To explore this issue in greater depth, a conference titled “Plastic Pollution: A Wave of Change” was held on October 22, 2018, led by marine scientist Martina de Marcos.
During the talk, she discussed the rise in global plastic consumption and its impact on the environment. She also offered solutions for reducing plastic use in both the private and public sectors. At the end of the presentation, she showed participants how to make deodorant and toothpaste using coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch.
De Marcos is the founder of the "Cleaning Up the World" program and, in mid-March, began a tour of Latin America with a single goal: to raise awareness about the importance of reducing plastic consumption.
The goal of this initiative was to travel from Tijuana to Patagonia to bring about change and raise awareness about the global plastic crisis.
So far, he has visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Argentina, sharing his ideas with more than 9,500 people.
As a result of his talks, he succeeded in getting plastic bags banned in Panama and in establishing a group of university students in Guatemala to replicate his talks.