Merijn Tinga

Last updated
Merijn Tinga on his sup tour 2021 campaigning for waste separation at schools Merijn Tinga - Plastic Soup Surfer September 2021.jpg
Merijn Tinga on his sup tour 2021 campaigning for waste separation at schools

Merijn Tinga (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, 1972) [1] is a Dutch environmental activist. As the Plastic Soup Surfer he campaigned for reducing plastic pollution and the plastic soup. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Tinga used different campaign methods: kiteboarding and standup paddleboarding expeditions to raise awareness of the plastic soup problem, a motion for the Dutch House of Representatives that was adopted by the Dutch Government, judicial notices handed over by bailiffs to CEO's of companies whose products cause plastic pollution, [5] [6] collecting photos of littered products and holding companies accountable for this, a lawsuit and covenants. [7] [8]

Biography

Plastic Soup Surfer

Merijn Tinga studied biology, worked as a biology teacher and became a visual artist. [9] Since 2014 he combined art and activism and campaigned against the plastic soup under the name of the Plastic Soup Surfer. Tinga carried out several expeditions. In 2014, he kiteboarded 350 km along the Dutch and Belgian coast on a kiteboard made of plastic litter he had found on the beaches, to raise awareness of the plastic soup problem. [10] In the summer of 2015, he collected floating plastic as he sailed along the coast of Scandinavia. During this expedition, Tinga concluded that only cleaning up plastic litter will not solve this problem. [11]

Campaign for the introduction of deposit fees for small plastic bottles

In the period 2016–2020, Tinga campaigned for the introduction of deposit fees on small plastic bottles in the Netherlands. [3] [12] In 2016 he kitesurfed from Scheveningen, the Netherlands, across the North Sea to Lowestoft, England on a foilboard made of plastic littered bottles. With this trip, he drew attention to a petition for a deposit fee on small plastic bottles. [13] [14] In 2017, Tinga presented a petition motion that called for 90% less plastic littered bottles within three years, together with 57.000 collected signatures, in the Dutch House of Representatives. The petition motion was adopted by the Dutch Government. [15] [16] [17] [18] A deposit fee on small plastic bottles has been introduced in the Netherlands as of July 2021. [19]

Bailiff and judicial notice

In 2017, Tinga developed a new strategy: using a bailiff with a judicial notice. This legal instrument is a 'declaration of awareness' by which companies are formally informed of the pollution, dangers and consequences of the litter as a result of their products or packaging. From the moment that a judicial notice is handed over to the CEO, a company is no longer able to claim to be unaware of these facts. [5] [12]

Tinga used this strategy after a 1200 km standup paddle tour down the Rhine, From Source to Sea, on a standup paddleboard made of littered bottles. [20] [21] [22] This way he managed to meet with the CEO's of soft drink manufacturers and Dutch retail companies that tried to block the introduction of deposits on small plastic bottles. [23] [24]

Campaigns against products causing plastic pollution

In 2018, Tinga and Dirk Groot (who, by the name of the Zwerfinator, campaigns against litter [25] ), started collecting photos of plastic litter as evidence of the pollution and approaching the manufacturing and retail companies together with a bailiff and a judicial notice to ask them to come up with solutions.

In 2018, Groot and Tinga approached the CEO of Pervasco, the producer of Anta Flu throat lozenges, after collecting 16.000 photo's of littered Anta Flu wrappers. As a result, Pervasco switched to biodegradable paper wrappers in 2020. [26] [27]

In 2019/2020, Tinga and Groot collected thousands of photo's of littered plastic shards of crackling balls, light fireworks, and plastic splash water balloons. Soon after preparing a lawsuit against the Dutch retailers of crackling balls, most retailers stopped selling this product. By signing the Crackling Ball Covenant, most Dutch retail companies pledged to stop the sale of all fireworks containing plastics. [28] In 2020, Tinga and Groot convinced most retail companies to sign the Splash Plastic Covenant by which they pledged to stop selling plastic splash water balloons and plastic confetti. [29] [30]

