0:00:09.000,0:00:12.000 (Applause) 0:00:12.000,0:00:18.000 Good afternoon, thank you. 0:00:18.000,0:00:23.000 Thank you for the introduction. 0:00:23.000,0:00:27.000 As you just heard, we sell packaging 0:00:27.000,0:00:31.000 that is disposable, organic and environmentally friendly. 0:00:31.000,0:00:34.000 I don´t know who amongst you, either during your coffee break or lunch hour, 0:00:34.000,0:00:39.000 had the chance to use one of these cups. 0:00:39.000,0:00:43.000 Everyone. (Applause)[br]I´m going to hand them over to you 0:00:43.000,0:00:45.000 so I can explain some of the material's characteristics 0:00:45.000,0:00:47.000 and so you can touch them and see 0:00:47.000,0:00:51.000 that they were Green Pack cups. 0:00:51.000,0:00:57.000 can you do me the favour of passing them around. 0:00:57.000,0:01:00.000 The disposable organic compounds that we sell 0:01:00.000,0:01:02.000 are substitutes for plastic 0:01:02.000,0:01:05.000 but with superior characteristics 0:01:05.000,0:01:10.000 If you have ever bought coffee in a styrofoam cup 0:01:10.000,0:01:17.000 or in a plastic one, you will have ingested more than 23 different toxins 0:01:17.000,0:01:24.000 which is not ideal for drinking coffee. 0:01:24.000,0:01:28.000 So, we are focused on developing new technology 0:01:28.000,0:01:33.000 to make a product that is 100% organic 0:01:33.000,0:01:38.000 which is what we are made of. 0:01:38.000,0:01:42.000 We use an inedible corn starch 0:01:42.000,0:01:46.000 which is not approved by the FDA [br]- in case anyone wants to attack me 0:01:46.000,0:01:51.000 for making prices go up - 0:01:51.000,0:01:55.000 Because that's not the case.[br]If we didn´t use this rejected corn 0:01:55.000,0:01:57.000 to make packaging, it would be burned. 0:01:57.000,0:02:00.000 So we use an inedible corn starch 0:02:00.000,0:02:05.000 and inedible tuber starch. 0:02:05.000,0:02:09.000 How does this work? 0:02:09.000,0:02:12.000 Well, in reality, thanks to the technology that we have developed 0:02:12.000,0:02:15.000 for packaging material, we have made a product that 0:02:15.000,0:02:23.000 has a microscopic porous texture,[br]which enables micro-organisms 0:02:23.000,0:02:25.000 to degrade it 0:02:25.000,0:02:29.000 and that is what it really means to be "biodegradable", 0:02:29.000,0:02:31.000 it's the ability for a raw material 0:02:31.000,0:02:34.000 or a finished product to be degraded 0:02:34.000,0:02:39.000 by micro-organisms over a certain period of time. 0:02:39.000,0:02:48.000 Certain plastics have added substances[br]- "OXO" is an example - 0:02:48.000,0:02:51.000 which enables the plastic to degrade 0:02:51.000,0:02:53.000 and to break down, 0:02:53.000,0:02:55.000 but it is never consumed by micro-organisms 0:02:55.000,0:02:58.000 so we're talking about something that is worse 0:02:58.000,0:03:02.000 because it's harder to collect 0:03:02.000,0:03:04.000 and only a small percentage 0:03:04.000,0:03:08.000 of these "OXO" products are compatible 0:03:08.000,0:03:11.000 with normal plastic recycling systems. 0:03:11.000,0:03:15.000 So, it's worse 0:03:15.000,0:03:17.000 but really, 0:03:17.000,0:03:19.000 I don't want to talk to you about how harmful plastic is 0:03:21.000,0:03:23.000 because I think that we are all aware 0:03:23.000,0:03:28.000 of how harmful plastic is to our ecosystems. 0:03:28.000,0:03:30.000 I took the liberty of including some slides 0:03:30.000,0:03:35.000 so that you can see the things 0:03:35.000,0:03:39.000 that happen every day but which we don't see 0:03:39.000,0:03:43.000 these are really alarming pictures. 0:03:43.000,0:03:45.000 In this one, it's not that the bags are 0:03:45.000,0:03:47.000 really well coordinated. (Laughter) 0:03:47.000,0:03:53.000 It's a photoshopped image alluding to what animals eat 0:03:53.000,0:03:58.000 because there are animals that eat jellyfish.[br]There is a food chain 0:03:58.000,0:04:01.000 and it is sad to see animals eat plastic 0:04:01.000,0:04:03.000 and then end up dying. 