City to Sea

Making Refill film with Rob Greenfield

~ Being PALL Plastic A Lot Less ~ 1 Comment

Recently I spoke with Rob Greenfield. I also put him up, so we got to know each other, and he got to know of my video editing skills with the ‘Switch the Stick’ film I made for our campaign at City to Sea, which has over 100,000 views on Facebook.

As well as being an adventurer, environmental activist, humanitarian, and dude making a difference. He is dedicated to leading the way to a more sustainable and just world. Rob makes films that go viral. He knows what works and what’s sharable.

Rob heard of our campaign Refill, our tap water initiative and wanted to share it with the word.

So together we made this film, which has had so far over 750,000 views on Facebook, and we opened our Refill app global because of it!

It’s amazing to have built this partnership with Rob, getting the word of positive solutions out to a far wider audience. It goes to show what a good dude he really is, as he shares his knowledge with me, giving me guidance in creating video content that goes viral baby! I’m very grateful and realise how special it is, to not only meet then speak with one of my heroes, but to go on and work with him.

Check out the video and once you have, share it!

Then down load the app and start refilling. Every refill is a bottle of water not purchased, a perfect solution to plastic pollution!

Remember, every refusal and refill adds up.

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Speaking alongside Bea Johnson at Zero Waste talk

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“Phenomenal” was not a word I expected to hear of my 30 minute talk at a recent Zero Waste event. Especially coming from Tracey, the Managing Director of Bristol Waste. I even had to repeat it to make sure I’d heard it right! I had, she assured me.

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photo Kelly Cooper

I jumped at the chance to speak alongside Bea Johnson at a Zero Waste event put on by Eqo. I’ve spoken at smaller events, but to an auditorium that’s sits 200 people – twice! That was new ground, alongside no other than Bea Johnson who’d flown in from America.

It was an honor to be able to tell my story, how I came to live with less plastic in 2008 right up until my role as Creative Director at City to Sea working with national retailers.

Screen Shot 2017-11-20 at 21.38.23 Not heard of Bea? She’s the Zero Waste don! I have up-most respect for Bea, she’s hard-core minimalist. Think perfect white house, pintrest perfect kitchen, a dog that matches the decor and a wardrobe of clothes she can fit in a carry on suitcase. She has a best-selling book and has inspired countless zero waste shops to spring up. She really is one of those women who has her shit together!

Perhaps that’s why I find it hard to resonate with her?! I love charity shop shopping till my wardrobe aches. As kids there wasn’t much money for clothes, charity shops weren’t a thing in the 80s and as teenagers then, would have been horrified at the thought! We were mimilist by default, not choice. As an adult, I enjoy, love in fact! The choice, variety and bargains charity shops bring me.

My kitchen cupboards are a muddle. At one point we had five street cats. Since being PALL I’ve lived in over 10 different houses, in three different countries. Sometimes I struggle to see my bedroom floor, let alone get around to painting one white! Blogging took me years, in the same time Bea’s had become a book.

Bea said, “we vote with every penny we spend.” 

We have very different ways and reasons for living with less, but how we spend our money unites us.

Our differences are part of the beauty. We live with less how it feels right for us, there is no right and wrong. (Though of course, there’s been times I’ve wondered if she has it more right!)

I was really excited to meet Lizzie Outside. Her natural way of talking and her ease really inspired me. As did her story. Her reason for raising awareness of plastic, cancer. It was cancer that led her to become a voice for plastic pollution, and an adventurer leading her to paddle board the length of the country. We had a chat over lunch, and I hope to meet up with her again. lizzieThe day was presented by Zero Waste blogger and YouTuber Kate Arnell. She has a great channel full of tips and advice. She let me into a secret, it takes a lot of works and takes to have a YouTube channel! kate-arnell-2016

Remember, every refusal adds up. What ever way you choose to do it. 

‘A Plastic Ocean’ screens to over 600 people in Bristol.

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In 2009 I saw the starting of a documentary on plastic pollution. Fast forward nine years and I arranged not one, but two screenings to an audience of over 600 people of that very film, ‘A Plastic Ocean’.

Since moving to Bristol I’m honoured to have become friends with Jo Ruxton, the amazing and dedicated films producer. Jo’s work on Blue Planet One led her to create this, to show the world what’s happening to our beautiful and vital ocean. Jo was in the house and held a Q&A after the screenings. She spoke warmly of her passion behind the film, “If you count the time I’ve spent making this film in Grandchildren, I’ve had four.” 

This clip from Sir David Attenborough is a must watch … 

For this event I arranged a bar and prize draw, with proceeds going to Plastic Oceans UK and City to Sea. We had so many generous prizes, ranging from items to help people live plastic free, and awesome days out to get people outside.  A huge team of people came forward  to volunteer. I was touched with people’s generosity and willingness to help. People really do want a world free of plastic pollution, and are willing to put themselves out to achieve it. Including Bristol Aquerium, who kindly gave us the space, staff and support free of charge both evenings.

I’m not sure I’ve met anyone though, who has worked as tirelessly as Jo has this last decade to achieve this. Her film has won dozen of awards, she deserves a medel!

Admin!

‘A Plastic Ocean’ is on Netflix and iTunes. I urge you to watch it, and perhaps even arrange a screening yourself … It’s not all easy viewing, but Jo was sure to finish the film  on solutions we can all do to prevent our oceans becoming A Plastic Ocean. YOu can see the trailer here:

Remember, every refusal adds up, together, we can create #AWaveofChange.