How parenthood made this new dad reconsider his plastic consumption and our culture of convenience
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When Stuart Gillies became a father, life got a lot busier — and immediately, he and his wife began to rely on whatever was most convenient.
“It became quite clear that we craved convenience. Convenience was on the top of our list of what we needed in the world at that particular time,” he said.
Suddenly, the couple from Squamish, B.C., were launched into a world of disposable diapers, food, clothing and other products.
And with that new reliance came a concern fuelled by their newfound roles as parents.
“We had our child and it became very relevant… our impact on the future and what kind of world we are living for the next generation.”
So, Gillies began a journey to better understand his contribution to plastic pollution — a journey that’s been documented in the new film Creatures of Convenience.
Gillies wanted to learn what consequences his lifestyle of convenience was having on the planet and how he could alter its trajectory.
“It’s the way our society is kind of set up. We’re kind of guided to have convenience and businesses want us to have convenience because then it feels good to us as human beings,” he said.
“And I think the impact of our convenient lifestyle isn’t necessarily always obvious.”
