last year while on holiday I was swimming in the sea
swimming in the sea
swimming in the sea and I encountered a plastic bag just
and I encountered a plastic bag just
and I encountered a plastic bag just like this at first glance I thought it
like this at first glance I thought it
like this at first glance I thought it was a large jellyfish and I was really
was a large jellyfish and I was really
was a large jellyfish and I was really quite frightened but then when I
quite frightened but then when I
quite frightened but then when I realized it was a plastic bag I got
realized it was a plastic bag I got
realized it was a plastic bag I got really angry because it simply should
really angry because it simply should
really angry because it simply should not have been there now when I came back
not have been there now when I came back
not have been there now when I came back to the UK I started to research about
to the UK I started to research about
to the UK I started to research about plastic in our oceans and I am truly
plastic in our oceans and I am truly
plastic in our oceans and I am truly devastated by what I found every year we
devastated by what I found every year we
devastated by what I found every year we dump 8 million tons of plastic waste
dump 8 million tons of plastic waste
dump 8 million tons of plastic waste into our oceans and seas worldwide this
into our oceans and seas worldwide this
into our oceans and seas worldwide this is equivalent to one garbage truck laden
is equivalent to one garbage truck laden
is equivalent to one garbage truck laden with plastic being dumped into the sea
with plastic being dumped into the sea
with plastic being dumped into the sea every minute that 60 garbage trucks per
every minute that 60 garbage trucks per
every minute that 60 garbage trucks per hour
hour
hour 1,440 garbage trucks per day every day
1,440 garbage trucks per day every day
1,440 garbage trucks per day every day if you prefer a plot aeroplanes
if you prefer a plot aeroplanes
if you prefer a plot aeroplanes that’s equivalent to 18,000 Boeing 747s
that’s equivalent to 18,000 Boeing 747s
that’s equivalent to 18,000 Boeing 747s laden with plastic and that cargo being
laden with plastic and that cargo being
laden with plastic and that cargo being dumped into the sea every year now the
dumped into the sea every year now the
dumped into the sea every year now the solution to the plastic problem is going
solution to the plastic problem is going
solution to the plastic problem is going to require everyone across the world to
to require everyone across the world to
to require everyone across the world to work together the solutions are going to
work together the solutions are going to
work together the solutions are going to have to be multifaceted and
have to be multifaceted and
have to be multifaceted and multi-layered for example we could
multi-layered for example we could
multi-layered for example we could require every country in the world to
require every country in the world to
require every country in the world to have a plastic production quota just
have a plastic production quota just
have a plastic production quota just like we have carbon emission quotas in
like we have carbon emission quotas in
like we have carbon emission quotas in 2017 the UK government declared that by
2017 the UK government declared that by
2017 the UK government declared that by 2040 – we will work to eliminate
2040 – we will work to eliminate
2040 – we will work to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging that’s a
unnecessary plastic packaging that’s a
unnecessary plastic packaging that’s a great goal I support it but I’m too
great goal I support it but I’m too
great goal I support it but I’m too worried about the date because 2040 – is
worried about the date because 2040 – is
worried about the date because 2040 – is 25 years away and it’s too late by 2050
25 years away and it’s too late by 2050
25 years away and it’s too late by 2050 we’ll have more plastic than fish in our
we’ll have more plastic than fish in our
we’ll have more plastic than fish in our oceans by weight plastic is in our food
oceans by weight plastic is in our food
oceans by weight plastic is in our food chain and it’s a threat to our humanity
chain and it’s a threat to our humanity
chain and it’s a threat to our humanity and to the future of us so I would like
and to the future of us so I would like
and to the future of us so I would like a much narrower term
a much narrower term
a much narrower term say 20 30 and I’d like something more
say 20 30 and I’d like something more
say 20 30 and I’d like something more concrete I would like to work to see if
concrete I would like to work to see if
concrete I would like to work to see if the UK can become plastic neutral by
the UK can become plastic neutral by
the UK can become plastic neutral by 2030 and by plastic neutral I mean
2030 and by plastic neutral I mean
