Three Things We’re Looking Forward to at the Zero Waste Conference
The Zero Waste Conference is happening in Vancouver on November 1st and 2nd. This year’s theme is climate action through circularity – a way of looking at how we use resources that incorporates themes like reusing, repairing and sharing materials before throwing them out – all things we can do to better protect our environment and ocean! Ocean Wise will be attending with members from our Plastic Reduction Program team. Here’s what we’re most looking forward to.
Day 1’s Plastic Pollution Session
The Day 1 session titled ‘Accelerating Action on Plastic Pollution’ is right up our alley! Did you know that a humpback whale’s weight in plastic pollution enters the ocean every three minutes? Marine plastic pollution has increased by ten times since 1980, affecting about 800 species – including all sea turtles, 44% of seabirds and 43% of marine animals. This is a huge issue on the global scale that lies at the intersection of industry, government and climate action. Representatives from each sector will be at this session, and we are really interested to see where the conversation goes.
Day 2’s Circularity Deep-Dive
Day 2 starts off with an opening keynote from Dr Jiaying Zhao, which is sure to have amazing insight into behaviour change when it comes to circularity. We’re especially excited because Ocean Wise has previously collaborated with Dr Zhao on a research article related to plastic pollution, published in 2022. For the rest of the day, the conference is focused on interactive workshops. The workshop titled ‘Building Circular Culture for Climate Action’ is all about the circular economy, which is relevant to our Plastic Reduction Program for businesses. We’re excited to see a variety of co-hosts and organizations taking part and further exploring how plastic reduction and climate action are connected.
Meeting Old and New Friends in the Plastic Pollution Space
One of the best things about any conference is the opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with old friends doing great work. We’re especially keen to build connections with folks who might be interested in joining one of our corporate programs, like the Plastic Reduction Program or Shoreline Champions. If you are planning on being there and want to connect, look for Plastic Reduction Manager Jeff Wint or email [email protected] to set up a time to meet!
In addition to getting to renew connections and build new relationships, networking is a great way to get the details on the latest innovations. Because there are so many experts from different fields in one room, it’s such a unique opportunity to collaborate and gain inspiration. We’re looking forward to getting insight into some of the latest innovations.
If you’re planning on going to the Zero Waste Conference or are interested in getting more info about our Plastic programs, connect with us!
Posted October 20, 2023 by Cayley Elcombe
