when I was a teenager I worked at the local supermarket as a checkout chick
local supermarket as a checkout chick
local supermarket as a checkout chick which is probably where the plaid
which is probably where the plaid
which is probably where the plaid against plastic originated for me every
against plastic originated for me every
against plastic originated for me every few minutes I was dealing with the new
few minutes I was dealing with the new
few minutes I was dealing with the new customer handing out 5 10 sometimes 15
customer handing out 5 10 sometimes 15
customer handing out 5 10 sometimes 15 plastic bags and dealing with hundreds
plastic bags and dealing with hundreds
plastic bags and dealing with hundreds of customers every day this really got
of customers every day this really got
of customers every day this really got me thinking where are all these plastic
me thinking where are all these plastic
me thinking where are all these plastic bags coming from and where do they end
bags coming from and where do they end
bags coming from and where do they end up if this is how many plastic bags are
up if this is how many plastic bags are
up if this is how many plastic bags are being consumed in one supermarket in one
being consumed in one supermarket in one
being consumed in one supermarket in one tiny part of the world how many plastic
tiny part of the world how many plastic
tiny part of the world how many plastic bags are being produced consumed and
bags are being produced consumed and
bags are being produced consumed and discarded in all the supermarket’s
discarded in all the supermarket’s
discarded in all the supermarket’s globally it was overwhelming to fathom
globally it was overwhelming to fathom
globally it was overwhelming to fathom the scale of it plastic is all around us
the scale of it plastic is all around us
the scale of it plastic is all around us in the last 70 years the use of plastic
in the last 70 years the use of plastic
in the last 70 years the use of plastic has become so prolific that were
has become so prolific that were
has become so prolific that were dependent on it in our everyday lives
dependent on it in our everyday lives
dependent on it in our everyday lives about 300 million tons of plastic
about 300 million tons of plastic
about 300 million tons of plastic produced every year and about half of
produced every year and about half of
produced every year and about half of this is for single-use convenience items
this is for single-use convenience items
this is for single-use convenience items pink plastic bags plastic water bottles
pink plastic bags plastic water bottles
pink plastic bags plastic water bottles and disposable coffee cups often used
and disposable coffee cups often used
and disposable coffee cups often used once just for a few minutes before being
once just for a few minutes before being
once just for a few minutes before being thrown away but where is the way we wipe
thrown away but where is the way we wipe
thrown away but where is the way we wipe our hands clean of it after throwing it
our hands clean of it after throwing it
our hands clean of it after throwing it in the rubbish bin but where does it end
in the rubbish bin but where does it end
in the rubbish bin but where does it end up after that we love plastic because of
up after that we love plastic because of
up after that we love plastic because of its versatility and durability but it
its versatility and durability but it
its versatility and durability but it seems very properties that make it such
seems very properties that make it such
seems very properties that make it such an environmental disaster every single
an environmental disaster every single
an environmental disaster every single piece of plastic ever made still exists
piece of plastic ever made still exists
piece of plastic ever made still exists in some form somewhere in the world
in some form somewhere in the world
in some form somewhere in the world every coffee cup every chip packet while
every coffee cup every chip packet while
every coffee cup every chip packet while a lot of it ends up in landfills
a lot of it ends up in landfills
a lot of it ends up in landfills out-of-sight about eight million tons of
out-of-sight about eight million tons of
out-of-sight about eight million tons of this plastic is ending up in the oceans
this plastic is ending up in the oceans
this plastic is ending up in the oceans every year and we all know what happens
every year and we all know what happens
every year and we all know what happens when it gets there when I really started
when it gets there when I really started
when it gets there when I really started to delve into the issues of plastic
to delve into the issues of plastic
to delve into the issues of plastic pollution it dawned on me just how big
pollution it dawned on me just how big
pollution it dawned on me just how big this problem was and how ingrained it
this problem was and how ingrained it
this problem was and how ingrained it had become into our everyday lives every
had become into our everyday lives every
had become into our everyday lives every visit to the beach became a clean up and
visit to the beach became a clean up and
visit to the beach became a clean up and walking down the aisle of any
walking down the aisle of any
walking down the aisle of any supermarket has never been the same for
supermarket has never been the same for
supermarket has never been the same for me I see the plastic everywhere and I
me I see the plastic everywhere and I
me I see the plastic everywhere and I was determined to do something about it
was determined to do something about it