2030 and by plastic neutral I mean recycling as much plastic as we consume
recycling as much plastic as we consume
recycling as much plastic as we consume so if we look at the data in 2014 we
so if we look at the data in 2014 we
so if we look at the data in 2014 we used or consumed 2.2 million tonnes of
used or consumed 2.2 million tonnes of
used or consumed 2.2 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste we recycled 38
plastic packaging waste we recycled 38
plastic packaging waste we recycled 38 percent of that and that’s great it’s
percent of that and that’s great it’s
percent of that and that’s great it’s over a third and actually we’ve improved
over a third and actually we’ve improved
over a third and actually we’ve improved in 2015 and 2016 we improved by five
in 2015 and 2016 we improved by five
in 2015 and 2016 we improved by five percent each year so we’re definitely on
percent each year so we’re definitely on
percent each year so we’re definitely on the right track but recycling is not the
the right track but recycling is not the
the right track but recycling is not the total solution we also have to look at
total solution we also have to look at
total solution we also have to look at how much plastic we consume now at this
how much plastic we consume now at this
how much plastic we consume now at this point I have to make a confession I used
point I have to make a confession I used
point I have to make a confession I used to be a marketeer so I studied marketing
to be a marketeer so I studied marketing
to be a marketeer so I studied marketing at university and I worked for a
at university and I worked for a
at university and I worked for a national supermarket in their marketing
national supermarket in their marketing
national supermarket in their marketing department I also worked for over a
department I also worked for over a
department I also worked for over a decade for a global food manufacturer
decade for a global food manufacturer
decade for a global food manufacturer now what that learning and that work
now what that learning and that work
now what that learning and that work experience has shown me is how much we
experience has shown me is how much we
experience has shown me is how much we as consumers are monitored by these
as consumers are monitored by these
as consumers are monitored by these large companies they monitor our needs
large companies they monitor our needs
large companies they monitor our needs our once our desires and they closely
our once our desires and they closely
our once our desires and they closely analyze our buying patterns now this
analyze our buying patterns now this
analyze our buying patterns now this could actually be very powerful for us
could actually be very powerful for us
could actually be very powerful for us as consumers if we choose to use it so
as consumers if we choose to use it so
as consumers if we choose to use it so armed with this knowledge I’ve decided
armed with this knowledge I’ve decided
armed with this knowledge I’ve decided to take action personally and I’ve
to take action personally and I’ve
to take action personally and I’ve decided to look at the products that I
decided to look at the products that I
decided to look at the products that I use in my house and I’m going to go
use in my house and I’m going to go
use in my house and I’m going to go naked yep I’m going to go naked with my
naked yep I’m going to go naked with my
naked yep I’m going to go naked with my products and I’m not going to buy any
products and I’m not going to buy any
products and I’m not going to buy any products that include plastic in them or
products that include plastic in them or
products that include plastic in them or in their packaging so here’s some
in their packaging so here’s some
in their packaging so here’s some examples of the changes that I’ve made
examples of the changes that I’ve made
examples of the changes that I’ve made over the last three months I’ve changed
over the last three months I’ve changed
over the last three months I’ve changed my shower gel from this to a naked bar
my shower gel from this to a naked bar
my shower gel from this to a naked bar of soap
I’ve changed my shampoo from this to a
I’ve changed my shampoo from this to a naked shampoo bar now this is an
naked shampoo bar now this is an
naked shampoo bar now this is an interesting product because I didn’t
interesting product because I didn’t
interesting product because I didn’t even know this existed until three
even know this existed until three
even know this existed until three months ago
months ago
months ago it’s a lovely product made with natural
it’s a lovely product made with natural
it’s a lovely product made with natural ingredients produced in the UK in Poole
ingredients produced in the UK in Poole
ingredients produced in the UK in Poole in Dorset and distributed via over a
in Dorset and distributed via over a
