must

so big that you think that solution must

so big that you think that solution must just be as tricky immediately after

just be as tricky immediately after

just be as tricky immediately after having seen the video I started thinking

having seen the video I started thinking

having seen the video I started thinking about all the items that I buy which are

about all the items that I buy which are

about all the items that I buy which are packaged in plastic and other wasteful

packaged in plastic and other wasteful

packaged in plastic and other wasteful materials and how I could possibly

materials and how I could possibly

materials and how I could possibly replace them and while I couldn’t think

replace them and while I couldn’t think

replace them and while I couldn’t think of zero waste alternatives for

of zero waste alternatives for

of zero waste alternatives for everything right away I knew that I had

everything right away I knew that I had

everything right away I knew that I had to try this lifestyle myself how could I

to try this lifestyle myself how could I

to try this lifestyle myself how could I possibly keep causing trash when I knew

possibly keep causing trash when I knew

possibly keep causing trash when I knew that Everly

that Everly

that Everly benefit was avoidable according to this

benefit was avoidable according to this

benefit was avoidable according to this tap talk so I challenged myself to

tap talk so I challenged myself to

tap talk so I challenged myself to produce even less trash than the girl in

produce even less trash than the girl in

produce even less trash than the girl in the video

the video

the video Lauren singer and I was going to start

Lauren singer and I was going to start

Lauren singer and I was going to start with it right the next day so I get

with it right the next day so I get

with it right the next day so I get myself this jar and kind of use it as a

myself this jar and kind of use it as a

myself this jar and kind of use it as a goal I wasn’t going to cost more trash

goal I wasn’t going to cost more trash

goal I wasn’t going to cost more trash than this jars able to hold this gave me

than this jars able to hold this gave me

than this jars able to hold this gave me a way to visualize the progress I’m

a way to visualize the progress I’m

a way to visualize the progress I’m making and show me what I’m going for

making and show me what I’m going for

making and show me what I’m going for where I still have room for improvement

where I still have room for improvement

where I still have room for improvement but also serve as a great source of

but also serve as a great source of

but also serve as a great source of inspiration now that I have set myself a

inspiration now that I have set myself a

inspiration now that I have set myself a goal

goal

goal I still have little knowledge of how to

I still have little knowledge of how to

I still have little knowledge of how to actually achieve it but the thing is

actually achieve it but the thing is

actually achieve it but the thing is that I knew it was possible and that’s

that I knew it was possible and that’s

that I knew it was possible and that’s all I needed to know people often tell

all I needed to know people often tell

all I needed to know people often tell me that it must be really hard to go

me that it must be really hard to go

me that it must be really hard to go zero waste and are curious about how I

zero waste and are curious about how I

zero waste and are curious about how I replace everyday items like toothbrushes

replace everyday items like toothbrushes

replace everyday items like toothbrushes or dental floss the good thing is that I

or dental floss the good thing is that I

or dental floss the good thing is that I didn’t need to have all the answers to

didn’t need to have all the answers to

didn’t need to have all the answers to minor problems right away on the first

minor problems right away on the first

minor problems right away on the first days of my transition I mainly needed to

days of my transition I mainly needed to

days of my transition I mainly needed to focus on buying food so I would go into

focus on buying food so I would go into

focus on buying food so I would go into the store with my reusable bags and kind

the store with my reusable bags and kind

the store with my reusable bags and kind of scan the house for zero waste items

of scan the house for zero waste items

of scan the house for zero waste items and within a few days that I had figured

and within a few days that I had figured

and within a few days that I had figured out at which store I can buy which item

out at which store I can buy which item

out at which store I can buy which item then I would run out of shampoo and had

then I would run out of shampoo and had

then I would run out of shampoo and had to look for an alternative which turned

to look for an alternative which turned

to look for an alternative which turned out to be solid shampoo bars after a

out to be solid shampoo bars after a

out to be solid shampoo bars after a while I had to replace my plastic

while I had to replace my plastic

while I had to replace my plastic toothbrush and the alternative was one

toothbrush and the alternative was one

toothbrush and the alternative was one made out of bamboo 100% biodegradable in

made out of bamboo 100% biodegradable in

made out of bamboo 100% biodegradable in other cases I didn’t buy an alternative

other cases I didn’t buy an alternative

other cases I didn’t buy an alternative product at all but chose to make myself

product at all but chose to make myself

product at all but chose to make myself like laundry detergent who knew it would

like laundry detergent who knew it would

like laundry detergent who knew it would only consist of three ingredients at

only consist of three ingredients at

only consist of three ingredients at washing soda water and castile soap it

washing soda water and castile soap it

washing soda water and castile soap it is a very satisfying feeling to try a

is a very satisfying feeling to try a

is a very satisfying feeling to try a different recipes and see them actually

different recipes and see them actually

different recipes and see them actually work not only are those products cheaper

work not only are those products cheaper

work not only are those products cheaper but you can customize them so they fit

but you can customize them so they fit

but you can customize them so they fit your own values and needs this is why I

your own values and needs this is why I

your own values and needs this is why I don’t see my lifestyle change

don’t see my lifestyle change

don’t see my lifestyle change as radical as it might sound I think

as radical as it might sound I think

as radical as it might sound I think it’s more like a gradual transition or a

it’s more like a gradual transition or a

it’s more like a gradual transition or a journey and on this journey I learned so

