hi I’m Kristen and this is what I wear to work most days you could say I’m a
to work most days you could say I’m a
to work most days you could say I’m a garbage anthropologist everything we do
garbage anthropologist everything we do
garbage anthropologist everything we do creates waste so it tells a story about
creates waste so it tells a story about
creates waste so it tells a story about us who knows the most about what’s going
us who knows the most about what’s going
us who knows the most about what’s going on in your life it’s not your spouse
on in your life it’s not your spouse
on in your life it’s not your spouse it’s your garbage man but we’re not here
it’s your garbage man but we’re not here
it’s your garbage man but we’re not here today to talk about the past we’re here
today to talk about the past we’re here
today to talk about the past we’re here to talk about the future
that’s my family and the future of your
that’s my family and the future of your waste is round today we are burning
waste is round today we are burning
waste is round today we are burning through limited resources only to make
through limited resources only to make
through limited resources only to make things we throw away you all have a bank
things we throw away you all have a bank
things we throw away you all have a bank account well if you’re a Wells Fargo
account well if you’re a Wells Fargo
account well if you’re a Wells Fargo customer you might have a few but that’s
customer you might have a few but that’s
customer you might have a few but that’s an entirely separate talk
when we know we have a fixed amount in
when we know we have a fixed amount in our account we are much more careful
our account we are much more careful
our account we are much more careful with how we spend it retirement for
with how we spend it retirement for
with how we spend it retirement for example people spending habits tighten
example people spending habits tighten
example people spending habits tighten up greatly after they retire for the
up greatly after they retire for the
up greatly after they retire for the kids listing did you know that helium
kids listing did you know that helium
kids listing did you know that helium the stuff that makes birthday balloons
the stuff that makes birthday balloons
the stuff that makes birthday balloons float comes from the earth we’re running
float comes from the earth we’re running
float comes from the earth we’re running out of it and if we do you won’t be able
out of it and if we do you won’t be able
out of it and if we do you won’t be able to sound like a Martian anymore whether
to sound like a Martian anymore whether
to sound like a Martian anymore whether we’re talking about money or natural
we’re talking about money or natural
we’re talking about money or natural resources from the earth when we know we
resources from the earth when we know we
resources from the earth when we know we have limited amounts we spend them much
have limited amounts we spend them much
have limited amounts we spend them much more carefully but we haven’t been
more carefully but we haven’t been
more carefully but we haven’t been careful
careful
careful we’ve been linear pillaging our precious
we’ve been linear pillaging our precious
we’ve been linear pillaging our precious natural resources only to make things
natural resources only to make things
natural resources only to make things that fill our landfills with leading
that fill our landfills with leading
that fill our landfills with leading products circular or excuse me linear is
products circular or excuse me linear is
products circular or excuse me linear is when we take trees use them to make
when we take trees use them to make
when we take trees use them to make paper print on them for one meeting and
paper print on them for one meeting and
paper print on them for one meeting and then send them to the dump being
then send them to the dump being
then send them to the dump being circular means giving our existing
circular means giving our existing
circular means giving our existing materials a second life to make the
materials a second life to make the
materials a second life to make the things we need and keep our natural
things we need and keep our natural
things we need and keep our natural resources where they serve us most in
resources where they serve us most in
resources where they serve us most in nature you might have heard of recycling
nature you might have heard of recycling
nature you might have heard of recycling the sharing economy or leasing models
the sharing economy or leasing models
the sharing economy or leasing models these are all parts of a circular
these are all parts of a circular
these are all parts of a circular economy the creativity of a circular is
economy the creativity of a circular is
economy the creativity of a circular is endless old tires can become new shoes
endless old tires can become new shoes
endless old tires can become new shoes old shoes can become new playgrounds
old shoes can become new playgrounds
old shoes can become new playgrounds instead of sharing instead of buying
instead of sharing instead of buying
instead of sharing instead of buying cars the future is sharing them and
cars the future is sharing them and
cars the future is sharing them and clothes and tools and equipment everyone
