3 questions for WILDPLASTIC®
Who is behind WILDPLASTIC®?
Christian Sigmund is one of the co-founders and managing directors of WILDPLASTIC®. He originally comes from the digital world, and his professional journey began with the founding of an eCommerce company in the skateboard sector, his first entrepreneurial step, so to speak. He then worked for Google in Dublin and later for YouTube in London. But at some point he realised that we as a global community will face enormous challenges that we must address. And that was the reason for his resignation and a whole new chapter in his life - WILDPLASTIC®.
Plastics do not belong in the environment
WILDPLASTIC® was founded by a group of people who all wanted to do something instead of just talking about the problem. They all had their own personal experiences with the incredible littering of the planet. And they agreed on one thing: it's now or never. The team is convinced that plastics do not belong in the environment, where they cause enormous damage. Nevertheless, over 50 million tons continue to end up there every year. WILDPLASTIC® brings the "wild plastic" back into the cycle, which has a number of positive effects. The greatest successes include, for example, the switch from OTTO's shipping bags to WILDPLASTIC® or the Goldeimer toilet paper packaged in WILDPLASTIC®, of which they are enormously proud. This year they were also awarded the German Packaging Award and the German Sustainability Award.
What does WILDPLASTIC do®?
WILDPLASTIC® produces garbage bags, shipping bags and granules from wild plastic that has been rescued from the environment. To do this, the company works with various partners around the world and builds sustainable supply chains. The aim is to return as much wild plastic as possible to existing recycling cycles. In addition, the responsible-owned company is committed to a forward-looking economy and sustainable entrepreneurship. You can find more information here:
1. What was or is your motivation behind WILDPLASTIC®?
Today it is clearer than ever that we all have to get involved if we are serious about a livable and just future. It is not enough to hope that there will be a political or regulatory solution to the plastic and climate crisis. That is why it is now time to roll up our sleeves! Our greatest motivation at WILDPLASTIC® is that we are not alone in this attitude. Incredibly strong alliances are formed, which give us courage and confidence and, above all, are a lot of fun.
2. What do you advise our readers: What can you do specifically for a better future?
The biggest lever is ourselves. And that is with what we do! Every working life lasts about 40 years and has 10.000 working days in store for us. It is fundamentally our decision what we do with this time. And I understand that not everyone is in a personal situation where they can choose completely freely. But almost 60% of the population have long since emotionally checked out of work. What if we use our skills in the best possible way and use them for climate-positive companies and organizations?! That often requires a lot of courage, but it is worth it on all levels.
3. How do travel and sustainability fit together for you?
There are two major drivers for a better future: curiosity and connection. We are in a phase of global transformation in which the world community is inevitably stuck together. Only those who remain curious are open to new things. And only those who feel connected make decisions for the common good. Travel enables us to do both in a unique way. For most of us, the connection to the consequences of the plastic crisis only came about through personal experiences while traveling. That is why I believe that travel can be a positive driver for a more sustainable future.
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Photo 1: Anne Ziegler, Photo 2: Anne Ziegler, Product photos: Bernd Westphal, Photo of wild plastic: Katja Hanzl
Cecile Meier
Cécile is a freelance author and sustainability strategist. She enjoys traveling to the fullest: getting to know different cultures, listening to other languages and discovering new things either by the sea or in a (big) city always fascinates her. The stories and intentions of the Good Travel hosts are particularly important to her.
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