0:04:03.000,0:04:07.000 Two million turtles die every year, solely due to the consumption of plastic 0:04:07.000,0:04:12.000 It's a truly alarming statistic 0:04:12.000,0:04:18.000 Can someone tell me what this is? 0:04:18.000,0:04:28.000 No, How about now? 0:04:28.000,0:04:30.000 60,000 plastic bags are eaten 0:04:30.000,0:04:37.000 every 5 seconds, that's astonishing! 0:04:37.000,0:04:41.000 Personally, ever since I was a boy 0:04:41.000,0:04:44.000 I thought it was incredible to be given something disposable 0:04:44.000,0:04:49.000 whose purpose is to be useful for a very short period of time 0:04:49.000,0:04:51.000 and then have to throw it away 0:04:51.000,0:04:56.000 and that this raw material takes some 600 to 800 years to bio-degrade. 0:04:56.000,0:05:01.000 To me something doesn't add up, I don't know about you... 0:05:01.000,0:05:07.000 I don't know if you remember before the iPod came out 0:05:07.000,0:05:11.000 what we used to use? Walkmans, Discmans... 0:05:11.000,0:05:13.000 The Walkman was huge. 0:05:13.000,0:05:17.000 If you went jogging with a Walkman, you would end up like Julio Martinez. 0:05:17.000,0:05:20.000 like this... because your shorts would be down here 0:05:20.000,0:05:22.000 (Laughter) 0:05:22.000,0:05:23.000 And if you were mugged you could hit the thief 0:05:23.000,0:05:27.000 with the Walkman and knock him out. 0:05:27.000,0:05:33.000 Steve Jobs had a phrase that I really liked, 0:05:33.000,0:05:36.000 when he introduced the ipod he said: 0:05:36.000,0:05:39.000 "I like to think that in our own small way 0:05:39.000,0:05:45.000 we are making the planet a better place", and that way of thinking 0:05:45.000,0:05:49.000 is what I'm so fond of. 0:05:49.000,0:05:55.000 This is the way we think every day at Green Pack. 0:05:55.000,0:06:00.000 We believe that we are making a change with the product we sell 0:06:00.000,0:06:02.000 and, actually, I don't know if you can tell 0:06:02.000,0:06:05.000 but I speak about this with great passion 0:06:05.000,0:06:09.000 and I love my product. 0:06:09.000,0:06:12.000 I'm actually going to change the subject briefly. 0:06:12.000,0:06:18.000 I think the last time I messed up an appointment, 0:06:18.000,0:06:22.000 I remember it was a few years ago, 0:06:22.000,0:06:26.000 was when we went to a hennery to develop a new egg box 0:06:26.000,0:06:31.000 and the manager told me: Look, your product is very good 0:06:31.000,0:06:35.000 but I need my eggs to be on display. 0:06:35.000,0:06:39.000 (Laughter) 0:06:39.000,0:06:43.000 We didn't have a good start right? 0:06:43.000,0:06:45.000 So, we obviously didn't fulfill this requirement 0:06:45.000,0:06:52.000 because our packaging isn't transparent. 0:06:52.000,0:06:59.000 There's a statistic here in Guatemala, that one in every two kids 0:06:59.000,0:07:03.000 under 5 years old suffers from chronic malnutrition. 0:07:03.000,0:07:06.000 That's alarming! 0:07:06.000,0:07:08.000 If you think about it, that's 50% of all kids 0:07:08.000,0:07:13.000 under 5 years old suffering from chronic malnutrition. 0:07:13.000,0:07:16.000 I think it's incredible. 0:07:16.000,0:07:22.000 A few years ago, thanks to my wife, 0:07:22.000,0:07:27.000 I got involved in an organisation called[br]"Un techo para mi pais" 0:07:27.000,0:07:32.000 We went to Santa Rosa to help with construction,[br]and since then I've continued 0:07:32.000,0:07:34.000 to be involved, 0:07:34.000,0:07:38.000 as of that moment my sense of social commitment was awakened. 0:07:38.000,0:07:42.000 that's why I decided to continue to be involved in this initiative. 0:07:42.000,0:07:45.000 and I started to experience first-hand 0:07:45.000,0:07:49.000 the level of malnutrition that really exists in these community 0:07:49.000,0:07:51.000 It's staggering! 0:07:51.000,0:07:54.000 The kids are skinny, not because they are from Zacapa 0:07:54.000,0:07:57.000 or because it's "cute", no, they're skinny 0:07:57.000,0:08:01.000 because they have a high level of malnutrition 0:08:01.000,0:08:06.000 and that is really alarming, really alarming. 