Chloé Dubois and her Fight against Plastic Pollution | Exeleon Magazine

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Co-founder & CEO

The Ocean Legacy Foundation

Chloé Dubois, Ocean Legacy and Their Fight against Plastic Pollution

toChloeDubois,apioneerissomeonewhoworkswithavisiongreater thanthemselves,thinkingbeyondtheconventionalnormsandbusinessas-usualmindset.Withakeenabilitytolistenandcloselyobservethe world,pioneerspossessauniqueinsightintothechangesneededto impactcommunitiesandenvironmentspositively.

ChloeDuboisisanexampleofapioneeringleaderwhoisonarelentless pursuittotackletheglobalcrisisofplasticpollution.

AstheCo-founderandExecutiveDirectorofTheOceanLegacy Foundation,Chloe'smissionisnotjusttocleanuptheoceans;it'saquest toreshapethewayhumanityinteractswiththenaturalenvironment

Bornfromadesiretotakeactionandmakeatangibledifference,the OceanLegacyFoundation,underDubois'leadership,hasbecomea leadingvoiceinaquaticconservation.Throughinnovativecleanupand infrastructureinitiatives,communityengagement,andadvocacyefforts, Chloeandherteamareworkingtirelesslytoridouroceansofplastic pollution,onestepatatime.

Fittingly,ChloefeaturesontheCoverofExeleonMagazine'sPioneering LeaderstoFollowin2024issue.Herein,welookintoherjourney,her ightagainstplasticpollution,andmore.

Tla’amin Territory

A PERSONAL AWAKENING

In2011,ChloeDuboisfoundherself standingatacrossroads,herheart tornbetweenadesiretomakea meaningfuldifferenceintheworld andtheoverwhelmingcomplexity ofwheretobegin.Itwasapivotal momentinherlife,onethatwould ultimatelyshapeherjourneyand leadhertoco-foundtheOcean LegacyFoundation.

DuringthistimeChloeenrolledfor Work That Reconnects a transformativecourseledbyecophilosopherJoannaMacy Macy's teachingsresonateddeeplywith her providingasanctuaryforherto confrontthegriefanddespair inducedbytherampant environmentaldegradationofour world."Herworkisacclaimedby theDalaiLamaandfocuseson

creatingsafespaceswithin communitiestogrieveover environmentaldegradation,"Chloe relects.Thisconnectiontonature andtheurgentneedforhumanity toreconnectwiththenaturalworld wouldultimatelybecomethe cornerstoneofChloe'sjourney

Throughthecourse,shewas introducedto"Albatross,"an unreleaseddocumentaryilmby ChrisJordanthatintimately chroniclesthedevastationwrought byplasticpollutionontheAlbatross species.Theilmservedasa catalyst,ignitingairewithinherto takeactionandconfronttheurgent crisisfacingouroceans."Thisilm continuestodrivemeeachdayto engageintheincredibleeffortof reconcilingthecurrentstateof resourceexploitationwith regenerationandactivehope,"she

shares.

Chloe'snewfoundclarityand determinationpropelledherintoa periodofdeeprelection,during whichshedelvedintothestudyof Chinesemedicineand contemplatedtheleetingnatureof lifeandthelegacyshehopedto leavebehind.Asaperson accustomedtothrowingherself wholeheartedlyintoherpassions, herresolvewasunwavering."My passionsbecomemyobsessions," sherecalls,"andmynewlyfound insightignitedairewithinme."

In2014,unitedbyasharedvision, ChloeandJamesMiddleton registeredOceanLegacyasanonproitentity markingthebeginning ofanewchapterintheirmissionto combatplasticpollution.

Impact

AfterformingOceanLegacyin2014,Chloe DuboisandJamesMiddletonwastedno timeheadingtowardstheircollective mission.Theirinitialfocuswasonclean-up effortsandmappingoutpollution concentrations,takingthemontoursof remoteandurbanenvironmentsworldwide tograspthesheerenormityandcomplexity oftheplasticissue.

Relectingonthoseearlydays,Chloe mentions,"Itdidn'tseemtomatterwhere wewent,plasticpollutionwasthenewface ofmostenvironments."Thisrealityfueled theirdeterminationtoleadlarge-scale remoteexpeditions,bringingtogether friendsandcolleaguestoexploresomeof theworld'smostenvironmentallyremote placesandraiseawarenessoftheurgent needforaction.

Theirworkquicklyexpandedtoencompass awiderangeofinitiatives,from microplasticresearchexpeditionsin Antarcticatoshorelineclean-upsspanning acrossCanada,Mexico,CostaRica,Panama, Guatemala,andtheUSA.

In2016,Chloeandherteammadea

groundbreakingcommitmenttodevelopa newwastemanagementsystemformarine plastics.Thisinitiative,knownasEPIC, aimedtoaddressgapsineducation,policy, infrastructure,andclean-upefforts.