The Plastic Avengers Manifest

In 2019, Tinga organised a conference for Dutch actors in the field of plastic. They drafted the Plastic Avengers Manifest, a framework for a new way of dealing with plastic. Vice-president of the European Commission, Mr. Frans Timmermans, became the official ambassador of this Manifest. [31] [10]

Bibliography

Merijn Tinga, Plastic Soup Surfer. Hoe één persoon verschil kan maken. Uitg. Hollandia 2021. ISBN 9789064107252

Filmography

Eelke Dekker: Message on a bottle (2016). About Tinga's North Sea crossing on a kite foil. [32]

Eelke Dekker:  From Source to Sea (2018). About Tinga's SUP tour down the river Rhine. The film was broadcast by National Geographic. [33]

Eelke Dekker: Plastic Paradox (2019). Documentary about the 2017 Rhine SUP tour and the Plastic Avengers Conference, broadcast by National Geographic. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Container-deposit legislation</span> Return of beverage containers for refund

Container-deposit legislation is any law that requires the collection of a monetary deposit on beverage containers at the point of sale and/or the payment of refund value to the consumers. When the container is returned to an authorized redemption center, or retailer in some jurisdictions, the deposit is partly or fully refunded to the redeemer. It is a deposit-refund system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naturalis Biodiversity Center</span> Dutch natural history museum and research center

Naturalis Biodiversity Center is a national museum of natural history and a research center on biodiversity in Leiden, Netherlands. It was named the European Museum of the Year 2021. Although its current name and organization are relatively recent, the history of Naturalis can be traced back to the early 1800s. Its collection includes approximately 42 million specimens, making it one of the largest natural history collections in the world.

The Stripschapprijs is a Dutch prize awarded to comic creators for their entire body of work. It is awarded annually by the Stripschap, the Dutch Society of comics fans, since 1974. The prize is non-pecuniary, but is considered the most important award for comics in the country.

NU.nl is a Dutch online newspaper. NU.nl writes their own news articles and employs several reporters to gather news in the field. The website has two full-time political editors in The Hague. Gert-Jaap Hoekman is the editor-in-chief of NU.nl. NU.nl is owned by the Belgian media group DPG Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DPG Media</span> Belgian media company

DPG Media Group is a Belgian media company also active in the Netherlands and Denmark. It is owned by the Van Thillo family and employs some 6,000 people.

<i>Top 2000</i> Dutch radio program

The Top 2000 is an annual Dutch marathon radio programme that plays the 2,000 songs voted most popular of all time. The show runs 24 hours a day, starting Christmas and ending on New Year's Eve. The show is hosted by the Dutch national radio station NPO Radio 2. A significant part of the population of the Netherlands listens to the broadcast each year; during the 2019 edition, Radio 2 had a national radio market share of 17.7 percent. In regard of its popularity and notoriety, the show is often called de lijst der lijsten, the chart of charts.

The Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant is a newspaper for the province of Zeeland, Netherlands published and owned by DPG Media of Belgium. Founded in 1758, it is the third-oldest newspaper of the Netherlands.

Dutch profanity can be divided into several categories. Often, the words used in profanity by speakers of Dutch are based around various names for diseases. In many cases, these words have evolved into slang, and many euphemisms for diseases are in common use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molenwaard</span> Former municipality in South Holland, Netherlands

Molenwaard is a former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the southeastern part of the province of South Holland, and the northwestern part of the region of Alblasserwaard. It was the result of a merger of the municipalities of Graafstroom, Liesveld, and Nieuw-Lekkerland on 1 January 2013. On 1 January 2019 it merged with Giessenlanden, together they form the new municipality of Molenlanden. Molenwaard had about 29,000 inhabitants and an area of about 126 km2 (49 sq mi). The largest settlements are Bleskensgraaf, Groot-Ammers, and Nieuw-Lekkerland.

The Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) is an advocacy group and social movement organization which seeks to reduce plastic pollution. PPC operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the umbrella organization Earth Island Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil' Kleine</span> Musical artist

Jorik Scholten, professionally known as Lil' Kleine, is a Dutch musician and actor. He collaborated with fellow rapper Ronnie Flex to produce the number one single "Drank & Drugs" and the number one album WOP!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldine Kemper</span> Dutch television presenter and presenter (born 1990)

Geraldine Jane Kemper is a Dutch television presenter originally from BNN. She won her job as a presenter with this public broadcaster through the television programme Sterretje Gezocht. In 2015 and 2016 Kemper was nominated for the Zilveren Televizier-Ster Vrouw. In 2019 it has been announced Kemper will transfer to RTL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Jetten</span> Dutch politician (born 1987)

Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten is a Dutch politician who serves as Leader of the Democrats 66 (D66) since 12 August 2023 and has served as Minister for Climate and Energy Policy in the Fourth Rutte cabinet since 10 January 2022. Prior to his ministerial appointment, Jetten served as his party's parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from 2018 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Soup Foundation</span> Non-governmental organization

Plastic Soup Foundation is a non-profit marine conservation organisation that aims to reduce plastic pollution. Established in 2011, Plastic Soup Foundation advocates towards imposing bans and/or voluntary phase-outs of microbeads in cosmetics at a global scale with the Beat the Microbead campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn van Leeuwen</span> Dutch wheelchair basketball player

Evelyn van Leeuwen is a Dutch wheelchair basketball player from Leiden. She competed at four Paralympic Games between 1996 and 2016. She won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Paralympics and 20 years later the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Love in a Bottle is a Dutch romantic comedy directed by Paula van der Oest.

The Dutch television mystery music game show I Can See Your Voice premiered the third season on RTL 4 on 21 January 2022.

In the run-up to the 2023 Dutch general election, various organisations are carrying out opinion polling to gauge voting intentions in the Netherlands. Results of such polls are displayed in this list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omroep Zwart</span> Television channel

Omroep Zwart, also known simply as Zwart, is a Dutch broadcasting association that is part of the Dutch public broadcasting system since 1 January 2022. The initiators are rapper Akwasi Ansah and film director Gianni Grot. The goal of the broadcaster is to create inclusive programs with new people, including those with different skin colors, preferences, origins, sexual orientations, backgrounds, or disabilities. The broadcaster collaborates with BNNVARA.

References

[1]

