A small but historic meeting took place at the Dusseldorf Boot Show earlier this year.
After ‘virtually’ working together for several years, Pascal van Erp of Ghostfishing.org met with Jim Standing from Fourth Element on Tuesday 26th January 2016. The catalyst that initially brought them together in 2013, and then introduced them in real-life in 2016 was The Underwater Marketing Company’s Rosemary E Lunn (aka Roz).
“From a young age I had been brought up to recycle and respect the environment,” stated Roz. “So when I heard Pascal talk at a European diving conference about the ghost fishing project, including how the recovered fishing gear is recycled into usable, knittable nylon, I was hooked. I instantly knew that this project would also jibe with Fourth Element‘s ethos. They are as engaged with the environment as I am – both our companies know how important it is to recycle, reuse and reduce.
As soon as I could, I briefed Jim Standing, knowing that he and Paul Strike had the vision and knowledge to create something rather lovely and useful, whilst closing the ‘grave to cradle’ circle. Little did I realise that one phone call would result in the genesis of OceanPositive.
I was incredibly lucky to meet with Dr Sylvia Earle at the 2014 DEMA Show and talk to her about OceanPositive. When I was subsequently able to introduce her to Jim Standing and show her the OceanPositive range, it was a momentous moment because this clothing range is very close to my heart.
Jim Standing and Dr Sylvia Earle
I spend my professional life putting people and businesses together. It is rather like doing a jigsaw puzzle, joining two seemingly random pieces together to make a proper picture. I can see a product, service or person and know who the matching right person is in the diving industry. I have found watching OceanPositive evolve and grow utterly fascinating. It was therefore very special introducing Pascal to Jim in person for the first time.”
Find out more about Roz and the work that she does at The Underwater Marketing Company Blog.
