Lizzie Carr came up with Plastic Patrol whilst paddling the length of England on her first SUP expedition in 2016. Back then it was just a way to collate photos she took of plastic pollution along the way – nothing more.
Soon after people started using the hashtag to share plastic they collected – and so began the start of the Plastic Patrol crowdsourcing app.
But it didn’t stop there. People also wanted to get involved with helping clean up on the water. So in summer 2017 she borrowed a van and some SUPs and launched Plastic Patrol community clean ups around the UK. She wanted people to experience the activity that changed her life and brought her closer to the environment. If SUP could have such a profound impact on her then perhaps it would inspire others to connect more deeply with nature too.
Another year on, in 2018, Plastic Patrol launched its first international clean ups in America. The app currently houses 50,000+ examples of pollution shared across 20 countries globally and more than 100 tonne bags of waste have been removed from our waterways.
Lizzie has given Plastic Patrol everything over the last few years – time, love and money. Three months ago it was formalised as a not for profit – another step in its incredible journey and people kindly started donating to help keep it going and growing.
It was only when she created this video in cooperation with REN Skincare that she truly took a step back and really considered what Plastic Patrol has become.