was determined to do something about it I wanted to stop plastic at its source
I wanted to stop plastic at its source
I wanted to stop plastic at its source so I went on a bit of a mission to
so I went on a bit of a mission to
so I went on a bit of a mission to reduce plastic as much as I could within
reduce plastic as much as I could within
reduce plastic as much as I could within my own life but I also wanted to inspire
my own life but I also wanted to inspire
my own life but I also wanted to inspire others to do the same so I reflected on
others to do the same so I reflected on
others to do the same so I reflected on where this journey began for me with
where this journey began for me with
where this journey began for me with plastic bags a friend and I got together
plastic bags a friend and I got together
plastic bags a friend and I got together and we started brainstorming some ideas
and we started brainstorming some ideas
and we started brainstorming some ideas to tackle plastic bags in our local
to tackle plastic bags in our local
to tackle plastic bags in our local community we found that one of the
community we found that one of the
community we found that one of the biggest barriers to people not you
biggest barriers to people not you
biggest barriers to people not you reusable bags was often the expense a
reusable bags was often the expense a
reusable bags was often the expense a lack of awareness or simply the fact
lack of awareness or simply the fact
lack of awareness or simply the fact that despite their best intentions they
that despite their best intentions they
that despite their best intentions they forget to bring their Platt their
forget to bring their Platt their
forget to bring their Platt their reusable bags to the shops so we thought
reusable bags to the shops so we thought
reusable bags to the shops so we thought as a starting point if we could provide
as a starting point if we could provide
as a starting point if we could provide an availability of reusable bags at the
an availability of reusable bags at the
an availability of reusable bags at the local shopping area people might find it
local shopping area people might find it
local shopping area people might find it easier to break their bag habits our
easier to break their bag habits our
easier to break their bag habits our first hurdle here was where we’re going
first hurdle here was where we’re going
first hurdle here was where we’re going to get our hands on stacks of reusable
to get our hands on stacks of reusable
to get our hands on stacks of reusable bags that are sustainably made we
bags that are sustainably made we
bags that are sustainably made we couldn’t find an Australian manufacturer
couldn’t find an Australian manufacturer
couldn’t find an Australian manufacturer of reusable bags so the next best option
of reusable bags so the next best option
of reusable bags so the next best option was to make the back to ourselves and to
was to make the back to ourselves and to
was to make the back to ourselves and to take sustainability to the next level
take sustainability to the next level
take sustainability to the next level we’d use recycled fabric the problem
we’d use recycled fabric the problem
we’d use recycled fabric the problem with this idea was that neither of us
with this idea was that neither of us
with this idea was that neither of us could sew so we put a call out to
could sew so we put a call out to
could sew so we put a call out to friends family and the general public
friends family and the general public
friends family and the general public for donations of recycled fabric and
for donations of recycled fabric and
for donations of recycled fabric and volunteers to help us to turn that
volunteers to help us to turn that
volunteers to help us to turn that fabric into bags within weeks we’d
fabric into bags within weeks we’d
fabric into bags within weeks we’d receive truckloads of donated fabric and
receive truckloads of donated fabric and
receive truckloads of donated fabric and we started having regular community
we started having regular community
we started having regular community sewing bees where anyone could come
sewing bees where anyone could come
sewing bees where anyone could come along and get involved in the process
along and get involved in the process
along and get involved in the process this is how boomerang bags was born with
this is how boomerang bags was born with
this is how boomerang bags was born with the help of hundreds of volunteers our
the help of hundreds of volunteers our
the help of hundreds of volunteers our little community of Burleigh Heads had
little community of Burleigh Heads had
little community of Burleigh Heads had made thousands of reusable bags and
made thousands of reusable bags and
made thousands of reusable bags and spread them throughout the local
spread them throughout the local
spread them throughout the local shopping area as a means to raise
shopping area as a means to raise
shopping area as a means to raise awareness and to provide an alternative
awareness and to provide an alternative
awareness and to provide an alternative to plastic bags what we learned
to plastic bags what we learned
to plastic bags what we learned throughout this process is a lot about
throughout this process is a lot about
throughout this process is a lot about the power of community to create change
the power of community to create change
the power of community to create change we noticed something really wonderful
we noticed something really wonderful
we noticed something really wonderful happening at every community gathering
happening at every community gathering
happening at every community gathering amongst the humming of sewing machines