clothes and tools and equipment everyone
clothes and tools and equipment everyone from large corporations to small
from large corporations to small
from large corporations to small startups and even community groups are
startups and even community groups are
startups and even community groups are transforming our linear world into a
transforming our linear world into a
transforming our linear world into a circular one but let me catch you up I
circular one but let me catch you up I
circular one but let me catch you up I grew up in a world where kids played
grew up in a world where kids played
grew up in a world where kids played outside snow-covered mountain peaks most
outside snow-covered mountain peaks most
outside snow-covered mountain peaks most of the year and be still pollinated our
of the year and be still pollinated our
of the year and be still pollinated our crops my kindergarten teacher made
crops my kindergarten teacher made
crops my kindergarten teacher made nature come alive
nature come alive
nature come alive we studied everything from giant gray
we studied everything from giant gray
we studied everything from giant gray whales to little tiny bugs we dissected
whales to little tiny bugs we dissected
whales to little tiny bugs we dissected owl pellets for mice bones raised real
owl pellets for mice bones raised real
owl pellets for mice bones raised real salmon eggs in our classroom and became
salmon eggs in our classroom and became
salmon eggs in our classroom and became perfect recyclers was it Eden
perfect recyclers was it Eden
perfect recyclers was it Eden no it was the 1980s I also grew up in an
no it was the 1980s I also grew up in an
no it was the 1980s I also grew up in an era when Lunchables ruled the cafeteria
era when Lunchables ruled the cafeteria
era when Lunchables ruled the cafeteria every birthday party featured plastic
every birthday party featured plastic
every birthday party featured plastic doodads and we captured it all with a
doodads and we captured it all with a
doodads and we captured it all with a disposable camera I can even remember on
disposable camera I can even remember on
disposable camera I can even remember on picture day using a plastic comb to fix
picture day using a plastic comb to fix
picture day using a plastic comb to fix a few hairs and throwing it away just
a few hairs and throwing it away just
a few hairs and throwing it away just moments after my glamour shot but I was
moments after my glamour shot but I was
moments after my glamour shot but I was always fascinated when nature came
always fascinated when nature came
always fascinated when nature came collided with my world where did they
collided with my world where did they
collided with my world where did they get the fabric to make my stuffed
get the fabric to make my stuffed
get the fabric to make my stuffed animals and what happened with the water
animals and what happened with the water
animals and what happened with the water that went down my drain I was aware that
that went down my drain I was aware that
that went down my drain I was aware that all of the things that made my life
all of the things that made my life
all of the things that made my life comfortable from the warm house I lived
comfortable from the warm house I lived
comfortable from the warm house I lived in to my favorite pair of kids came from
in to my favorite pair of kids came from
in to my favorite pair of kids came from somewhere I couldn’t see that for me to
somewhere I couldn’t see that for me to
somewhere I couldn’t see that for me to have those things here affected the
have those things here affected the
have those things here affected the world somewhere else when I had to
world somewhere else when I had to
world somewhere else when I had to lecture my parents dad you are not the
lecture my parents dad you are not the
lecture my parents dad you are not the boss of me and for the last time we
boss of me and for the last time we
boss of me and for the last time we recycle our newspapers in this house I
recycle our newspapers in this house I
recycle our newspapers in this house I often felt circular in a linear world
often felt circular in a linear world
often felt circular in a linear world like the world wasn’t ready to support
like the world wasn’t ready to support
like the world wasn’t ready to support my values I had always heard we consumed
my values I had always heard we consumed
my values I had always heard we consumed so much in the US but I never truly
so much in the US but I never truly
so much in the US but I never truly understood what that meant until I learn
understood what that meant until I learn
understood what that meant until I learn move to Germany after college the
move to Germany after college the
move to Germany after college the Germans I met didn’t eat from takeout
Germans I met didn’t eat from takeout
Germans I met didn’t eat from takeout containers they used reusable bags
containers they used reusable bags
containers they used reusable bags everywhere and the little waste they did
everywhere and the little waste they did
everywhere and the little waste they did have they dutifully separated into six
have they dutifully separated into six
have they dutifully separated into six different categories I lived with a