SecuringagrantfromInnovationSolutions CanadaandtheDepartmentofFisheries andOceans,Chloeledateaminresearching, designing,andcommercializingnew methodstowashandextrudeocean plastics,revolutionizingtheirprocessing capabilities.Nowwiththecontinued inancialsupportoftheProvinceofBritish Columbia,theEPICprogramhasbecomea leadinginternationalexampleofaquatic restoration.

Nearlyadecadelater EPIChasevolvedinto oneofthemostcomprehensiveresponse programsofitskind."EPICisthe integrationofEducation,Policy, Infrastructure,andCleanup,"Dubois proudlydeclares.Theprogramincludesa 15-houronlineeducationAcademyinthree languages,amarineplastics-based processingfacility large-scaleremediation projects,arobustdepotprogramcovering sevenregionsacrossBritishColumbiaand manyinternationalendeavors.

Mexico

Musqueam, Tsleil-waututh, Tsawwassen Territory

Musqueam, Tsleil-waututh, Tsawwassen Territory

Mexico

Mexico

Mowachaht/Muchalaht Territory

Kyuquot-Checleseht Territory

EPIC SOLUTIONS FOR EPIC PROBLEMS

TheEPICapproachhasbecome thebackboneofTheOcean LegacyFoundation'sglobal vision.

“EPICworkstobuilda springboardofchange,"Chloe claims,highlightingtheneedfor collaborativeeffortsthat empowerlocalleadersand communitiestotakeownership ofsolutionstailoredtotheir uniqueenvironmentaland culturalcontexts.

Atitscore,theEPICapproach seekstoassist,empower,and enhanceleadersindeveloping andimplementingworldwide plasticpollutionresponse programs.Byidentifyingand implementinginnovative technologies,education initiatives,andskillstraining, EPICaimstoconvertplastic pollutionintoeconomicvalue whilepreventingfurther environmentaldegradation.

CentraltotheEPICapproachis thecreationofaccessible platformsthathelpcommunities buildthetoolsneededtorestore ecologicallyandculturally sensitiveenvironments.This includesassessingand developinglong-termplastic collection,processing infrastructure,policy frameworks,andcleanup activitiestomitigateaquatic plasticpollutionsources.

ThroughEPIC,Chloeandthe OceanLegacyteamare pioneeringanewparadigminthe ightagainstplastic

pollution—onethatrecognizesthe interconnectednessof environmental,social,and economicsystemsandempowers communitiestobeagentsof changeintheirownright.With EPICastheirguidingprinciple, theyareforgingapathtowardsa cleaner,healthierplanetforfuture generations.

EMBODYING PIONEERING LEADERSHIP

“We are currently living in a reality where we are destroying ourselves and the planet we live in and where the actions of a few, effect the health and wellbeing of the entire planet and its global communities.”

Apioneerherself,Chloedeines pioneeringleadershipas embodyingavisiongreaterthan oneselfandchallengingthestatus quo.Shebelievesthatpioneers possessadeep-seateddriveto makeapositiveimpactonthe world,drivenbyintuitionanda commitmenttolearningfrom challenges.Despitefacingcriticism andadversity,pioneerspersevere, drivenbyastrongsenseof purpose.

Chloeintegratesthesepioneering qualitiesintoherleadershipat OceanLegacy,viewingitasa lifelongjourneyofgrowthand adaptation.Shetalksaboutthe importanceofdecolonizing leadershipandactivelysupporting indigenousandmarginalized communities.Byprioritizing humilityandlisteningtotheneeds ofcommunities,shefosters collaborationandempowers otherstodrivechangefromwithin.

Bynurturingasupportiveteam andembracingdiverse perspectives,Chloeensuresthat OceanLegacy'svisionofending plasticpollutionispursuedwith integrityandinclusivity.

Quatsino Territory

Quatsino Territory

Salish Sea

Kyuquot-Checleseht Territory

Marine plastic pellets in Musqueam Territory

Challenges

Talkingaboutthemonumental challengesposedbyplastic pollutiononbothalocalandglobal scale,Chloeexplains"Thebiggest challengesfacingourteamandthis planetinrespecttoplasticpollution aremultifaceted."Shehighlightsthe unregulatedsurgeinvirginplastic productionandthelackof infrastructuretomanagethese materialsworldwide.

Sheemphasizestheinsidious natureofplasticpollution,viewing itasadesignlawandasymptomof humanity'sdisconnectfromthe naturalworld."Plasticpollutionisa symptomofamuchlargerproblem, ourdisconnectfromthenatural planetandourplacewithinit"This profounddisconnection,sheargues, perpetuatesunsustainable consumptionpatternsand exacerbatesenvironmental degradation.