in Dorset and distributed via over a chain of a hundred shops it’s really
chain of a hundred shops it’s really
chain of a hundred shops it’s really good there’s lots of different types for
good there’s lots of different types for
good there’s lots of different types for different hair types and interestingly
different hair types and interestingly
different hair types and interestingly it costs the same as this yes yet this
it costs the same as this yes yet this
it costs the same as this yes yet this lasts twice as long so I’m saving money
lasts twice as long so I’m saving money
lasts twice as long so I’m saving money as well as saving the environment now
as well as saving the environment now
as well as saving the environment now encouraged by changing my shampoo have
encouraged by changing my shampoo have
encouraged by changing my shampoo have also changed my conditioner from this to
also changed my conditioner from this to
also changed my conditioner from this to this naked bar of conditioner and I’ve
this naked bar of conditioner and I’ve
this naked bar of conditioner and I’ve changed my deodorant from this turn
changed my deodorant from this turn
changed my deodorant from this turn naked bar of deodorant these changes
naked bar of deodorant these changes
naked bar of deodorant these changes have been very simple to make and just
have been very simple to make and just
have been very simple to make and just through these four changes I’ve reduced
through these four changes I’ve reduced
through these four changes I’ve reduced approximately 15 tubes and bottles of
approximately 15 tubes and bottles of
approximately 15 tubes and bottles of plastic from going to recycling from my
plastic from going to recycling from my
plastic from going to recycling from my house over the next 12 months however
house over the next 12 months however
house over the next 12 months however I’m not just interested in packaging I’m
I’m not just interested in packaging I’m
I’m not just interested in packaging I’m also interested in the products
also interested in the products
also interested in the products themselves take the simple plastic
themselves take the simple plastic
themselves take the simple plastic toothbrush 2.7 billion plastic
toothbrush 2.7 billion plastic
toothbrush 2.7 billion plastic toothbrushes are produced worldwide each
toothbrushes are produced worldwide each
toothbrushes are produced worldwide each year they take hundreds of years to
year they take hundreds of years to
year they take hundreds of years to decompose in our landfill and in our
decompose in our landfill and in our
decompose in our landfill and in our oceans but luckily we have an
oceans but luckily we have an
oceans but luckily we have an alternative the alternative is a bamboo
alternative the alternative is a bamboo
alternative the alternative is a bamboo toothbrush it’s light its strong and it
toothbrush it’s light its strong and it
toothbrush it’s light its strong and it decomposes much quicker in landfill you
decomposes much quicker in landfill you
decomposes much quicker in landfill you can put it you can throw it away with
can put it you can throw it away with
can put it you can throw it away with your household waste or you can put it
your household waste or you can put it
your household waste or you can put it on your own compost heap I bought this
on your own compost heap I bought this
on your own compost heap I bought this in a UK supermarket before Christmas so
in a UK supermarket before Christmas so
in a UK supermarket before Christmas so this proves that our supermarkets will
this proves that our supermarkets will
this proves that our supermarkets will provide much more eco-friendly products
provide much more eco-friendly products
provide much more eco-friendly products if we encourage them to do so this
if we encourage them to do so this
if we encourage them to do so this version has nylon bristles but you can
version has nylon bristles but you can
version has nylon bristles but you can get a fully compostable version as well
get a fully compostable version as well
get a fully compostable version as well now looking at products in my kitchen
now looking at products in my kitchen
now looking at products in my kitchen one of the most widely used products is
one of the most widely used products is
one of the most widely used products is cling film
cling film
cling film we all use it but I found a solution to
we all use it but I found a solution to
we all use it but I found a solution to this I found these wonderful pieces of
this I found these wonderful pieces of
this I found these wonderful pieces of cloth that are soaked in beeswax beeswax
cloth that are soaked in beeswax beeswax
cloth that are soaked in beeswax beeswax wraps now beeswax has antibacterial
wraps now beeswax has antibacterial
wraps now beeswax has antibacterial properties so it’s good for wrapping
