The Prince of Wales (“Charlie did surf!”) and the Duchess of Cornwall swung by the second Ocean Plastic Solution Day held between the SAS and Finsterre HQs in St Agnes yesterday. The visit punctuated a really cool event which also celebrated the 15 year anniversary off Finisterre founded with a Prince’s Trust loan back in 2003.
The Ocean Plastics Solutions day brought together key business leaders, innovators, NGOs, politicians, media and other key stakeholders to discuss and demonstrate the progress society is making in tackling ocean plastic pollution from source to sea. Professor Richard Thompson OBE from Plymouth University, Lucy Siegle from BBC’s The One Show, world-class freediver Hanli Prinsloo, Richard Walker from Iceland Supermarkets, and United Nations Patron for the Oceans, Lewis Pugh all gave really interesting and inspirational presentations on subjects from Prof Thompsons 30 plus years of research into the ocean plastics problem to Richard Walker, who has to be the coolest MD of a supermarket chain in the world leading the brand into fights against palm oil,plastics, and the decimation of rainforests…he also surfs…
Check his speech.
More MD’s like this one please ^^ … Take note Richard Branson..
Mid way through the morning HRH’s met Tom Kay and team fifteen years on from the PT loan, even finding the original letter they sent to Tom to set him on his way. Which given the amount of paper work they must have was a great effort. The Duke of Cornwall was introduced to Finisterre’s Wetsuit Recycling Programme, while the Duchess met with the design team to hear more about their pioneering approach to sustainability through innovation.
“To have Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall visit Finisterre to commemorate our 15th anniversary was a special moment. I founded Finisterre with the help of the Prince’s Trust loan back in 2003. More recently, I wrote to HRH thanking him for his support in the early years, inviting him to visit Wheal Kitty and see our work around sustainability and innovation first-hand. For him to join our anniversary celebrations, witnessing how the business has grown, meeting the team who’ve been fundamental in this journey, and our unwavering commitment to Product, Environment and People, was a real honour. HRH was particularly interested in our work around ocean plastic awareness and using innovation to achieve sustainability, as well as the duties we’ve committed to in order to become a B Corp certified business.”
Tom Kay, founder; Finisterre
Just before he left HRH was presented what a wooden belly board, to which he quipped “Is this an old mans board?” Legend…
Bringing together some of the most powerful and influential voices in the quest for cleaner, healthier seas, Ocean Plastic Solutions Day presented a positive view to better future, with the power to bring about great change.
It was great day all round and should really be opened up into a bigger event so the invitees can speak face to face with the general public.
