What. Are you serious? It’s true; there’s actually talk of men becoming infertile by 2048 because of plastics. A must listen-to episode, we take you into the hardcore activism of Kate Nelson, AKA ‘Plastic Free Mermaid’.

Truth be told, for at least half a century, scientists have been worrying about sperm. 

In 2017, it got worse. Results came in after a high-impact meta-analysis reported that average sperm counts among “Western” populations have decreased by 50% since the 1970’s. 

Kate Nelson has been disposable-plastic-free for over ten years now, starting her journey volunteering at the Jean Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society. Kate learnt that plastic does not biodegrade. Shocked. Horrified. Kate packed her bag and ventured out to the Great Pacific Trash Gyre collecting samples. When Kate pulled up the trawl, it was full of tiny micro plastics. It was then that Kate realised the severity and scale of this issue and immediately turned hardcore zero-plastics advocate. 

Of course when infertility and plastics came across Kate’s path after continuing her studies and reading Dr. Anthony Jay’s "Estrogeneration," a book discussing a class of Estrogen mimicking chemicals, and how our daily exposures can cause weight-gains, depression, and infertility, we thought this would be the topic to cover. Read Kate’s finding here.

“It was not easy. Becoming aware of the tons of plastic in my life was a massive wake up call. I was contributing to the garbage dump in the precious sea that I loved so much. It has been an organic, natural, humbling journey full of learning. The reason I have been able to sustain such a drastic shift, is because of the incredible results of eliminating plastic from my life by abstaining from things packaged in plastic”. 

Kate has lobbied against governments, pitched to corporates, spoken at schools all over the world and met with any politician who would hear her and now it’s your turn to listen to the dirt on plastics and infertility. 

Hot Topics With Kate Nelson 

‘HOW PLASTICS ARE MAKING US FAT, SICK AND INFERTILE’ 

@plasticfreemermaid

• Julia is curious; plastic is so prevalent today, how is it possible to avoid it entirely?

• Paul's pouch-sweater business idea

• Kate tells us why you should you avoid plastic? The answers will shock you!

• Kate freaks Julia and Paul out when explaining what happens when and how we ingest plastic

• Phthalates and Bisphenol

• Kate! Where do you get all this information on plastics? 

• Plastic is effecting our genitals… and Paul’s penis size and his baby divers!

• Shanna Swan - Author of ‘Count Down’ claims we are likely to be infertile by 2048 because of plastics…!

• Dr. Anthony Jay wrote "Estrogeneration," a book discussing Estrogen mimicking chemicals.

• We're seeing a huge angle on sustainable products like paper bags and straws, is this enough?

• What is Kate’s most vivid memory of plastic's effects on the environment?

• Are beach-cleans a waste of time?

• Who are the multi-national plastic offenders, and how do we change the system?

• How can we play our part if we can't regulate these companies?

• The cost of anti-plastic life is prohibitive 

• Let’s talk clothing and plastic 

• Are any clothing companies taking an environmental stance?

• So how do we get rid of the plastic we've created?

• How do individuals move away from plastic?

• Shop local - Farmers markets all the way

• How are companies not being held accountable for the destruction of the environment?

• Blaming the consumer and the invention of the recycle bin

• Kate, what do you want to say to people still using high amounts of plastics?

• If companies won't change themselves, how can we create meaningful change in the world?

• Kate's new book - I Quit Plastics 

• Home made products to avoid plastics

• Kate's resources

• Kate's eco-survey

• Plastic in sanitary products - how to avoid

• Why wouldn't anyone want to invest in ethical industries

• Are we hopeful we can change?

• Seaweed as a plastic alternative