  1. 1 2 "CV & Biografie – Drs. Merijn Tinga » Atelier Tinga". www.ateliertinga.nl.
  2. ↑ "Merijn Tinga – Plastic Soup Surfer (TED Talk)". tedxutrecht.com. TedX Utrecht. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "The Plastic Soup Surfer is committed to getting a deposit on small plastic bottles". www.brightvibes.com. Brightvibes (2017). Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Statiegeld op blikjes is overwinning voor Plastic Soup Surfer". www.nos.nl. NOS (Dutch National Broadcast Association) February 3, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Deurwaarder Plastic Soep Surfer naar frisdrank producenten". www.bnnvara.nl. Vroege Vogels BNNVARA (Dutch National Broadcast Station) November 28, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Plastic Soup Surfer stuurt deurwaarder af op Heineken". www.omroepwest.nl. Omroep West (Dutch regional news) December 7, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Plastic verpakkingen van Mars repen zorgen voor veel zwerfafval". www.bnnvara.nl. Kassa - BNNVARA (Dutch National Broadcast Station) May 1, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Plastic Soup Surfer visits Wageningen in fight against plastic waste". www.wur.nl. Wageningen University & Research. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ Van den Hout, Eline (January 20, 2015). "Nieuwe handen 'Klimwand' Kunst Uitschot Team". sleutelstad.nl. Sleutelstad Radio TV Online (Dutch Regional news). Retrieved July 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 Twemlow, Alice (November 8, 2019). "Merijn Tinga: Surfing the Messy Soup of Plastic Pollution, Legislation, Art and Activism". www.kabk.nl. Lectorate Design - Royal Academy of Art The Hague. Retrieved July 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Bos, Ilona (May 24, 2019) (24 May 2019). "Merijn Tinga wilde surfen tegen plastic, maar ontdekte: plastic opruimen helpt helemaal niet. Toch gaf hij niet op". Trouw (Dutch newspaper). Trouw - DPG Media B.V. Retrieved 20 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. 1 2 Verlouw, Charlot (February 29, 2018). "Surfen maakt statiegeld sexy: 'Het moet tot de verbeelding spreken'". www.trouw.nl. DPG Media - Trouw Newspaper (Dutch national newspaper). Retrieved July 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Merijn Tinga succesvol Noordzee overgestoken, niet in recordtijd". Unity NU - news site for region of Leiden, The Netherlands [www.unity.nu] (Dutch). Unity.nu, regional news- and broadcast station. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "De Noordzee over op kitesurfboard van petflesjes". NOS.nl (Dutch News). NOS, Dutch National Broadcast Association. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Plastic Soup Surfer". Public Leadership Foundation (January 11, 2019). Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Kabinet komt 'Plastic Soup Surfer' tegemoet". www.ad.nl. DPG Media - AD (Dutch national newspaper) - February 16, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  17. ↑ Wennekes, Laura (March 12, 2018). "Statiegeld op plastic flesjes mogelijk in 2021 ingevoerd". Gemeente.nu. SDU. Retrieved July 22, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Staatscourant (March 4, 2019). "Voorpublicatie tot wijziging van het Besluit beheer verpakkingen 2014 in verband met het opnemen van een recyclingdoelstelling voor kleine kunststof drankflessen en het aanpassen van de artikelen over statiegeld op drankverpakkingen (Besluit maatregelen kleine kunststof drankflessen)". Overheid.nl (Dutch Government). Staatscourant, Dutch Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Statiegeld op kleine plastic flesjes voor minder zwerfafval". Rijksoverheid.nl. Dutch Government (newsitem September 24, 2020). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Plastic Soup Surfer supt 1200km langs de Rijn". www.plasticsoupfoundation.org. Plastic Soup Foundation (May 8, 2017). Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  21. ↑ De Waard, Chris (July 2, 2017). "Groots onthaal voor Plastic Soup Supper op Stadhuisplein". sleutelstad.nl. Sleutelstad Radio TV Online (Dutch Regional news). Retrieved July 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ "Documentary Plastic Soup Surfer on National Geographic". Universiteit Leiden. Leiden University. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Protest tegen zwerfplastic bij Rotterdams hoofdkantoor Coca Cola". www.rijnmond.nl. Rijnmond (Dutch regional news) december 5, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Plastic Soup deurwaarders deze week naar Lidl, Pepsi Jumbo en Coca Cola". sleutelstad.nl. Sleutelstad Radio TV Online (Dutch Regional news) September 4, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  25. ↑ Bijlo, Esther; Straver, Frank (october 10, 2019). "Invloedrijke zwerfafvalraper Dirk Groot nummer 1 in Duurzame 100". www.trouw.nl. Trouw (Dutch newspaper) - DPG Media B.V. Retrieved July 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ "Zwerfinator samen met Plastic Soup Surfer". Persbureau Ameland. Persbureau Ameland. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  27. ↑ Tukker, Elles. "AT NO. 6: ANTA FLU CANDY WRAPPERS". plasticsoupfoundation.org. Plastic Soup Foundation. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  28. ↑ "'Operatie Knetterbal' geslaagd: populair kindervuurwerk bijna overal in de ban vanwege milieuschade". www.nhnieuws.nl. NH Media (February 7, 2021). Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Einde 'Operatie Spatplastic'". www.biojournaal.nl. Biojournaal.nl (newsitem September 30, 2020). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Operatie Spatplastic: een ban op de waterballon". www.bnnvara.nl. Vroege Vogels - BNNVARA (Dutch National broadcast station). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Eurocommissaris Frans Timmermans neemt Plastic Avengers Manifest in ontvangst". www.meerlanden.nl. Meerlanden (Dutch waste & recycling company). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  32. ↑ Dekker, Eelke. "Message on a bottle". www.eelkedekker.nl. Eelke Dekker (movie director). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  33. ↑ Dekker, Eelke. "From Source to Sea". www.eelkedekker.nl. Eelke Dekker (Video director). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  34. ↑ Redactie (June 6, 2019). "Het Plastic Plan van: Merijn Tinga". www.nationalgeographic.nl. National Geographic Society. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.