0:08:06.000,0:08:08.000 So, after that I decided 0:08:08.000,0:08:11.000 I get in touch with my uncle 0:08:11.000,0:08:14.000 who has dedicated roughly 40 years to social service 0:08:14.000,0:08:18.000 I said I had to work with him; I had to meet him 0:08:18.000,0:08:20.000 to brainstorm some ideas at the very least 0:08:20.000,0:08:21.000 and see what came out. 0:08:21.000,0:08:29.000 And I he told me about a plant, 0:08:29.000,0:08:34.000 a plant that has 3 times more protein per 100 grams than eggs, 0:08:34.000,0:08:36.000 it has 4 times more calcium than milk, 0:08:36.000,0:08:39.000 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 0:08:39.000,0:08:41.000 3 times more potassium than bananas, 0:08:41.000,0:08:46.000 and 2 times more iron than spinach. 0:08:46.000,0:08:48.000 How? 0:08:48.000,0:08:50.000 Incredible! 0:08:50.000,0:08:53.000 And besides this, he told me that 0:08:53.000,0:08:55.000 it's one of the fastest growing plants in the world; 0:08:55.000,0:09:00.000 it grows 3.5 meters every 9 months. 0:09:00.000,0:09:03.000 This is great! 0:09:03.000,0:09:05.000 Then he said "pay attention, this is very interesting" 0:09:05.000,0:09:09.000 if the seeds are cold pressed 0:09:09.000,0:09:13.000 - in other words put through a simple manual press - 0:09:13.000,0:09:16.000 oil can be obtained. 0:09:16.000,0:09:20.000 This oil has the same properties 0:09:20.000,0:09:23.000 as vegetable oil. What does this mean? 0:09:23.000,0:09:28.000 It means you can use it to cook. And what's so good about that? 0:09:28.000,0:09:29.000 The nutrients will be passed 0:09:29.000,0:09:32.000 from the oil to the food 0:09:32.000,0:09:35.000 this... this can't be. Well, 0:09:35.000,0:09:38.000 it's yet another excellent property of this plant. 0:09:38.000,0:09:40.000 Then he says "But that's not all, 0:09:40.000,0:09:43.000 after you press the seeds and obtain the oil 0:09:43.000,0:09:48.000 you'll be left with the skin, and in the middle of this skin 0:09:48.000,0:09:52.000 there's a thin layer that's very, very sticky 0:09:52.000,0:09:54.000 that brakes the skin when pressed 0:09:54.000,0:09:58.000 and becomes exposed." 0:09:58.000,0:10:02.000 He tells me that I can take a bucket of waste water, 0:10:02.000,0:10:07.000 river water, lake water, whatever is close to the community; 0:10:07.000,0:10:10.000 I can take the skin and put it in the bucket, 0:10:10.000,0:10:13.000 stir it for about ten minutes, 0:10:13.000,0:10:17.000 and this sticky substance makes the small particles of impurities, 0:10:17.000,0:10:22.000 14% of bacteria and the soil stick to it 0:10:22.000,0:10:27.000 so that when I remove the skin, all these impurities are removed with it 0:10:27.000,0:10:30.000 I won't get a bucket of drinking water, 0:10:30.000,0:10:33.000 but I will obtain a bucket of water suitable for washing containers, 0:10:33.000,0:10:36.000 for washing clothes, and for many other uses 0:10:36.000,0:10:39.000 that have developed in the community. 0:10:39.000,0:10:42.000 It's an incredible plant, it can't be true, and he tells me[br]"that's not all". 0:10:42.000,0:10:44.000 (Laughter) 0:10:44.000,0:10:47.000 I'm basically drooling, 0:10:47.000,0:10:53.000 He tells me "This plant is used in many countries 0:10:53.000,0:10:55.000 it's native to India, but it's used in many countries 0:10:55.000,0:10:58.000 where it is interspersed with other seeds". What does this mean? 0:10:58.000,0:11:02.000 Well, needless to say 0:11:02.000,0:11:07.000 if I'm growing Pimiento Chilies, for example, 0:11:07.000,0:11:12.000 I can plant Moringa oleifera trees in between the Pimiento Chilies 0:11:12.000,0:11:16.000 and during the dry season their roots have such a capacity 0:11:16.000,0:11:18.000 that they can store enough water 0:11:18.000,0:11:23.000 to feed the crops during the dry season. 0:11:23.000,0:11:25.000 This means that not only is the plant good for eating 0:11:25.000,0:11:29.000 but it also helps other crops to grow. 0:11:29.000,0:11:33.000 Impressive, I thought this was impressive. 0:11:33.000,0:11:35.000 From there 0:11:35.000,0:11:40.000 we decided to start the project. 