Bonnie Monteleone Of Plastic Ocean Project: 5 Things We Must Do To Inspire The Next Generation About Sustainability And The Environment
An Interview With Martita Mestey
… Read books about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to your children. My mother read to me a lot and would share with me what she was learning! The book she shared with me that was most helpful was The Story of My Life –By Helen Keller. It was about Helen Keller, a woman, both blind and deaf, who received her bachelor’s degree in the early 1900s and became a prolific author. Her story proved to me that anyone can find their path regardless of the obstacles. We can empower our youth, by showing them their thoughts matter and helping them find meaningful ways to express them for a positive impact.
As a part of my series about what we must do to inspire the next generation about sustainability and the environment, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Monteleone, a dedicated plastic pollution and oceanic researcher and the cofounder and executive director of the North Carolina-based non-profit, Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. Bonnie has covered 10,000 nautical miles investigating the impacts of plastic pollution throughout four of the five global ocean gyres and is currently producing the upcoming documentary, “If the Ocean Could Talk, A Voice For the North Atlantic.”
Bonnie is also an adjunct professor at University of North Carolina, Wilmington teaching plastic marine debris field studies. Her research has been featured in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Science of The Total Environment, Limnology and Oceanography, Environmental Pollution, Royal Society of Chemistry and Technical Report. An accomplished artist, Bonnie turns plastic she collects on her voyages into modern artistic masterpieces.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up with four older siblings and one younger, in an old industrial town that was dying a slow death in upstate New York, not the land of opportunity. My father was a police officer, a just man who took his job of protecting life seriously. I learned early that it isn’t what you own, it is what you care about that matters. My mother, with only a high school diploma and poor eyesight and hearing, educated herself on how the body works, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and how vital a healthy environment is to human health. When I was about 12, I was standing in the kitchen as my mother unwrapped ground beef from its packaging, peeling the cellophane off the top and the Styrofoam from the bottom, when she asked a rhetorical question, “Where does this stuff [plastic] go? I heard it takes about 1000 years for it to go away.” It would be another 36 years before I could answer that question.
Was there an “aha moment” or a specific trigger that made you decide you wanted to become a scientist or environmental leader? Can you share that story with us?
I went back to college to get my masters at the ripe young age of 48. There, I learned about the work Captain Charlie Moore was doing in the North Pacific studying marine plastics that have been found accumulating 1000s of miles away from land. The article, Plastic Ocean, by Susan Casey, captivated my imagination and horror. Plastic Ocean Project became the title of my thesis, and I dedicated my master’s thesis to my mother, who asked the question where does plastic go? I found the answer to my mother’s question in my 10,000 nautical miles of ocean research. That one story set the course for the next 15 years of my life as my thesis then became the non-profit Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. (POP).
POP provides research opportunities for people of all ages in our fully equipped research lab, education and outreach programs, and collaboration opportunities for companies and organizations that wants to help tackle this enormous issue. Our mission is to find science-based solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis and empower all to make choices that improve human and environmental health.
Is there a lesson you can take out of your own story that can exemplify what can inspire a young person to become an environmental leader?
As my dad taught me, it’s not about what you have, it’s about what you care about that matter. We all have that tug at our heart when we care about something, whether it be for other humans, animals, plants, or water. One lesson is for young people — and the rest of us — to tap into your feelings, they can help guide your journey. Once you figure out what rocks your world, read, read, read as much as you can about the topic. Then, step outside your comfort zone, find those people who share your passion, and reach out to them.
I was a total introvert at 48, but I cared about this issue so much I had to get uncomfortable and meet those people who could teach me what I needed to learn in order to be successful and make an impact. Imagine, reading an article about a man who studies plastics in the North Pacific and stepping outside your comfort zone to meet him. I did that and found myself aboard his 50’ catamaran with a team sailing across the ocean for 30 days. That experience opened doors to doing what I love in life and making a living. That’s what happened to me — and could happen to others who extend themselves, too.
Can you tell our readers about the initiatives that you or your company are taking to address climate change or sustainability? Can you give an example for each?
We have three pillars that provide a multitude of initiatives:
- Scientific research: POP provides free internships for people interested in plastic research and a lab for hire for researchers needing our expertise in analyzing samples and looking for plastic particles. We also actively seek solutions to plastic pollution.
- Artistic Storytelling: We believe the arts are equally as important as the sciences. It is the storytellers that educate the general public through writing stories, creating art out of plastic waste, photography, and videography. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
We are currently working on a full-length documentary called, “If the Ocean Could Talk — A Voice for the North Atlantic” because few stories have been done on plastic in the North Atlantic, creating the sense that the entire plastic problem is in the North Pacific.
We have created several sculptures made from ocean debris as well as organize a fun event called “The Trash’n Fash’n Show.” Participants get to show off their artisan garments made from recycled materials.
3. Collaborative Solutions: We have 2 programs that exemplify our work:
- Trees4Trash is our trademark program where for every 25 lbs. of trash we remove we plant a tree. To date, we have removed over 48,000 lbs. of trash and planted almost 2,000 trees. We remove what doesn’t belong and replace it with what does! We work with other nonprofit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in our community and corporations as volunteers and program sponsors.
- Our Ocean Friendly Establishments (OFE) initiative works with business owners, other NGOs, and schools, who commit to reducing their waste. It is a star-based program where the more they reduce waste the more stars they receive. Today, we have over 250 OFEs around the country.
Can you share 3 lifestyle tweaks that the general public can do to be more sustainable or help address the climate change challenge?
1. Buy local. The more we buy from local artisans for gifts, clothing, jewelry, locally prepared food, the less packaging and less shipping required.