different categories I lived with a
different categories I lived with a family of four two parents and two
family of four two parents and two
family of four two parents and two teenagers and get this they had one car
teenagers and get this they had one car
teenagers and get this they had one car could they have afforded a second sure
could they have afforded a second sure
could they have afforded a second sure but they didn’t need it I was in
but they didn’t need it I was in
but they didn’t need it I was in aspire to work for change so what did I
aspire to work for change so what did I
aspire to work for change so what did I do I got a job at the largest garbage
do I got a job at the largest garbage
do I got a job at the largest garbage company in North America from then and
company in North America from then and
company in North America from then and dumpster-diving as a waste consultant
dumpster-diving as a waste consultant
dumpster-diving as a waste consultant I’ve traverse to landfills all over this
I’ve traverse to landfills all over this
I’ve traverse to landfills all over this country it’s my job to study the massive
country it’s my job to study the massive
country it’s my job to study the massive volumes of our discards a world that’s
volumes of our discards a world that’s
volumes of our discards a world that’s too easily forgotten we are not the
too easily forgotten we are not the
too easily forgotten we are not the first culture to waste and we are
first culture to waste and we are
first culture to waste and we are definitely not the first to have
definitely not the first to have
definitely not the first to have landfills they were around as early as
landfills they were around as early as
landfills they were around as early as the ancient Egyptians but only in the
the ancient Egyptians but only in the
the ancient Egyptians but only in the last few decades have our goods and
last few decades have our goods and
last few decades have our goods and products been designed for intended to
products been designed for intended to
products been designed for intended to be disposed of in a landfill I’m gonna
be disposed of in a landfill I’m gonna
be disposed of in a landfill I’m gonna say that again we are living in the
say that again we are living in the
say that again we are living in the first era in history that has created
first era in history that has created
first era in history that has created products designed to be waste what’s the
products designed to be waste what’s the
products designed to be waste what’s the problem with this all of the resources
problem with this all of the resources
problem with this all of the resources it takes to make what we throw away then
it takes to make what we throw away then
it takes to make what we throw away then have to be mined again to produce the
have to be mined again to produce the
have to be mined again to produce the next thing that we are going to throw
next thing that we are going to throw
next thing that we are going to throw away our expectations depend on it
away our expectations depend on it
away our expectations depend on it because you and I are simply not going
because you and I are simply not going
because you and I are simply not going to settle for not having a drink of
to settle for not having a drink of
to settle for not having a drink of water on an airplane or whatever we
water on an airplane or whatever we
water on an airplane or whatever we ordered online
ordered online
ordered online within 24 hours all of these things take
within 24 hours all of these things take
within 24 hours all of these things take resources that we can’t see can we talk
resources that we can’t see can we talk
resources that we can’t see can we talk about just the cardboard box that brings
about just the cardboard box that brings
about just the cardboard box that brings whatever very important thing a majiggy
whatever very important thing a majiggy
whatever very important thing a majiggy we ordered online weird there’s a
we ordered online weird there’s a
we ordered online weird there’s a cardboard box here just to make this box
cardboard box here just to make this box
cardboard box here just to make this box we first cut down trees and by the way
we first cut down trees and by the way
we first cut down trees and by the way no trees were actually harmed in the
no trees were actually harmed in the
no trees were actually harmed in the making of this demonstration then we
making of this demonstration then we
making of this demonstration then we transport them to a pulp mill that runs
transport them to a pulp mill that runs
transport them to a pulp mill that runs on power we mix them with water we use
on power we mix them with water we use
on power we mix them with water we use lots of water
and we use more power to dry them
and we use more power to dry them flatten them and shape them into a box
flatten them and shape them into a box
flatten them and shape them into a box then we transport them to a distribution
then we transport them to a distribution
then we transport them to a distribution center where we fill them with very
center where we fill them with very
center where we fill them with very important something brothers and use
important something brothers and use
important something brothers and use more fuel to expedite them to you by the
