Innovative Approaches to Combat Plastic Pollution: A Global Classroom Virtual Event

🌍 Innovative Approaches to Combat Plastic Pollution: A Global Classroom Virtual Event

📅 Date: Thursday, September 19th
🕓 Time: 4:00 - 5:30 pm PT
🎟️ Cost: FREE

Dive into a dynamic 90-minute session with Global Classroom as we tackle the urgent issue of plastic pollution. This FREE virtual event features innovative strategies from French experts visiting Seattle as part of the U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), centering groundbreaking approaches to combatting plastic waste globally. Learn about innovative technologies and solutions driving a circular economy, explore ambitious city-wide policies aimed at eliminating single-use plastics, and discover sustainable practices within the hospitality industry. Additionally, hear about the role of climate activism and grassroots movements in addressing plastic pollution and promoting systemic change. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of ongoing efforts and future directions in combating one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

What to Expect:

• Insights from Global Leaders: Hear from distinguished guests from France, in the fields of technology and innovation, government, business development, and activism.
• Key Topics: Explore crucial subjects such as ocean conservation, cutting-edge solutions for reducing plastic waste, and impactful climate activism.
• Practical Takeaways: Learn actionable steps for educators and youth to support a sustainable future.
• Intercultural Exchange: Attendees will have the opportunity to share the innovative ways they are combatting plastic pollution in their own lives.

Who Should Attend:
K-12 educators, students, university participants, and community members are all welcome.

Special Features:

• Access our original Adaptable OER Lesson Plans for K-12 Educators centering the UN SDGs.
  • SDG #13: Climate Action
  • SDG #14: Life Below Water
  • SDG #15: Life on Land
• Receive our updated curriculum resource guide on plastic pollution.

MODERATOR

Ryan Hauck is a teacher at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, WA. As a teacher of comparative politics and international studies, he is often applauded for bringing the world into his classroom by engaging students around the importance of living in an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world. One of Ryan’s global projects has been his work in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, building not only a sister school relationship between his high school and a remote village school in Oporoza, but also a village library. Recently, Ryan participated in a U.S. State Department fellowship to Senegal as part of the Teachers for Global Classroom Program and as a fellow with the Goethe Institut’s Transatlantic Outreach Program to Germany. Ryan Completed his master’s degree in Globalization and Educational Change from Lehigh’s Comparative & International Education Department. As part of this program, Ryan worked with a cohort of classmates and teachers on a professional development project in Cambodia to enhance teacher training and student learning. As a Washington State Council for the Social Studies Board Member, Ryan extends his passion for global studies to other teachers, students, and communities. Ryan brings his own real-life experiences into the classroom so that his students begin to understand the value of cross-cultural understanding and humanitarian action.

SPEAKERS

Mr. Simon Pierre BERNARD
CEO and Co-Founder, Plastic Odyssey

As CEO and Co-Founder of the non-profit Plastic Odyssey, Mr. Simon Pierre Bernard leads his team in a mission to highlight the importance of preserving the ocean ecosystem, promote local waste treatment initiatives, develop the recycling economy to create jobs, and raise awareness among local citizens. Co-founded by Mr. Bernard in 2016, Plastic Odyssey tackles ocean pollution by promoting plastic recycling solutions adapted to countries from the Global South. Since October 2022, its 40-meter laboratory vessel has been traveling across Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America to promote its solutions and develop a global network of entrepreneurs. The Plastic Odyssey Vessel promotes local waste treatment initiatives and runs awareness campaigns for citizens on its many stops. In addition, it promotes accessible technologies that can transform waste into locally useful resources, trains entrepreneurs, and develops the recycling economy to create jobs. Plastic Odyssey also studies initiatives to reduce its own use of plastic, documents them, and freely shares this data so others can be inspired to lower plastic consumption. In partnership with the French Ministry of Education, Plastic Odyssey also raises awareness about marine pollution in French schools through videoconferences, reaching 2,000 students during each stop-over throughout the year. Mr. Bernard has been featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list.

Ms. Lila Jodelle Pauline Maria DURIX
Head, Zero Single Use Plastics Ambition, Direction of Climate and Ecological Transition, City of Paris

Ms. Lila Durix leads the City of Paris government’s major project eliminating the consumption of single-use plastics. Recently, she oversaw the effort to eliminate consumption of single-use plastics in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games. Her office’s achievements toward this goal include a partnership with Coca-Cola that has saved over 1 million single-use plastic bottles. Ms. Durix also worked on the September 2024 zero plastic requirements for all of Paris’ city races, projected to save 20 tons of plastic per year. Additionally, she and her office have encouraged 1,000 shopkeepers to join the “Here, I Choose Water from Paris,” campaign, which focuses on expanding free access to tap water, with an estimated reduction in plastic use of one million 1-L bottles of water. Within the city government itself, efforts on the gradual elimination of non-reusable plastics have achieved an estimated reduction of 41 tons of plastic in 2023. Previously, Ms. Durix worked as Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Danone France where she coordinated packaging for Danone products. From 2019 to 2021, she ensured the recyclability of all packaging for 2025 and fostered projects to initiate the first reusable containers for yogurt and baby food in 2020 and 2021.

Ms. Eva Beatrice Simone RUMEAU
Business Development Manager, Écotable

Ms. Eva Beatrice Simone Rumeau works as the Business Development Manager at Écotable, a French start-up focused on making the food industry more sustainable. Écotable provides a range of content on sustainability, including educational materials, an eco-friendly certification for restaurants, and a network of sustainable food suppliers. Ms. Rumeau’s work puts her at the intersection of plastics and the food service industry, a key plastics-using sector. As head of Écotable’s business development, Ms. Rumeau works to build partnerships with major companies, restaurants, and institutions, including collective catering services and tourism offices. Through these partnerships, she aims to accelerate ecological transitions within companies, including efforts to combat plastics in restaurant and food service operations.

Mr. Hugo Lucien Pierre Yves VIEL
Campaign Strategist, Oil Change International

Mr. Hugo Viel is a climate justice activist currently working as a campaign strategist for Oil Change International. Previously, he was a campaigner at 350.org from 2022 to 2024. His book “Climate: Too Late to Take Action?” has been cited as representative of the new generation’s perspectives on climate, and he is frequently called on to embody the youth voice in the media. Having studied at Paris’ ECE engineering school and the Sorbonne, Mr. Viel has a strong academic background in energy and environment. He previously volunteered as Secretary General at “CliMates,” a nonprofit which organizes workshops, training courses, and simulations to empower individuals to act. He also served as a representative at COP 24 and COP 25 and has experience in the political field working with deputies of the National Assembly in the campaign for a Real Climate Law. Additionally, he served as Parliamentary Collaborator in the office of National Assembly Deputy Matthieu Orphelin. In this role, Mr. Viel worked on communication strategy, civil society relations, and legislative proposals. As an activist, Mr. Viel has organized several nationwide climate protests, including the first worldwide strike for the climate on March 15, 2019. He also worked on the advocacy team of Our Ecological Constitution. Since the world’s changing environment will impact the underprivileged the most, Mr. Viel sees the climate crisis as a human rights problem.

For Washington State Educators:
Earn a clock hour for participating in this valuable session!

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from leading experts on how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future!