properties so it’s good for wrapping
properties so it’s good for wrapping around your food they come in different
around your food they come in different
around your food they come in different sizes I use them every day once you’ve
sizes I use them every day once you’ve
sizes I use them every day once you’ve used them you wash them hang them up to
used them you wash them hang them up to
used them you wash them hang them up to dry and then reuse them the next day you
dry and then reuse them the next day you
dry and then reuse them the next day you can use them for up to a year and
can use them for up to a year and
can use them for up to a year and finally I’m looking back to what I used
finally I’m looking back to what I used
finally I’m looking back to what I used to use in the past in order to make a
to use in the past in order to make a
to use in the past in order to make a better future for decades I’ve been
better future for decades I’ve been
better future for decades I’ve been using these plus a petition wrapped in
using these plus a petition wrapped in
using these plus a petition wrapped in plastic and put together into multi
plastic and put together into multi
plastic and put together into multi packs of 10 and again wrapped in plastic
packs of 10 and again wrapped in plastic
packs of 10 and again wrapped in plastic I must have used thousands of these
I must have used thousands of these
I must have used thousands of these tissues but I thought back to what I
tissues but I thought back to what I
tissues but I thought back to what I used to use before this existed and
used to use before this existed and
used to use before this existed and there’s a simple cotton handkerchief so
there’s a simple cotton handkerchief so
there’s a simple cotton handkerchief so I’m using cotton handkerchiefs again and
I’m using cotton handkerchiefs again and
I’m using cotton handkerchiefs again and the benefit of visas that cotton is so
the benefit of visas that cotton is so
the benefit of visas that cotton is so wonderfully soft on my skin now I know
wonderfully soft on my skin now I know
wonderfully soft on my skin now I know that I’m along on a long journey just in
that I’m along on a long journey just in
that I’m along on a long journey just in these three months I’ve made at least 20
these three months I’ve made at least 20
these three months I’ve made at least 20 changes in the products that I use but
changes in the products that I use but
changes in the products that I use but if we were to all work together we could
if we were to all work together we could
if we were to all work together we could make a massive change so I would like
make a massive change so I would like
make a massive change so I would like you to go naked too with your products
you to go naked too with your products
you to go naked too with your products and look at substituting plastic
and look at substituting plastic
and look at substituting plastic products for more eco-friendly products
products for more eco-friendly products
products for more eco-friendly products if we all work together then we can make
if we all work together then we can make
if we all work together then we can make a difference for example if we were to
a difference for example if we were to
a difference for example if we were to reduce the plastic we consume by just 1%
reduce the plastic we consume by just 1%
reduce the plastic we consume by just 1% a year then by 2030 over 12 years we’ll
a year then by 2030 over 12 years we’ll
a year then by 2030 over 12 years we’ll have reduced the amount we consume down
have reduced the amount we consume down
have reduced the amount we consume down to 1.8 million tons of plastic packaging
to 1.8 million tons of plastic packaging
to 1.8 million tons of plastic packaging and if we continue to do the good work
and if we continue to do the good work
and if we continue to do the good work on recycling and improve our recycling
on recycling and improve our recycling
on recycling and improve our recycling year on year by 5% per year then by 2030
year on year by 5% per year then by 2030
year on year by 5% per year then by 2030 we will have balanced this picture and
we will have balanced this picture and
we will have balanced this picture and we can truly be plastic neutral for the
we can truly be plastic neutral for the
we can truly be plastic neutral for the UK by 2030 and when we achieve this
UK by 2030 and when we achieve this
UK by 2030 and when we achieve this target that will be a massive step
target that will be a massive step
target that will be a massive step the direction for resolving the global
the direction for resolving the global
the direction for resolving the global solution of plastic pollution in our
solution of plastic pollution in our
solution of plastic pollution in our oceans thank you
oceans thank you
oceans thank you [Applause]
”
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