2. Avoid eating and drinking out of plastic. As challenging as it sounds, we can all reduce our use of plastic and the chemicals that end up in our bodies by avoiding plastic packaging in consumables. The less plastic we use, the less will be produced, and the less that can escape into the environment. Buy locally grown fruits and vegetables and locally made soaps, they are usually made with natural products and packaged in paper.
3. Stay home 1 day a week. If you can’t, stay home one day a month. Use that day to bake, sew, read, relax. Imagine, if just 25 percent of our population could do this, there would be less carbon in the air, less traffic on the streets, less packaged materials being purchased, the ability to mend and use our clothing longer, and more personal time for wellbeing.
Ok, thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview: The youth-led climate strikes of September 2019 showed an impressive degree of activism and initiative by young people on behalf of climate change. This was great, and there is still plenty that needs to be done. In your opinion, what are 5 things parents should do to inspire the next generation to become engaged in sustainability and the environmental movement?
1. Teach children to fall in love with nature and they will grow up to protect it. Hiking with children and bringing along a bird and/or plant book can help both parents and children learn about nature together while creating lasting memories.
2. We do not inherit nature from our ancestors, we borrow it for future generations. Parents can lead by example by reducing their use of plastic, limiting the number of times they drive their cars each day, and conserve water whenever possible while explaining why these efforts are important and aiding in sustainability for future generations.
3.What is the true meaning of conservation? To value what we have and limit our overuse of essential elements like building materials, plastics, and water. Find the thrill of the hunt at thrift stores and create toy, furniture, or clothing swaps with friends, family, and neighbors. Utilize repurposed wood to build bird houses, plant gardens, and learn about native plants.
4. Take your children to public hearings on issues related to environmental impacts happening in your community. Even if you just go for them to witness people coming together to protect their community for just a few moments, this next generation will witness the power of the collective in action.
5. Read books about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to your children. My mother read to me a lot and would share with me what she was learning! The book she shared with me that was most helpful was The Story of My Life –By Helen Keller. It was about Helen Keller, a woman, both blind and deaf, who received her bachelor’s degree in the early 1900s and became a prolific author. Her story proved to me that anyone can find their path regardless of the obstacles. We can empower our youth, by showing them their thoughts matter and helping them find meaningful ways to express them for a positive impact.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
When we started our Ocean Friendly Establishments (OFEs) Initiative, we only had two signups for the longest time. Both establishments started by restricting the distribution of straws, giving them out to only those who requested them. A local magazine picked up the story and one of the restaurant owners explained that not only was the distinction good for business, but they were saving both money and the environment by not giving straws out to every person that walked in the door. Instead of spending money on four boxes of straws each week, they only use one box per month. When other businesses learned the benefits of being an OFE — being more ecofriendly and saving money, and receiving free publicity, as a result — many more joined.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My mother planted a seed for what I would do in the future, whether she meant to or not. We never know what we will say to a child that will leave that indelible imprint. Her question never left me.
By the time I was in 4th grade, my mother knew I had a learning disability. It was long before learning disabilities had names. She read about it in a journal, marched me to the school, pointed out the article to my teacher, and said, “I think my daughter has Dyslexia.” Though the teacher dismissed it, my mother never let up.
As a person with Dyslexia, it would be difficult to have the confidence necessary to do the work I do today without her support. Many children share this disability, but I am here to say, don’t let it get in the way. Dyslexia can be a superpower and allow you to find a whole new world of opportunities.
You are a person of great influence and doing some great things for the world! If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I’ve been working with a network of NGOs, CEOs, economists, and government personnel on an initiative called the +Nature Coalition. We are devising a new economic paradigm that includes reimagining our planet’s future by balancing human activities with nature. There was a time when natural resources–land, animals, plants, marine life, and the ocean–were seen as providing limitless abundance, that was free to all, and endlessly resilient to the effects of pollution and depletion. This is no longer the truth. We know that these resources must be stewarded if they are to sustain a growing world population. On our present trajectory, we are on a race to exhaust these resources for short-term gains, rather than protecting them so they can continue to provide economic, health, and social benefits for all.
A solution is possible, and it requires the engagement of the formidable power of the free market. It starts with valuing living and healthy keystone species and ecosystems in a more holistic way, and shifting to a system that properly values minimizing extraction and maximizing restoration. By incorporating the true value of resources and showing local governance structures that they can produce balanced, regenerative economies, these resources can provide benefits to both current and future generations. This kind of transformation is essential for our own national security and resilience. This kind of change can bring the greatest amount of good for people and have nature thriving, as a result. You can learn more about this economic paradigm through www.bluegreenfuture.org.
Do you have a favorite life lesson quote? Can you tell us how that was relevant to you in your own life?
“People rarely remember what you said, but they always remember how you made them feel.”
It is important for all of us to choose our words carefully. When it comes to these seemingly unfixable problems caused by plastic waste, it is easy to feel discouraged and when explaining it, force the feelings of guilt that causes people to shut down or feel overwhelmed, rather than to take even the smallest bit of action (which still makes a difference). Instead, I like to say it’s a great time to be alive because when there are a lot of problems there are more opportunities to find solutions — which ultimately makes things better and creates more jobs — so other people can also make a living by making a difference.
What is the best way for people to follow you on social media?
Facebook: http://www.plasticoceanproject.inc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticoceanproject.inc/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plasticoceanproject/
This was so inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Thanks!
Bonnie Monteleone Of Plastic Ocean Project: 5 Things We Must Do To Inspire The Next Generation… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.