On a mission to address the problem with plastic, Merijn Tinga, one of our Ocean Ambassadors, (a.k.a the ‘plastic soup surfer’) has paddled and windsurfed from London to Paris, carrying an Olympic Torch made with plastic bottles.
A journey to raise awareness
The ‘crazy expedition’ began on June 22nd as he windsurfed from London Bridge, setting sail down the Thames. Incredibly, Tinga braved the English Channel without a support boat, facing wind, tide and currents by himself. He described this as ‘a personal victory’. On July 11th, the surfer completed the 850km voyage as he paddled past the Eiffel Tower. Just two weeks before the Games kick off in Paris, the moment served as a prime opportunity to raise awareness about the problem with litter. The symbolic moment was emphasised by his alternative Olympic Torch, made from recycled materials and plastic bottles.
Calling for action to reduce litter
Upon his arrival, the soup surfer initiated the second part of his mission: call for action from important decision-makers. Meeting with the Mayor of the city, Anne Hidalgo, Tinga passed on his own ‘Paris Declaration’, a petition calling for the rapid introduction of deposit return schemes across France.
Mission accomplished.
The effort was a huge success. Not only did the Mayor give her signature on behalf of Paris, but a task force of NGOs, municipalities and industries have been called to establish a plan to roll out the scheme across the country. Tinga, therefore, achieved his objective to emulate the success of The Netherlands’ similar deposit schemes, which have resulted in an 80% reduction in litter from plastic bottles and cans.
This latest mission follows on from the success of the ambassador’s previous campaigns. Last year, he windsurfed a phenomenal 1800 km to call for a similar deposit scheme in the UK – an effort which received National attention, from media and ministers alike.
An inspiring ambassador.
Once again, we are so proud to be supporting our ocean ambassador in his outstanding efforts to create change. Through combining powerful messaging, intense physical challenge, and effective calls to action, Merijin is simultaneously raising awareness and getting results. With the Olympics just around the corner, let’s hope that the poignant timing of this expedition will create a global impact and lead to a ripple effect across the world.
