The clean-ocean crusader
Meet the UQ Create Change Young Achiever award-winner who's on a mission to reduce plastic waste
Ned Heaton’s family love camping, and they have one simple rule: leave the place better than you found it.
Unfortunately, the 14-year-old Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) student said he learned early in life that many others seemingly chose not to follow that rule.
“My family has always gone camping once or twice a year on the beach of Mulgumpin, in the Moreton Island National Park. It’s pure wilderness, but we’d see plastic bags and other plastic items washed up on the beach,” Ned said.
“My parents are organic farmers and have a deep respect for the natural environment, so they would always stop to pick them up so they wouldn’t end up in the ocean.
Ned Heaton displays the shocking amount of plastic toothbrushes washed on the ocean during a beach clean-up in the Moreton Bay National Park. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
Ned Heaton displays the shocking amount of plastic toothbrushes washed on the ocean during a beach clean-up in the Moreton Bay National Park. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
“Over the years, this led to my whole family spending a day or two every trip just collecting plastic rubbish from the beach – and there was a lot!
“Every year it was the same – or worse – and over time, we’d also find dead animals like turtles and sea birds washed up on the beach.
“One of the surprising things we’d find was plastic toothbrushes, which looked like they’d been in the ocean a long time.”
This sight stuck with Ned, and so he has spent the last four years of his childhood on a mission to reduce ocean plastics and to educate people of the global pollution threat.
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Founding The Turtle Tribe at the age of 11, his organisation is now one of Australia’s largest suppliers of bamboo toothbrushes.
Ned said he came up with the idea for The Turtle Tribe after his parents enrolled him in a course called Youth In Business.
“The organisers encouraged kids to start a business around something they were passionate about. So, I started selling environmentally friendly products, including bamboo toothbrushes,” Ned said.
“I began offering a free bamboo toothbrush to customers to attract them to my business and, as my volumes grew, I travelled to China to meet with suppliers and developed a range of Turtle Tribe branded products.
“I give 10 per cent of all profits to my charity partner, Ocean Crusaders, and I now have a national wholesaler and national supply contracts with two major aged-care providers.”
While there is still a long way to go, Ned said he is proud of the impact The Turtle Tribe has made in the fight against plastic pollution in the oceans.
“When I started, you couldn’t buy bamboo toothbrushes in supermarkets, and now you can. Single-use plastics weren't banned, and now many are,” he said.
“Things are going in the right direction.”
Despite his young age, Ned has made regular appearances on television, radio and social media channels, and has been invited as a guest speaker at various events, such as the Australian National Sustainability Conference and CitySmart Queensland Government Climate Week.
In 2019, his short film Twice a Day, Every Day won best film at the Cicada Film Festival, which showcases young filmmakers and their passion for the environment.
The Turtle Tribe bamboo toothbrushes. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
Ned’s achievements have also been recognised with various awards. In 2019, he was named Youth in Business Entrepreneur of the Year, while in 2020 he was a finalist in the 7News Young Achiever Awards for Small Business Achievement.
This year, Ned took out the prestigious UQ Create Change Young Achiever Award.
The Create Change Awards recognise young people who are driving activities, programs and initiatives that promote or create change. They also acknowledge and celebrate the commitment young people make in participating in positive activities that empower change locally, nationally or internationally.
UQ Director of Student Employability Dr Dino Willox was a member of the Create Change Awards selection committee and said the committee was impressed by Ned’s passion and commitment, as well as his evident star-status.
Ned Heaton with his UQ Create Change Young Achiever Award. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
“Often, there can be an adult in the background encouraging their child – which isn’t a bad thing – but Ned is the driving force here,” Dr Willox said.
“Some selection committee members had heard him speak previously and were blown away by his ability to connect with and enthuse a crowd.”
Dr Willox said Ned was recognised as someone who embodies the values of the Create Change Awards.
“Ned has seen something that he believes strongly in, and has decided that it’s up to him to act.
“The award shows that his passion and influence are not only recognised and supported within his community, but that this impact has global potential by raising his voice through UQ’s local, national, and global networks.”
The Turtle Tribe bamboo toothbrushes. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
The Turtle Tribe bamboo toothbrushes. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
Ned Heaton with his UQ Create Change Young Achiever Award. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
Ned Heaton with his UQ Create Change Young Achiever Award. Image courtesy of The Turtle Tribe
For Ned, the best thing about winning awards is the attention it brings to his mission and the media interest it generates.
"I take every opportunity to talk about the problem and empower people to be part of the solution,” he said.
“It’s really not that difficult. We all need to avoid using throw-away plastics.
“By 2050, scientists predict there’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish, and we can’t let that happen.”
Ned Heaton's children's book, called Say No to Plastic!, will be published this year.
Ned Heaton's children's book, called Say No to Plastic!, will be published this year.
Ned now has his sights set on educating the younger generation, with The Turtle Tribe due to release a children’s book later this year called Say NO to Plastic!
“We are planning on using the book to start an education campaign in primary schools around Australia,” he said.
“We’ve also got a petition to submit to the Environment Minister to get plastic toothbrushes banned, and will continue to work with our corporate, wholesale and retail partners to make bamboo toothbrushes lower priced and more widely available, so more Aussies can make the switch.”
UQ Regional Roadshow: Moreton Bay
As part of the UQ Regional Roadshow in Moreton Bay, we'll take you on an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at UQ's world-leading marine research hub, the Moreton Bay Research Station. Take a deep dive into the marine conservation work happening at the research station, experience hands-on activities, and learn something new from resident experts at this stunning location, which is only a short drive and ferry ride from Brisbane.
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