amongst the humming of sewing machines
amongst the humming of sewing machines people were socializing connecting and
people were socializing connecting and
people were socializing connecting and interacting they were sharing their life
interacting they were sharing their life
interacting they were sharing their life stories but not only that they were
stories but not only that they were
stories but not only that they were talking to each other about plastic
talking to each other about plastic
talking to each other about plastic about its effects on the environment
about its effects on the environment
about its effects on the environment about where they just bought their new
about where they just bought their new
about where they just bought their new reusable coffee cup and about how they
reusable coffee cup and about how they
reusable coffee cup and about how they just convinced their neighbors to go
just convinced their neighbors to go
just convinced their neighbors to go plastic bag free boomerang bags had
plastic bag free boomerang bags had
plastic bag free boomerang bags had suddenly become a platform where people
suddenly become a platform where people
suddenly become a platform where people could discuss and brainstorm solutions
could discuss and brainstorm solutions
could discuss and brainstorm solutions to plastic pollution to connect and to
to plastic pollution to connect and to
to plastic pollution to connect and to share and learn from each other
share and learn from each other
share and learn from each other and to find a sense of purpose in
and to find a sense of purpose in
and to find a sense of purpose in contributing to their local community so
contributing to their local community so
contributing to their local community so we started getting contacted by people
we started getting contacted by people
we started getting contacted by people around Australia that also wanted to
around Australia that also wanted to
around Australia that also wanted to make bags we couldn’t be everywhere at
make bags we couldn’t be everywhere at
make bags we couldn’t be everywhere at once so we put our heads together and we
once so we put our heads together and we
once so we put our heads together and we developed a toolkit that would empower
developed a toolkit that would empower
developed a toolkit that would empower community leaders to drive the
community leaders to drive the
community leaders to drive the initiative locally within about a year
initiative locally within about a year
initiative locally within about a year there were 10 boomerang
there were 10 boomerang
there were 10 boomerang communities up and running around
communities up and running around
communities up and running around Australia another two years on and there
Australia another two years on and there
Australia another two years on and there are 300 boomerang bag communities now
are 300 boomerang bag communities now
are 300 boomerang bag communities now underway around the world
from New Zealand to Norway community
from New Zealand to Norway community volunteers have collectively made over
volunteers have collectively made over
volunteers have collectively made over 80,000 reusable bags that are in
80,000 reusable bags that are in
80,000 reusable bags that are in circulation around the globe this
circulation around the globe this
circulation around the globe this equates to about 40 million plastic bags
equates to about 40 million plastic bags
equates to about 40 million plastic bags being replaced and about 25,000 kilos of
being replaced and about 25,000 kilos of
being replaced and about 25,000 kilos of waste I voted from landfill every
waste I voted from landfill every
waste I voted from landfill every boomerang bag has a story from where its
boomerang bag has a story from where its
boomerang bag has a story from where its materials were sourced to who it was
materials were sourced to who it was
materials were sourced to who it was made by and how far it’s traveled they
made by and how far it’s traveled they
made by and how far it’s traveled they used and reused boomerang – friends
used and reused boomerang – friends
used and reused boomerang – friends families as a means to start a
families as a means to start a
families as a means to start a conversation to connect people to issues
conversation to connect people to issues
conversation to connect people to issues of waste connect them to each other
of waste connect them to each other
of waste connect them to each other and to inspire them to make changes
and to inspire them to make changes
and to inspire them to make changes small changes in their everyday lives
small changes in their everyday lives
small changes in their everyday lives that will help them to live a little
that will help them to live a little
that will help them to live a little more sustainably essentially the bags
more sustainably essentially the bags
more sustainably essentially the bags are acting as a catalyst for change so
are acting as a catalyst for change so
are acting as a catalyst for change so what can you do to reduce your plastic
what can you do to reduce your plastic
what can you do to reduce your plastic footprint firstly start to observe how
footprint firstly start to observe how
footprint firstly start to observe how much plastic you’re currently consuming
much plastic you’re currently consuming
much plastic you’re currently consuming in your everyday life
in your everyday life
in your everyday life sounds a bit weird but the best place to
sounds a bit weird but the best place to
sounds a bit weird but the best place to start is by having a look in your