more fuel to expedite them to you by the
more fuel to expedite them to you by the time this box ends up at our doorsteps
time this box ends up at our doorsteps
time this box ends up at our doorsteps we open it pull out whatever we
we open it pull out whatever we
we open it pull out whatever we patiently been waiting 24 hours for and
patiently been waiting 24 hours for and
patiently been waiting 24 hours for and discard the box this box has a lifespan
discard the box this box has a lifespan
discard the box this box has a lifespan of just a few days and we waste not just
of just a few days and we waste not just
of just a few days and we waste not just a box but all of the natural resources
a box but all of the natural resources
a box but all of the natural resources that took those trees from the forest
that took those trees from the forest
that took those trees from the forest and turned them into the perfect package
and turned them into the perfect package
and turned them into the perfect package to protect our thing I know what you’re
to protect our thing I know what you’re
to protect our thing I know what you’re thinking okay that sounds like a lot but
thinking okay that sounds like a lot but
thinking okay that sounds like a lot but my waste couldn’t possibly have that
my waste couldn’t possibly have that
my waste couldn’t possibly have that much of an impact so let’s look at what
much of an impact so let’s look at what
much of an impact so let’s look at what happens from all of us having just a sip
happens from all of us having just a sip
happens from all of us having just a sip of water on an airplane this is by a
of water on an airplane this is by a
of water on an airplane this is by a Northwest photographer named Chris
Northwest photographer named Chris
Northwest photographer named Chris Jordan his most famous works are called
Jordan his most famous works are called
Jordan his most famous works are called by the numbers this is the real image is
by the numbers this is the real image is
by the numbers this is the real image is about as tall as I am and seven and a
about as tall as I am and seven and a
about as tall as I am and seven and a half feet wide at first glance it looks
half feet wide at first glance it looks
half feet wide at first glance it looks like a bunch of slinkys but as you get
like a bunch of slinkys but as you get
like a bunch of slinkys but as you get closer you’ll see that each line is from
closer you’ll see that each line is from
closer you’ll see that each line is from a plastic cup it contains 1 million of
a plastic cup it contains 1 million of
a plastic cup it contains 1 million of them the number we go through on airline
them the number we go through on airline
them the number we go through on airline flights in the US wait for it every six
flights in the US wait for it every six
flights in the US wait for it every six hours so you carry the four that’s one
hours so you carry the four that’s one
hours so you carry the four that’s one and a half billion cups every year and
and a half billion cups every year and
and a half billion cups every year and that’s just the waste we can see
that’s just the waste we can see
that’s just the waste we can see businesses around the world create
businesses around the world create
businesses around the world create almost as much waste as they do product
almost as much waste as they do product
almost as much waste as they do product that’s small sip of water or your single
that’s small sip of water or your single
that’s small sip of water or your single online order may not seem like much but
online order may not seem like much but
online order may not seem like much but collectively we are burning through our
collectively we are burning through our
collectively we are burning through our natural resources at alarming rates only
natural resources at alarming rates only
natural resources at alarming rates only to create stuff
to create stuff
to create stuff we want to throw away so before you feel
we want to throw away so before you feel
we want to throw away so before you feel overwhelmed I’m sure you are right now
overwhelmed I’m sure you are right now
overwhelmed I’m sure you are right now let me remind you the world has become
let me remind you the world has become
let me remind you the world has become more circular right under our noses
more circular right under our noses
more circular right under our noses more and more airports have water bottle
more and more airports have water bottle
more and more airports have water bottle filling stations lk a company that
filling stations lk a company that
filling stations lk a company that produces them has saved over five
produces them has saved over five
produces them has saved over five billion plastic bottles
billion plastic bottles
billion plastic bottles remember the CD the record the cassette
remember the CD the record the cassette
remember the CD the record the cassette tape now we have Spotify Pandora and
tape now we have Spotify Pandora and
tape now we have Spotify Pandora and Apple music set up as a membership model
Apple music set up as a membership model
Apple music set up as a membership model where everybody has access to music but
where everybody has access to music but
