When grappling with global issues such as biodiversity degradation or plastic pollution, the challenges can seem insurmountable, their causes rooted in current paradigms and structures. However, we should not undervalue what individuals can do to raise awareness about these issues, to unpack and help inform peoples’ perspectives, and to influence change at the local level.
Let’s be honest: what are you and I to do against big oil, governments' empty promises and the various industries that seem comfortably locked in in their extractive and damaging practices? Unfortunately, it is not within your or my means to single-handedly change the systems and practices that continue to damage our environment and society. This realisation can leave us feeling helpless, dispirited and at times defeated. However, we shouldn’t forget that any and every action that contributes to more sustainable lifestyles and just ways of being and relating to one another is better than doing nothing at all. Small efforts compound, and when done thoughtully and strategically, they have the potential to create a butterfly effect that shifts public opinion, consumer demand, and ultimately contribute to positive systemic change.
So consider this question: What are you passionate about and how can you become a better advocate to spread awareness and solutions on this subject, locally and beyond?
Recently, Future Fold had the pleasure of chatting with environmental entrepreneur Nicole Caudane, who is a passionate advocate against plastic pollution. As she explained to us, plastic pollution is a deeply systemic issue. In its short existence, plastic has become almost indispensable in our daily lives. Our inadequacy to use this material to its full and unique potential, namely to be recycled and reused almost endlessly, is resulting in devastating plastic pollution especially in marine and coastal environments. The awareness around the use of plastic and its damaging effects is spreading rapidly. Whether out of empathy for the turtles and seabirds or from personal concerns about microplastics in foods, more and more people are joining beach or river cleanups worldwide. As a reactive measure, these actions make a small contribution to local ecosystems, and function as a way to raise awareness about the use of plastic in our daily lives.
To Nicole, beach cleanups are also a means to harvest the raw materials for her business. At Mindful Metals, she turns ocean plastics into beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry that are meant to be a conversation starter on plastic, waste and environmentalism. This is a beautiful example of how local action, namely beach cleanups and waste collection, and the subsequent upcycling into wearable consumer products, can have a butterfly effect in raising awareness, shifting mindset and behaviour on a larger scale through the conversations provoked by her pieces.
Yes, the excessive use and disposal of plastic is a deeply systemic problem. And no, beach cleanups alone do not address the root of the problem. But by creatively raising awareness, sharing knowledge and encouraging innovative practices, public opinion can be influenced, which eventually can push industry to adapt.
Creating positive change as a single individual does not happen overnight. It is a process that requires creative and collaborative ways to increase our impact. A great starting point is to identify a pressing issue that is important to us, that we are inpsired to learn about, an issue that that we want to be an advocate for. From there, it is a matter of maintaining our drive and finding support and inspiration in others to help carry out our action and messages, starting locally and letting it spread through new activated change-makers, and advocates.