In April of 2019 we launched the all new WAW BadFish bodysurfing handplane. A handplane based on our original timber fish models but created using recycled ocean plastics collected from the Great Barrier Reef.

The Application

In the May 2019 we entered into a competition campaign called MAKE GOOD – DEFY PLASTICS. Hosted by the National Geographic and R/GA,  A well-known design and marketing agency who work with the likes of NIKE and GOOGLE.

The prize: A full business membership programme with the National Geographic and R/GA, and a full feature on the National Geographic.

Given that this competition was hosted by such big players I didn’t honestly rate our chances, being just one guy, and having zero experience in the field of plastics manufacture up until now, but I believed in the product and our supply chain and I knew we had something unique. So I went for it.

Over 3 days I created an application explaining our mission, the hurdles we had overcome and what the future holds for the project. It was pretty cool actually to write it all down, and was incredibly satisfying kicking back at the end of day 3 with a cup of tea and proof reading the final application and re living everything we had achieved and been through over the past 3 years.  This was followed by uploading it to the Nat Geo application page and clicking send.

A few weeks later we received an email from the National Geographic headed “LETS CHAT”. A promising title I thought and sure enough they explained how they had processed the very large number of applications they had received and were excited to inform us that we had  been selected to attend the next stage of the competition, the 3 day intensive Innovation Lab.

The Lab

In total 5 companies, including us, were selected to attend the lab, the other legends included:

• Good Citizens – a sunglasses brand turning trash into good

• Kua Kelp – a UNSW team making disposable products from kelp

• Toberite – a sustainable concrete replacement

• Carapac – a crustacean based, home compostable plastic alternative

Held in Sydney Australia, the 3 day lab session saw us sit down with experts across a broad spectrum of business and go through our project with a fine tooth comb. Working out what our exact mission was, what our product and brand was trying to communicate, the ins and outs of our supply chain and identifying any weaknesses and how to over come them. We were able to strip our project down to its raw purpose and rebuild a strategy to scale up and execute the best plan possible to achieve our goals.

We got to hear from plastics industry experts, inspiring Nat Geo explorers and people who were already making impacts on the plastic waste crisis.

At the end of the 3 days we left the lab brimming with ideas and exciting potential. We were tasked to consolidate our findings and to prepare a presentation on our findings and if selected as the winners what we would be working on during our mentorship programme. A scary event that consisted of me standing in a room of 8 experts, and broadcast live via zoom to more people in London, Tokyo and Singapore.

I made my pitch, I was happy with how it went and how I handled the questions I was asked. I was told that we were last people to pitch and so a decision would be made within the week. The clock was on!

Decision time

1 week later we got the email. WE HAD WON! I couldn’t quite believe it. The other companies present at the lab were offering such amazing solutions to all areas of the plastic crisis and so to be selected over these guys was an absolute honour. I am so proud to have achieved this award and recognition. We proceeded with an amazing mentorship programme with R/GA and finally got our feature on the National Geographic, a lifetime dream I never thought possible.

Here’s to the BadFish, here’s to bodysurfing an heres to the future. YEW!