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One thing that Ben Taylor and Storm Care have in common is that we both care deeply about the welfare of our environment and in particular the threat of plastic pollution.
Ben is about to embark on an incredible trek around the UK coastline (an astonishing 7000 miles in total!) all to raise awareness about the real threat that plastic pollution is having on the planet. The journey will start in early April, venturing towards the picturesque Scottish West Highlands around springtime. Absorbing the best of the UK beauty spots as well as fighting off the dreaded midges! Ben will be doing this all on foot, stopping to camp overnight at every new destination. The months before the trip have been spent training and packing enough food to feed a village! One less thing for Ben to tick off his list of prep was Tent Care. We've given Ben a helping hand to ensure that his tent (home) for the next several months will be clean and proofed ready for him to embark this mammoth tour.
Ben is raising much needed funds for both the ‘John Muir Trust’ and ‘Marine Conservation Society’; his minimum target is £20,000 which will be split between both charities, helping to fund necessary campaigns, voluntary work and vital projects. Shockingly, 91% of all plastics are not recycled and this campaign will help to emphasise the real threat and negative impact on marine and coastal life.
Ben’s expedition has truly resonated with the Storm Care Team and our brand ethos. Preserving the natural environment is at the very heart of what we believe and what our products deliver. That is why we made the decision to switch from plastic to aluminium bottling, as aluminium is 100% recyclable. To put it into perspective; packaging is the largest end user market segment which accounts for over 40% of total plastic usage. Not wanting to be part of the problem but join in the solution, doing whatever we can to reduce the amount of plastic being washed up on our shorelines.
Actions speak louder than words and Ben is certainly proving this to be true.
Firstly, what inspired you to take on this 7000- mile challenge all by foot?
“…During my time in Scotland, I was in the North West Highlands…I came across a book while I was there about a man called John Merrill who walked around the coast of the United Kingdom during the 1970’s. I thought “Wow that sounds great, what a journey that would be!” Over the years since, I have read a lot more about climate change, pollution and the state of nature as it is. I just felt that I would like to do something and give back in some way…”
Can you walk us through the coastal campaign and expedition?
“I am raising money for two charities. The first one is the ‘John Muir Trust’, that protect and restore wildlands … The second charity is ‘Marine Conservation Society’. A lot of the work they do is combating pollution by organising beach cleans and raising awareness, as well as campaigning and lobbying to stop companies who are being harmful towards the environment. Which is why I think ‘Storm Care’ is great because it is about offering solutions, rather than just telling people “You can’t use that anymore, it’s bad for the environment.” It is good to actually give people options as they are more likely to listen to you…”
How will the £20,000 raised benefit both these charities?
“For the ‘John Muir Trust’, the money will go towards anything from volunteer equipment and building mountain paths, to restoring fences and planting trees, and even helping to help fund things like large landscape-scale restoration work; there are a wide range of things that the money can go towards. The ‘Marine Conservation Society’, will be able to use the money raised for a lot of their incredible campaigning work, as well as for funding the beach cleans, promoting sustainable seafood and for many other different projects within the charity.”
Storm Care cares passionately about the outdoors and it’s important to us that it is preserved for future generations. What is it about the outdoors that you love?
“I tend to feel a lot more at home outside. I would say that one thing I love about being outdoors is basically being free. I am exercising my own freedom to go where I like. There is nothing I love more than just going for a wander and not having a destination in mind…”
How can we help you, what more can people do to protect their coastal places?
“… I think it is all to do with raising awareness… To make a big difference is when lots of people get together and make a lot of noise and say, “We need change!” To these big companies that are producing plastic as this is targeting the main source. However, getting to that goal means raising awareness first.”
We wish Ben the very best with this challenge, please do join us in supporting him as he embarks on his “Journey for the Wilderness.”
UK Coast Journey
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