journey and on this journey I learned so

journey and on this journey I learned so much more about myself my everyday

much more about myself my everyday

much more about myself my everyday products and how to make them not only

products and how to make them not only

products and how to make them not only did this journey lead me to my goal but

did this journey lead me to my goal but

did this journey lead me to my goal but it also opened up so many new

it also opened up so many new

it also opened up so many new perspectives that I would have never

perspectives that I would have never

perspectives that I would have never expected but like every journey mine

expected but like every journey mine

expected but like every journey mine also had its ups and downs and sometimes

also had its ups and downs and sometimes

also had its ups and downs and sometimes experience those downs in the form of my

experience those downs in the form of my

experience those downs in the form of my favorite candy but I can’t buy as often

favorite candy but I can’t buy as often

favorite candy but I can’t buy as often because it’s packaging so much plastic

because it’s packaging so much plastic

because it’s packaging so much plastic or when I see a nice dress of the store

or when I see a nice dress of the store

or when I see a nice dress of the store and to sum up bias and said I spent my

and to sum up bias and said I spent my

and to sum up bias and said I spent my money on second-hand clothes that I find

money on second-hand clothes that I find

money on second-hand clothes that I find while traveling and I think they often

while traveling and I think they often

while traveling and I think they often way more interesting than the local

way more interesting than the local

way more interesting than the local options I have here on top of that I

options I have here on top of that I

options I have here on top of that I sometimes have that awkward moment where

sometimes have that awkward moment where

sometimes have that awkward moment where I go out with friends for drinks and by

I go out with friends for drinks and by

I go out with friends for drinks and by the end I wouldn’t just leave my glass

the end I wouldn’t just leave my glass

the end I wouldn’t just leave my glass standing there but I’d take the little

standing there but I’d take the little

standing there but I’d take the little plastic straw with me which of course

plastic straw with me which of course

plastic straw with me which of course earns me a lot of awkward looks so I get

earns me a lot of awkward looks so I get

earns me a lot of awkward looks so I get to explain that I will put it in my jaw

to explain that I will put it in my jaw

to explain that I will put it in my jaw later on and that opens up a whole new

later on and that opens up a whole new

later on and that opens up a whole new conversation about my zero waste

conversation about my zero waste

conversation about my zero waste lifestyle so there were definitely

lifestyle so there were definitely

lifestyle so there were definitely challenges I needed to overcome when

challenges I needed to overcome when

challenges I needed to overcome when deciding to make this change the key is

deciding to make this change the key is

deciding to make this change the key is that I didn’t let those discourage me

that I didn’t let those discourage me

that I didn’t let those discourage me from achieving my goal

from achieving my goal

from achieving my goal I needed to be persistent and ordered to

I needed to be persistent and ordered to

I needed to be persistent and ordered to later on look at the achievements I was

later on look at the achievements I was

later on look at the achievements I was able to make and the experiences I got

able to make and the experiences I got

able to make and the experiences I got to make and on top of that it’s a

to make and on top of that it’s a

to make and on top of that it’s a wonderful feeling to see how much of an

wonderful feeling to see how much of an

wonderful feeling to see how much of an impact you can have on your own life if

impact you can have on your own life if

impact you can have on your own life if you just put your mind to it the best

you just put your mind to it the best

you just put your mind to it the best experience however is getting to share

experience however is getting to share

experience however is getting to share your ideas and knowledge with other

your ideas and knowledge with other

your ideas and knowledge with other people I inspired my older sister to go

people I inspired my older sister to go

people I inspired my older sister to go zero to go zero waste and other people

zero to go zero waste and other people

zero to go zero waste and other people around me to embrace a cleaner lifestyle

around me to embrace a cleaner lifestyle

around me to embrace a cleaner lifestyle as well now I get to spend more money on

as well now I get to spend more money on

as well now I get to spend more money on important things like traveling and

important things like traveling and

important things like traveling and concerts and not on stuff that will

concerts and not on stuff that will

concerts and not on stuff that will leave a huge pile of trash which will be

leave a huge pile of trash which will be

leave a huge pile of trash which will be dumped in the ocean by now I don’t think

dumped in the ocean by now I don’t think

dumped in the ocean by now I don’t think about other products I can buy but about

about other products I can buy but about

about other products I can buy but about the hundreds of kilos of trash but I

the hundreds of kilos of trash but I

the hundreds of kilos of trash but I avoid every year

avoid every year

avoid every year while some people might still call me

while some people might still call me

while some people might still call me crazy or weird for living this lifestyle

crazy or weird for living this lifestyle

crazy or weird for living this lifestyle I like being crazy if that means living

I like being crazy if that means living

I like being crazy if that means living according to my own values it’s time to

according to my own values it’s time to

according to my own values it’s time to deal with those projects plans and

deal with those projects plans and

deal with those projects plans and problems that you always wanted to work

problems that you always wanted to work

problems that you always wanted to work on be crazy and challenge yourself every

on be crazy and challenge yourself every

on be crazy and challenge yourself every day you will get to experience growth

day you will get to experience growth

day you will get to experience growth and willpower impact and achievement and

and willpower impact and achievement and

and willpower impact and achievement and if you could make the switch to reusable

if you could make the switch to reusable

if you could make the switch to reusable bags and bottles in the process we will

bags and bottles in the process we will

bags and bottles in the process we will all act one step closer to a cleaner

all act one step closer to a cleaner

all act one step closer to a cleaner future with more fish than trash and the

future with more fish than trash and the

future with more fish than trash and the oceans by 2050

”

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