0:11:40.000,0:11:42.000 I said "I've got to do something with this plant, now!" 0:11:42.000,0:11:48.000 and so we implemented it in Green Pack. 0:11:48.000,0:11:52.000 And it has been a way to trade 0:11:52.000,0:11:55.000 whilst being socially responsible. Why? 0:11:55.000,0:11:57.000 Because people are interested in showing our product 0:11:57.000,0:12:03.000 because it is very innovative and low cost 0:12:03.000,0:12:09.000 and here's where I give you the key word: It's sustainable 0:12:09.000,0:12:13.000 This plant foliates year-round 0:12:13.000,0:12:16.000 it continues to grow and produce seeds 0:12:16.000,0:12:23.000 and the results in the community have been outstanding! 0:12:23.000,0:12:29.000 The 3.5 meters that grow every 9 months did even better, 0:12:29.000,0:12:34.000 we managed 4 meters in 7 months. This is incredible! 0:12:34.000,0:12:37.000 The soil in Guatemala is very fertile 0:12:37.000,0:12:43.000 and it's obviously suited to growing this plant. 0:12:43.000,0:12:48.000 We introduced it using a very simple method, as I'm telling you. 0:12:48.000,0:12:53.000 I repeat: it's sustainable, low cost, 0:12:53.000,0:12:58.000 and uses a small amount of resources, yet it's effective. 0:12:58.000,0:13:01.000 We take the plant.... 0:13:01.000,0:13:04.000 we have more than 37 families currently enrolled in the 0:13:04.000,0:13:07.000 pilot scheme in San Basilio Suchitepéquez. 0:13:07.000,0:13:12.000 And this is just the beginning of what we intend to cover 0:13:12.000,0:13:17.000 across the entire region; it's a very, very simple system. 0:13:17.000,0:13:20.000 This is literally the first family 0:13:20.000,0:13:22.000 that we helped here in San Basilio 0:13:22.000,0:13:25.000 and, well, the clip that you see here is our film 0:13:25.000,0:13:28.000 it's biodegradable. So it's a social program 0:13:28.000,0:13:32.000 with no environmental impact, which is also very important 0:13:32.000,0:13:35.000 that's something we're very proud to be able to say. 0:13:35.000,0:13:39.000 We also produce a homemade fertilizer. 0:13:39.000,0:13:43.000 What does it include? It contains onions, garlic, 0:13:43.000,0:13:50.000 detergent for washing dishes, cigar tobacco. 0:13:50.000,0:13:55.000 A good use for tobacco, right? 0:13:55.000,0:14:02.000 Again, it's something that is very low cost 0:14:02.000,0:14:10.000 and it works. This is the first harvest 0:14:10.000,0:14:13.000 - we're already growing the plant here - 0:14:13.000,0:14:16.000 this is the first harvest that we were able to produce. 0:14:16.000,0:14:20.000 After approximately two months 0:14:20.000,0:14:23.000 we decided to implement a barrier... 0:14:23.000,0:14:24.000 because one of the problems we encountered 0:14:24.000,0:14:28.000 was that plagues of ants were eating the harvest[br]Just like any other project, 0:14:28.000,0:14:32.000 there are always flaws in the beginning.[br]But you have to correct them. 0:14:32.000,0:14:38.000 So we decided to introduce one of these biodegradable cups, 0:14:38.000,0:14:41.000 we cut it here and placed it around the stem 0:14:41.000,0:14:43.000 then filled it with fertilizer. 0:14:43.000,0:14:46.000 This means we can optimize the use of fertilizer 0:14:46.000,0:14:49.000 by only having it around the stem. 0:14:49.000,0:14:53.000 Water is also optimized[br]because only a certain area needs watering 0:14:53.000,0:14:59.000 We use 8 ounce cups,[br]which are watered with 8 ounces of water. 0:14:59.000,0:15:04.000 It is a really wonderful plant. Like I said, 0:15:04.000,0:15:08.000 this is the plant that, after 6 months, 0:15:08.000,0:15:13.000 had already reached a height greater than expected; 0:15:13.000,0:15:18.000 which meant that the project works. 0:15:18.000,0:15:22.000 So then, how is it used? 0:15:22.000,0:15:25.000 We teach workshops to the community on how to use the trees 0:15:25.000,0:15:30.000 and, well, the truth is they ended up giving me a workshop 0:15:30.000,0:15:31.000 on how to harvest 0:15:31.000,0:15:34.000 because obviously I'm not going to teach them how to harvest crops 0:15:34.000,0:15:37.000 when they have been doing this their entire lives. 