Where were Gasket Guy on Earth Day 2024?

Earth Day 2024 (22nd April) was the ideal day for us to take positive action for the planet by sponsoring an event which combined a practical activity with sustainability networking and an inspiring, ecologically-focused presentation.

In line with our commitment to support local sustainability initiatives, we recently co-sponsored a riverside jogging litter pick (plog) and social meetup in Exeter. The event, hosted by Exeter Brewery, was a collaboration between the Positive Nature Network and People Planet Pint.

Plogging the Exe

As Isaac Kenyon (more about him later) made clear, there is a lot of opportunity to explore, work out and have fun in your local area. The active part of the event we sponsored was a litter-picking jog (aka a "plog") along the River Exe.

This was exactly as it sounds, although jogging was optional. Despite much of the route being outwardly clean, it didn't take much delving into the undergrowth to reveal evidence of humanity's waste problem. In fact, a whopping 43kg of litter and debris was collected in around an hour.

Much of the waste was plastic, although there was also a fair quantity of metal, cardboard and fabric retrieved from the verges and hedgerows. Some of the finds were fascinating (including one item which wouldn't be suitable for inclusion in a professional blog post!)

If removing nearly 100 pounds of junk from the local environment wasn't enough, the runners, joggers and strollers also signed up to the Climate Games App which converted their efforts into two new trees (as well as displaying how many calories they had burnt).

A marathon effort

Did you hear about the guy who ran the London marathon with a fridge on his back?

Well, this event featured a talk from Isaac Kenyon who ran the event dressed as a tree. Not only did he raise a lot of awareness about the environment, he also made the most of the opportunity by showcasing eco-friendly brands, and he even distributed wildflower seeds to fellow runners.

Kenyon's keynote speech also focused on his Climate Explorers brand, a community interest company dedicated to restoring and preserving biodiversity, the climate and human well-being in the context of enjoying the great outdoors.

Getting green heads together

Next it was time to put those calories back on, courtesy of a free pie and pint.

The pie was supplied by Exeter Brewery (and included mash and minted peas), while the pint was donated by People Planet Pint, a sustainability meetup organised by Small99, an organisation that focuses on helping small and micro businesses meet Net Zero targets. People Planet Pint events are socially-focused with no formal agenda or organised networking.

Following their exertions and Isaac's thought-provoking presentation, this was an opportunity to relax, share ideas and have a laugh. We're sure some amazing connections were seeded that evening and that they will blossom into future sustainability collaborations.

In terms of sourcing your fridge gaskets, by choosing Gasket Guy you will be:

• Reducing transport miles by buying gaskets manufactured in the UK
• Reducing waste by choosing gaskets that are made from quality materials
• Maximising your appliance efficiency by reducing energy consumption

Please take a look at our Environment & Sustainability page for more details.