Bold ideas for bold impact. | Chris Thaller | TEDxLinz | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

An inspiring talk about how a chance encounter with a plastic bag led to the creation of the Run for the Oceans global campaign, which engages millions of people to clean up beaches and protect the oceans.

Key Insights

• 💖 Personal experiences can spark the motivation to create positive change in the world.
• 😃 Collaborations between big brands and organizations can amplify the impact of sustainability campaigns.
• 😃 The global issue of ocean pollution requires bold and big ideas to make a difference.
• 🤗 Being open to new experiences, people, and ideas can lead to unexpected connections and opportunities.
• 📽️ Authenticity and passion are crucial in pursuing projects that aim to make a difference.
• 😑 The world needs individuals who are willing to take action and address pressing environmental issues.
• 🛟 The Run for the Oceans campaign serves as a powerful example of how individuals and organizations can come together to create positive change.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's personal experience in Australia lead to the creation of the Run for the Oceans campaign?

The speaker encountered a plastic bag during a paddleboarding session, which made him realize the problem of ocean plastic pollution. This sparked his desire to create a project that would protect the oceans.

Q: What role did Adidas play in the creation of the Run for the Oceans campaign?

Adidas acquired Runtastic, where the speaker was working, and had a strong brand presence and millions of users. This gave the speaker the platform and resources to launch the campaign and make a global impact.

Q: What is the mechanism behind the Run for the Oceans campaign?

Runtastic tracks users' running distance, and Adidas converts that distance into a donation. The donations go to Parley for the Oceans, which uses them to clean up beaches worldwide.

Q: What are some achievements of the Run for the Oceans campaign?

The campaign has engaged over 14 million participants, making it the biggest sustainability campaign in the world based on participants. It has also achieved global impact by cleaning up beaches in various countries, including India, Southeast Asia, Bali, and the Maldives.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker recounts his time in Australia when he encountered a plastic bag on a paddleboarding session, sparking his desire to do something about ocean plastic pollution.

• Working for Runtastic and later Adidas, he had the opportunity to create the Run for the Oceans campaign, which converts tracked running distance into a donation to clean up beaches.

• The campaign has grown over the years, engaging over 14 million people and making a global impact in cleaning up beaches and raising awareness about ocean pollution.