Operationally,OceanLegacy'steam grappleswithamyriadofobstacles astheynavigatediverseterrains andcommunitiesaffectedbyplastic

pollution.Fromremote,disasterladenlocalestoruggedcoastlines, eachcleanupinitiativepresents uniquechallenges."The remediationplansweestablishare co-developedwithlocalindigenous andnon-indigenouscommunity membersandgovernmentswhere possible,"Chloeexplains,thus underscoringtheimportanceof communityengagementand culturalsensitivity

Despitethesechallenges,Chloe remainssteadfastinher commitmenttofosteringsystemic change.Sheadvocatesfora paradigmshifttowardscircularity, whereresourcesarerecirculated withinaclosed-loopeconomy."In ordertoshiftourworldawayfrom atake->make->wastemodel,we needtheprinciplesofcircularity ingrainedineverydecisionwe make."Thisholisticapproach,she believes,isessentialforredeining humanity'srelationshipwithnature andpromotingsustainabilityona globalscale.

VISION AHEAD

Lookingahead,ChloeDubois envisionsafuturewhereOcean LegacyFoundationleadsthecharge inendingplasticpollutionacrossall landsandwaters.While acknowledgingthatachievingthis goalmayextendbeyondher lifetime,sheremainsresoluteinher commitmenttosystemicchange andsustainability CentraltoOceanLegacy'svisionis therecognitionoftheintertwined natureofenvironmentalandsocial issues.Chloeemphasizesthe importanceofaddressing inequalitytofosteradeeper connectionbetweenhumanityand thenaturalworld."Howcanwe protectthesystemswhichsustain alllifeonthisplanetwhenhalfthe world'shumanpopulationisliving inpoverty,workingdailytomeet theneedsofsurvival"sheasserts, underscoringtheneedforinclusive solutionsthatempower communitiesworldwide.

Education Policy Infrastructure Cleanup

ChloeDuboismentions aboutthecrucialroleof educationincombating plasticpollution.Through OceanLegacy'sEPIC Academy,sheaimsto helpequipindividuals withtheknowledgeand skillsneededtodrive meaningfulaction.By fosteringawarenessand facilitatinggrassroots engagement,theEPIC Academyempowers communitiestomake informeddecisionsand advocateforchange.

Chloeadvocatesfor policiesthatincentivize sustainablepracticesand mandatetheuseof recycledcontentin products.Sheemphasizes theneedforarobust GlobalPlasticsTreatyto addressplasticpollution onaglobalscale.By engagingpolicymakers andadvocatingfor meaningfullegislation, OceanLegacyseeksto effectlastingchangeat thepolicylevel.

Ultimately,ChloeDuboisbelieves thatredeiningconsumption patternsisintegraltoendingplastic pollution.ThroughtheEPIC methodology,OceanLegacyaimsto navigatethecomplexitiesof

OceanLegacyprioritizes infrastructure developmenttomanage plasticwasteeffectively Byinvestingin containment,processing infrastructure,product designinnovationand productmanufacturing thatutilizesrecycled content,sheenvisionsa futurewhere communitieshavethe toolstominimizewaste andrecirculateresources.

addressingthiscrisisbydeveloping tailoredsolutionsthatengage stakeholdersateverylevel.

Highlightingthepotentialof plasticsasacatalystforeconomic stimulation,Chloestressesthe importanceofimplementingthe integrativecomponentsofEPIC (Education,Policy,Infrastructure, andCleanup)onaglobalscale.This comprehensiveapproach,she believes,iskeytounlocking systematicchangebyequipping individualsandcommunitieswith theknowledgeandtoolsneededto addressplasticpollutioneffectively. One Book Entrepreneurs must read – CrucialAccountability: ToolsforResolvingViolated Expectations,Broken Commitments,andBadBehavior

OceanLegacy'scleanup initiativesspanawide rangeofenvironments, fromremoteshorelinesto derelictvesselsand aquaculturesites.By hiringandtrainingrural coastalcommunity members,OceanLegacy helpstoempower communitiestotake ownershipofcleanup efforts.Chloeenvisionsa futurewhere communitieswork togethertorestore balancetothe environmentandcreatea sustainablefuturefor generationstocome.

ChloeDubois'simpactinwater conservationextendsbeyondthe removalofmillionsofpoundsof plasticwaste.Herlegacyliesinthe communitiesempowered,the policiesinluenced,andthe educationalinitiativesthathave shapedmindsglobally

Shorts

acrossawidespectrumof initiativesandgeographical locations.

One Quote that Motivates you

Authors:Patterson,Grenny, Maxield,McMillanandSwitzler

One Productivity Tool / App that you use –IuseHeadway quiteregularlytolearnnewtools ortechniquestoincreasemy productivityaswellasoverall wellbeing.Ialsouseproject managementsoftwaresuchas Asanatotrackprojectprogression

the most –Neverdoubtthata small group ofthoughtful, committedcitizens can change the world;indeed,it'sthe only thing that ever has.–MargaretMead.

One Leadership Advice that you

Follow –Surroundyourselfwith peoplewhoinspireandsupport you.Youarethecompanyyou keep.