World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is celebrated on 8 June 2024. Each year on World Oceans Day awareness is raised about ending overfishing and protecting our oceans.

Why do we need World Oceans Day?

- Our ocean needs protection.

- Our ocean covers 70% of the planet and supports life as we know it.

- Every second breath we take comes from the ocean.

- Our ocean feeds billions of people.

- Our ocean hosts 80% of the world’s biodiversity.

At Chameleon Sand Candle, we are deeply committed to sustainability and the broader vision, prioritizing long-term impact over short-term gains. We acknowledge our imperfections and continuously strive to improve every aspect of our business and products. Our journey is a marathon, not a sprint, as we diligently work towards making a meaningful difference.

It's no surprise that we are naturally drawn to businesses and individuals who share our values. This is how we met Casey, a fierce 21-year-old whose life mission is to educate people about the oceans and plastic pollution.

We sat down with Casey to learn more about these critical issues and hear her thoughts on potential solutions. Her passion and dedication are truly inspiring, and her insights shed light on how we can all contribute to a healthier planet.

Tell us about Casey?

I am passionate about all things eco-friendly, finding alternatives to single-use plastic, and closing the gap between the 4wding community and the negative perspectives of the green lifestyle. I have a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice which hopefully in the coming years will allow me to advance into the water police and actively monitor our waterways with the law behind me.

Whilst completing university, I have worked full time for a 4wding company where I see first hand the waste, negative discussions and protest towards the evolving electric vehicle and alternative companies. And although many valid points from both sides regarding the other's environmental impacts, there is one thing they do share in common and it’s the hatred towards the plastic and rubbish pollution in the environment, more namely track side or at their perfect campsites.

My whole life is filled with travelling, exploring places and encouraging others to get out and do the same however my weekend adventures are often interrupted by plastic and rubbish therefore leaving me to beg the question, why are these two large communities not joining forces if they are chasing the same target? So from an early age I have pushed myself to become more educated, aware and knowledgeable hoping to have my voice heard because we can coexist in a world without this divide and attack the issue at hand together.

What is Ocean Outlaw?

Ocean outlaw is my small business aiming to reduce plastic pollution by offering easy alternatives to single use plastic items already in our homes. In addition, I prioritise education around the cycle of plastic waste, how it can impact the environment in a negative way and explain those bigger concepts around environmental systems like ocean acidification. Through education, I intend to guide you to question your current choices and consider a swap to an eco friendly alternative. By swapping something as simple as your toothbrush, over time and with enough people, the impact will be significant and worthwhile. Every swap counts. Ocean outlaw originally started in 2017, when I was a young year 9 student trying to change the world. After learning about waste, pollution and the state of the world through classes in highschool something inside erupted and I found my passion. Back then I was definitely biting off more than I could chew but I was determined to make my change. Then the ocean outlaw was born. I continued learning and filling my eager shoes with knowledge. I joined local community groups including the Gladstone conservation council and have been flown to Brisbane to join the 2023 Environmental Symposium as a youth figure for the Gladstone region. In 2022 I launched my first product and finally got an ABN! Big times for a 19 year old! These are some of Ocean Outlaws' bigger achievements to date and since I have been consistent on Instagram and tiktok building this brand of eco conscious, environmentally aware individuals who are just as passionate about eco health as I am!

What are the biggest issues related to oceans you see today?

In my opinion, climate change is the biggest issue facing our oceans today. Climate change affects our oceans through a process called Ocean Acidification. Ocean Acidification is the process of heat transfer. When the Co2 is constantly pumped into the atmosphere it has to go somewhere and many believe the Amazon rainforest absorbs the majority of our Co2 however this is not correct and in fact our oceans do. Heat from the atmosphere is absorbed into the ocean and it reacts to H2O resulting in carbonic acid. This compound then breaks down into a hydrogen ion (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3) and in turn these ions decrease the oceans pH levels towards higher salinity.

Ocean Acidification has been developing for decades now and is physically seen in the catastrophic coral bleaching incidences seen all over the Great Barrier Reef currently. Without our coral reefs the entire ecosystem collapses therefore, creating such a negative flow on effect for all stakeholders. In turn, this is why I believe that climate change, more specifically the increase of Co2 is the most pressing issue facing our oceans today.

Tell us about your WHY?

As a young person growing up in the industrial town of Gladstone, I had large amounts of exposure to pollution in all forms, plastic waste, smog, poor air quality, dredging and the seeming disregard for habitat survival while Gas and coal terminals took over the beautiful harbour. Now I understand the importance of such infrastructure for other aspects in society including jobs and overall money for the region however it did spark concern in my young eyes that perhaps the leaders of yesterday were not doing their due diligence when it came to monitoring and controlling such pollutants to allow for the leaders of today to succeed. I grew up exploring the ocean, reefs, national parks and local ecosystems with my family which is where this love and passion for the environment and animal protection prospered from. Once I got to upper highschool I quickly realised my place and completely absorbed myself into learning about this passion and in turn started Ocean Outlaw. I have been committed to Ocean Outlaw whilst finishing highschool, starting and graduating university and while balancing a full time job and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, learning all this, one may ask, what can they do about it right now?

It's simply really! On your next beach adventure, bbq down by the water or afternoon run along a boardwalk, collect a piece of rubbish. Plastic and single use items often wash ashore and get tangled in mangroves, rockpools or brought up in tidal changes. Like I did as a child with my family, collect a piece, a bag, a trailer load, whatever you can, anything helps! Get the family involved, post about it! Not only does it instil core values but it starts a conversation and gets you thinking and that’s so important.

If the beach and ocean aren’t your vibe then there is an easy action you can do from home and it is simply sorting your rubbish! Everyone has rubbish and waste, but you can jump on government websites and find what can and cannot be recycled. You can start a compost bin and get the kids involved. You can also have these conversations about why it's so important that the right waste goes in the right bins. This simple change can be so powerful.

Do you have favourite brands?

Yes! My favourite brands for alternatives are:

- Ocean outlaw (small business- alternatives to single use plastics)

- Chameleon Sand Candle (small business- alternatives to toxic candles and fragrances)

- Camelie (Alternatives to single use razors)

- Zero Co (Eco friendly cleaning products that allow you to send back the packaging to have it refilled or be supplied with tablet concentrates and buy in bulk)

What's your favourite quote?

I am unsure what TED talk I heard this from but it is a quote that has stuck with me for almost a decade now and something I used in my final university assessment. It is … “If a tap is running and the sink is overflowing, would you grab a towel and wipe the floor as more and more water pools over the counter? No, you would turn the tap off and clean up the mess”. This quotation means nothing without context. – Spreading awareness is one thing and talking about environmental change helps but just like wiping the water from the floor, more action is needed! We need to turn that tap off! So supporting small businesses or even big ones who sell eco-friendly alternatives gives power back to the everyday Australian and allows you to turn that tap off! Because unless enough of us make change, big power houses make it for us!