start is by having a look in your
start is by having a look in your garbage bin and you’ll soon realize
garbage bin and you’ll soon realize
garbage bin and you’ll soon realize where a lot of your waste is coming from
where a lot of your waste is coming from
where a lot of your waste is coming from get creative about how you and your
get creative about how you and your
get creative about how you and your family can reduce the use of plastic in
family can reduce the use of plastic in
family can reduce the use of plastic in your everyday life one of the biggest
your everyday life one of the biggest
your everyday life one of the biggest ways that plastic finds its way into our
ways that plastic finds its way into our
ways that plastic finds its way into our lives is through the single-use
lives is through the single-use
lives is through the single-use convenience items water bottles plastic
convenience items water bottles plastic
convenience items water bottles plastic bags plastic straws takeout containers
bags plastic straws takeout containers
bags plastic straws takeout containers invest in some reusable alternatives to
invest in some reusable alternatives to
invest in some reusable alternatives to these items and get into the habit of
these items and get into the habit of
these items and get into the habit of taking them everywhere with you just
taking them everywhere with you just
taking them everywhere with you just like turning the tap off when you brush
like turning the tap off when you brush
like turning the tap off when you brush your teeth it’s all about creating good
your teeth it’s all about creating good
your teeth it’s all about creating good habits food and product packaging is
habits food and product packaging is
habits food and product packaging is another big one and a lot of this can be
another big one and a lot of this can be
another big one and a lot of this can be easily avoided by shopping a little more
easily avoided by shopping a little more
easily avoided by shopping a little more consciously opt for glass and paper
consciously opt for glass and paper
consciously opt for glass and paper packaging / plastic and look for your
packaging / plastic and look for your
packaging / plastic and look for your local farmers markets and bulk food
local farmers markets and bulk food
local farmers markets and bulk food stores and experiment with making things
stores and experiment with making things
stores and experiment with making things from scratch to avoid the packaging
from scratch to avoid the packaging
from scratch to avoid the packaging altogether lastly like a boomerang bag
altogether lastly like a boomerang bag
altogether lastly like a boomerang bag be a catalyst for change
be a catalyst for change
be a catalyst for change thanks to TEDx all of you guys are now a
thanks to TEDx all of you guys are now a
thanks to TEDx all of you guys are now a proud owner of your very own boomerang
proud owner of your very own boomerang
proud owner of your very own boomerang bag if you take nothing else away from
bag if you take nothing else away from
bag if you take nothing else away from this talk but to use and reuse this bag
this talk but to use and reuse this bag
this talk but to use and reuse this bag instead of plastic you’ve already saved
instead of plastic you’ve already saved
instead of plastic you’ve already saved five hundred and fifty plastic bags from
five hundred and fifty plastic bags from
five hundred and fifty plastic bags from being used in one year collectively
being used in one year collectively
being used in one year collectively that’s 100,000 plastic bags saved in
that’s 100,000 plastic bags saved in
that’s 100,000 plastic bags saved in this room alone take the challenge one
this room alone take the challenge one
this room alone take the challenge one step further
step further
step further boomerang your bag to a friend or the
boomerang your bag to a friend or the
boomerang your bag to a friend or the bag less stranger at the supermarket and
bag less stranger at the supermarket and
bag less stranger at the supermarket and when you do start a conversation
when you do start a conversation
when you do start a conversation encourage them to use it
encourage them to use it
encourage them to use it and tell them why it’s so important
and tell them why it’s so important
and tell them why it’s so important share with them what you’ve learned
share with them what you’ve learned
share with them what you’ve learned about going plastic bag free and show
about going plastic bag free and show
about going plastic bag free and show them how they can to boomerang bags
them how they can to boomerang bags
them how they can to boomerang bags originated from a conversation between
originated from a conversation between
originated from a conversation between two people over coffee so you never know
two people over coffee so you never know
two people over coffee so you never know where these conversations might lead the
where these conversations might lead the
where these conversations might lead the problem with plastic is really big and
problem with plastic is really big and
problem with plastic is really big and overwhelming but it’s important not to
overwhelming but it’s important not to
overwhelming but it’s important not to underestimate your power as an
underestimate your power as an
underestimate your power as an individual to create change ultimately
individual to create change ultimately
individual to create change ultimately the solution starts with us thank you
the solution starts with us thank you
the solution starts with us thank you [Applause]
”
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