Plastic as a medium of creation
According to the National Plastics Plan 2021 by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, currently, Australia produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100 kg per person. Only 13% of plastic is recovered, and 84% is sent to landfill.
When I dig into statistics like these, I often feel so hopeless about our future dealing with the challenges of waste plastic management. And I often forget that there are people within our community tackling this issue in the most creative way possible, like Cesar, the founder of Aoracreo.
A mobile and plastic-free pantry
The pandemic inspired many of us, including Caro, the founder of Precycle Pantry, to take up our projects. Those projects we are always dreaming about doing when we have more time. Caro always wanted to start a business that contributed to a healthier planet. Since shopping sustainably has always been her passion, she came up with the idea to make it easier for people to do so. This is how Precycle Pantry came to be.
Precious Plastic
The Earth is a big place. It's so big that we can't even keep track of everything happening on it. And, when it comes to protecting our planet, there's still so much we don't know. That's why every small business, person, initiative, and project we get the chance to interview and write about in The Plastic Runner Blog, feels like a small victory for our team.
Reusable bags should be the new normal
You're not the only one who loves to eat bread, and you're not alone in your love for it. According to Roy Morgan Research, nearly 11 million Australians bought bread in 2016.
If you are one of those consumers, you will know for sure that the package of that bread is made of plastic, and it is a single-use plastic package. Australians consume well over a million loaves of bread each day, which means that in just one week, Australians are leaving behind over 2000 tonnes of plastic.
From coffee cups to plant pots
Coffee cups are estimated to be the second-largest contributor to litter waste after plastic bottles. It is estimated that Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year.
We know, this is a shocking figure but it is also the reason why Flavia, who moved from Argentina to Melbourne in 2017, decided to do something about it and created Eco Enviro Concepts.
Single Use Ain't Sexy
One of the expressions that I have heard the most during these “strange pandemic times” is « Have you washed your hands? ». Practising good personal hygiene is more important than ever before, but unfortunately this is resulting in increased plastic waste.
Salomon and Innovation in recycled plastic materials
This is not a sponsored content. However, we are supported by Salomon Running Australia, and as a trailrunner myself, I am a big fan of their products….so, of course I got super excited when I saw what’s coming in their supply chain and sustainability around product manufacture. More info in the video!
Oxfam100 2020: Plogging 100km with Paddy Pallin and The Plastic Runner
Every late March, the trails around Melbourne fill up with runners and walkers participating in Oxfam100. In a nutshell, hundreds of teams fundraise for a world without poverty while enjoying some time outside (maybe a long time haha).
Plastic and me, an ongoing journey
It’s around the mid-’90s, I am close to 10 years old, and we go on a family trip down to the coast. I didn’t grow up close to the ocean, but it always drew some magic in me, as I found fascinating the mysteries of its depths, the weird animals, the freedom of swimming, and the respect I gave it from that first time I almost drown under my bodyboard.
My beginning with Plogging
Plogging: a funny millennial word for something that should be like the rule everywhere you go. In a quick way to explain it, plogging means to run/jog while collecting litter. Well, I would like to share with you how I found out about plogging, or maybe how plogging found me.
Plastic Free July: How challenging could be to go plastic-free and which things can help. Part 1
July 2019 is gone, and I can’t stop feeling a bit disappointed with few things during this “Plastic Free July” challenge I went on by myself, but at the same time, I feel hope and energy to keep learning and improving. Check out my journey for a lower waste living, and some quick facts about plastic pollution.
The ploggers made it to The Age's cover!
Last week, one of our Co-founders (Karin) made it to the cover of nothing less but than “The Age” newspaper! Becoming national news through all the Australian territory! Yay!
Trails, smiles, and plogs at Warby Trail Festival!
Well, if you have been looking for a place that has magnificent outdoor scenery, some decent hills and technical routes, then Warburton is for you! This year, Chris Ord and the teams from Tour de Trails and Salomon put an excellent adventure packed weekend for all to enjoy! With events coming from ultra distances, such as the 50km Lumberjack Ultra, to more beginners’ friendly formats as the Body Positive Stomp and different shorter trail distances, Warby Trail Fest is clearly for everyone!
Plogging for a better future with The City of Melbourne
Earlier this year the plastic runner was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Melbourne (CoM), as part of the National Sustainability Festival. This involved our group leading four plog events within Melbourne during February to assist CoM increase awareness about excess waste and littering in our beautiful city. We also wanted to bring more awareness about the plogging movement in general and gain more Melburnian plog recruits!
How Kristine is cleaning up the oceans in Hawaii and creating art!
Kristine has been an environmental advocate for a few years now, an ocean lover, an artist that creates impressive masterpieces with the bits and pieces of plastic she finds in her cleanup adventures, and to be honest, the list of awesome things this girl has been doing can keep going forever haha. But we are here to share her story of how, one simple day, she decided it was enough and had to create action with her own hands (literally!).
Two brothers in Norway and one mission: to fight plastic pollution!
Richard and his brother David have been fighting plastics since 2017. Located in Norway, they have been working together in a project related to environmental awareness and action, Sporløs.
We wanted to ask them their why, what was the reason or reasons behind their passion and aim to protect Mother Earth. They have been spreading the word through social media, sharing their love for nature, traveling and helping others to save what they love. From short documentaries to plastic fighters and paper straws, they surely know how to bring action to the table. Here is their story.