where everybody has access to music but nobody physically owns it we can reach
nobody physically owns it we can reach
nobody physically owns it we can reach thousands of books on a Kindle or Amazon
thousands of books on a Kindle or Amazon
thousands of books on a Kindle or Amazon fire and we all know what Netflix did to
fire and we all know what Netflix did to
fire and we all know what Netflix did to blockbusters videos my freshman year of
blockbusters videos my freshman year of
blockbusters videos my freshman year of college I can remember carting an entire
college I can remember carting an entire
college I can remember carting an entire backpack full of CDs home on the short
backpack full of CDs home on the short
backpack full of CDs home on the short flight to listen to with my Walkman by
flight to listen to with my Walkman by
flight to listen to with my Walkman by the time I graduated all of that fit in
the time I graduated all of that fit in
the time I graduated all of that fit in my pocket on a machine that would
my pocket on a machine that would
my pocket on a machine that would eventually replace my phone book
eventually replace my phone book
eventually replace my phone book notebooks calendar and DVD player and we
notebooks calendar and DVD player and we
notebooks calendar and DVD player and we are getting more tools every day to be
are getting more tools every day to be
are getting more tools every day to be more circular a San Francisco startup
more circular a San Francisco startup
more circular a San Francisco startup Omni store stuffer for busy San
Omni store stuffer for busy San
Omni store stuffer for busy San Franciscans they are quickly becoming a
Franciscans they are quickly becoming a
Franciscans they are quickly becoming a lending library for on-demand borrowing
more and more community groups are
more and more community groups are sprouting up to share honestly anything
sprouting up to share honestly anything
sprouting up to share honestly anything you can think of you can even find extra
you can think of you can even find extra
you can think of you can even find extra toilet paper not use toilet paper extra
toilet paper not use toilet paper extra
toilet paper not use toilet paper extra toilet paper for free Patagonia builds
toilet paper for free Patagonia builds
toilet paper for free Patagonia builds their products for life and even
their products for life and even
their products for life and even encourages customers not to buy from
encourages customers not to buy from
encourages customers not to buy from them in her face they create carpet
them in her face they create carpet
them in her face they create carpet tiles made out of fishing nets mined out
tiles made out of fishing nets mined out
tiles made out of fishing nets mined out of the ocean here’s a story for you when
of the ocean here’s a story for you when
of the ocean here’s a story for you when I first heard I was going to get to be
I first heard I was going to get to be
I first heard I was going to get to be on that this stage my first thought
on that this stage my first thought
on that this stage my first thought wasn’t what am I going to say it was oh
wasn’t what am I going to say it was oh
wasn’t what am I going to say it was oh my god what am I gonna wear
obviously this calls for a new outfit
obviously this calls for a new outfit then the little angel on my shoulder
then the little angel on my shoulder
then the little angel on my shoulder said Kristen you’re about to speak to
said Kristen you’re about to speak to
said Kristen you’re about to speak to thousands of people about how we need to
thousands of people about how we need to
thousands of people about how we need to think about what we buy and why we buy
think about what we buy and why we buy
think about what we buy and why we buy it you cannot share this message with a
it you cannot share this message with a
it you cannot share this message with a straight face in a new pantsuit I knew
straight face in a new pantsuit I knew
straight face in a new pantsuit I knew she was right but I struggled with this
she was right but I struggled with this
she was right but I struggled with this for weeks until I remembered that I’ve
for weeks until I remembered that I’ve
for weeks until I remembered that I’ve used a business that solves this exact
used a business that solves this exact
used a business that solves this exact problem Rent the Runway vow to be chic
problem Rent the Runway vow to be chic
problem Rent the Runway vow to be chic the stylist LA and others rents special
the stylist LA and others rents special
the stylist LA and others rents special dresses for one-time events they send
dresses for one-time events they send
dresses for one-time events they send them to you you dazzle at your event and
them to you you dazzle at your event and
them to you you dazzle at your event and you send it back all in their reusable
you send it back all in their reusable
you send it back all in their reusable packaging and guess what
packaging and guess what
packaging and guess what next weekend this little number will
next weekend this little number will
next weekend this little number will dance the night away at a wedding or
dance the night away at a wedding or
dance the night away at a wedding or give another woman confidence during her
give another woman confidence during her