0:15:37.000,0:15:40.000 So, it is a very simple process and everything is manual: 0:15:40.000,0:15:44.000 The plant is cut, and then left to dry for 4 days, 0:15:44.000,0:15:48.000 after exactly 4 days, it goes through a manual sieve 0:15:48.000,0:15:52.000 and it is sieved using a spoon. Simple. 0:15:52.000,0:15:54.000 This gives what is called 0:15:54.000,0:15:57.000 Moranga flour or Moringa flour. 0:15:57.000,0:16:00.000 This Moringa flour is what contains all the nutrients 0:16:00.000,0:16:04.000 that I told you about earlier 0:16:04.000,0:16:09.000 and this Moringa flour is used in meals typical to the community 0:16:09.000,0:16:14.000 such as tortillas, chicken soup, 0:16:14.000,0:16:19.000 and I'd like to tell you, it makes me very proud 0:16:19.000,0:16:23.000 to have reached the community, 0:16:23.000,0:16:26.000 and be greeted with chipilín and moringa tamales. 0:16:26.000,0:16:29.000 To see them using it and creating their own recipies 0:16:29.000,0:16:34.000 it was amazing, very amazing. 0:16:34.000,0:16:38.000 And, finally, the rationing of Moringa. 0:16:38.000,0:16:42.000 Why do we ration it?[br]Because we have strategic partners, 0:16:42.000,0:16:47.000 and I'll take this opportunity to thank New Guatemala, 0:16:47.000,0:16:49.000 through these partner foundations 0:16:49.000,0:16:53.000 we want to bring the Moringa to communities 0:16:53.000,0:16:57.000 where it cannot be grown, 0:16:57.000,0:16:59.000 because chronic malnutrition is a problem 0:16:59.000,0:17:00.000 not only where this plant grows 0:17:00.000,0:17:03.000 but throughout the entire country. 0:17:03.000,0:17:07.000 So we ration it, using biodegradable packaging as always. 0:17:07.000,0:17:09.000 (Laughter) 0:17:09.000,0:17:13.000 And so that is the reason we ration. 0:17:13.000,0:17:16.000 It makes me sad, very sad. 0:17:16.000,0:17:22.000 When I arrived in San Basilio,[br]I saw the Health Center looking like this... 0:17:22.000,0:17:28.000 it was desolate and abandoned, I don't know for how long 0:17:28.000,0:17:30.000 But, what happens to these health centers? 0:17:30.000,0:17:32.000 There's enough budget to buy Incaparina 0:17:32.000,0:17:34.000 for a period of 3 months, to buy protein, 0:17:34.000,0:17:37.000 to buy vitamin A and vitamin C 0:17:37.000,0:17:41.000 But, what happens after those 3 months? 0:17:41.000,0:17:46.000 Now there is no budget. And so it isn't followed up. 0:17:46.000,0:17:53.000 In my opinion there is a solution,[br]if you'll forgive the repetition, 0:17:53.000,0:17:59.000 a sustainable and low cost solution that can continue feeding 0:17:59.000,0:18:02.000 the community of San Basilio.[br]Not only that, 0:18:02.000,0:18:04.000 but it also generates a revenue for the community 0:18:04.000,0:18:07.000 The only way to get to San Basilio by car 0:18:07.000,0:18:14.000 requires over an hour's drive on a dirt track. 0:18:14.000,0:18:19.000 A very rough dirt track I might add, not just any path. 0:18:19.000,0:18:22.000 And so, no matter how much they harvest, 0:18:22.000,0:18:25.000 it is all used to feed themselves.[br]They don't sell anything, 0:18:25.000,0:18:30.000 because no one goes all the way there to buy things. 0:18:30.000,0:18:33.000 And that's our work, channelling sales 0:18:33.000,0:18:38.000 to generate income for the community 0:18:38.000,0:18:43.000 and transport the Moringa to other malnourished communities. 0:18:43.000,0:18:46.000 And I hope this is only the beginning of a project 0:18:46.000,0:18:52.000 that will include many regions in Guatemala, 0:18:52.000,0:18:55.000 because it's an ambitious project. 0:18:55.000,0:19:03.000 For me, it's a pleasure to bring opportunity to the community of San Basilio. 0:19:03.000,0:19:05.000 You must get to know the people of San Basilio. 0:19:05.000,0:19:10.000 I urge the companies and individuals present here today 0:19:10.000,0:19:14.000 to pay special attention 0:19:14.000,0:19:18.000 to corporate social responsibility 0:19:18.000,0:19:21.000 because if every company took action, 0:19:21.000,0:19:25.000 Guatemala would be different. 0:19:25.000,0:19:29.000 (Applause)[br]Thank you. 0:19:29.000,0:19:41.000 (Applause)