give another woman confidence during her first job interview
I’ve had six months heck a lifetime to
I’ve had six months heck a lifetime to figure out what I want to tell you today
figure out what I want to tell you today
figure out what I want to tell you today and the truth is this is complicated
and the truth is this is complicated
and the truth is this is complicated buying and wasting is deeply rooted in
buying and wasting is deeply rooted in
buying and wasting is deeply rooted in our culture I struggle with it myself of
our culture I struggle with it myself of
our culture I struggle with it myself of a few weeks ago I ordered something
a few weeks ago I ordered something
a few weeks ago I ordered something online and I ordered two things and when
online and I ordered two things and when
online and I ordered two things and when the Box arrived literally seven days
the Box arrived literally seven days
the Box arrived literally seven days later I said Kristen and apparently I
later I said Kristen and apparently I
later I said Kristen and apparently I talked to myself a lot Kristen I will
talked to myself a lot Kristen I will
talked to myself a lot Kristen I will pay you 1 million dollars if you can
pay you 1 million dollars if you can
pay you 1 million dollars if you can tell me both items that are in that box
tell me both items that are in that box
tell me both items that are in that box thankfully I couldn’t do the second
thankfully I couldn’t do the second
thankfully I couldn’t do the second because I don’t know where the money
because I don’t know where the money
because I don’t know where the money would have come from but can you name
would have come from but can you name
would have come from but can you name everything you’ve bought online in the
everything you’ve bought online in the
everything you’ve bought online in the last 30 days or how about how much you
last 30 days or how about how much you
last 30 days or how about how much you have in storage this isn’t about being
have in storage this isn’t about being
have in storage this isn’t about being granola and it’s not about saving Mother
granola and it’s not about saving Mother
granola and it’s not about saving Mother Earth she survived all five mass
Earth she survived all five mass
Earth she survived all five mass extinctions this is about saving us this
extinctions this is about saving us this
extinctions this is about saving us this is about being smart with the limited
is about being smart with the limited
is about being smart with the limited resources that we have maybe this is the
resources that we have maybe this is the
resources that we have maybe this is the first time you’ve thought about how much
first time you’ve thought about how much
first time you’ve thought about how much you consume maybe you’re making the
you consume maybe you’re making the
you consume maybe you’re making the world better through healthcare or
world better through healthcare or
world better through healthcare or farming or raising a family maybe this
farming or raising a family maybe this
farming or raising a family maybe this isn’t your office but the circular
isn’t your office but the circular
isn’t your office but the circular economy can be part of all of our
economy can be part of all of our
economy can be part of all of our stories support the businesses who are
stories support the businesses who are
stories support the businesses who are making this more possible every day many
making this more possible every day many
making this more possible every day many of them are listed with the Ellen
of them are listed with the Ellen
of them are listed with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation tell businesses
MacArthur Foundation tell businesses
MacArthur Foundation tell businesses that aren’t circular that it’s important
that aren’t circular that it’s important
that aren’t circular that it’s important to you buy recycled products repair what
to you buy recycled products repair what
to you buy recycled products repair what you can if the best you can do is
you can if the best you can do is
you can if the best you can do is recycle then start there and for gosh
recycle then start there and for gosh
recycle then start there and for gosh sakes bring a reusable water bottle with
sakes bring a reusable water bottle with
sakes bring a reusable water bottle with you next time you travel mother earth
you next time you travel mother earth
you next time you travel mother earth will give us as many plastic cups as she
will give us as many plastic cups as she
will give us as many plastic cups as she possibly can but is that really how we
possibly can but is that really how we
possibly can but is that really how we want to spend our limited bank account
want to spend our limited bank account
want to spend our limited bank account the next time you buy something or heck
the next time you buy something or heck
the next time you buy something or heck even use something you can choose will
even use something you can choose will
even use something you can choose will this end up as waste or will it be
this end up as waste or will it be
this end up as waste or will it be circular thank you
circular thank you
circular thank you you
”
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