Amber Valletta has taken the initiative in various spheres to promote sustainability on a global scale. Environmental conservation is a top priority for her.
Valletta moved to California when her son was just six months old. She worked with NGOs (non-government organizations) there, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which works to cut carbon emissions and expand clean energy. She also partnered with Oceana, a large international ocean conservation organization, on its Seafood Contamination Campaign. Valletta’s ongoing commitment to sustainability caught the attention of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she was named Sustainability Ambassador. Today, she serves as contributing editor at British Vogue, offering ways to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, from beauty to interior design.
This week, Valletta hosted the United Nation’s annual conference on World Oceans Day (June 8). The event brought together speakers from over 20 countries to discuss the state of our blue planet. “This year, the theme is revitalization,” explains Oceanic Global founder Lea d’Auriol. “It’s about collective action for the ocean, but also making sure that we’re addressing the climate nexus from a sense of regeneration, looking at how people can proactively be involved in delivering these solutions since so much of the narrative has been so overwhelmingly negative.”
During her opening speech, Valletta addressed two of the most pressing issues facing the ocean: plastic pollution and increased acidification. She spoke about the vital role that the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth, but also acknowledged that there is still hope for improving human awareness and engagement with the sea.
Valletta is also advocating for tighter government regulations to protect the ocean’s health. For instance, she is lobbying for more stringent laws regarding the use of plastics in cosmetics packaging. “The beauty industry can do so much,” she says. “First and foremost, [it should] phase out all plastics and make all containers biodegradable and refillable.” In this spirit, Valletta is a big advocate for brands adopting aluminum or glass packaging as much as possible, in addition to rethinking the chemicals that are put into their formulations.
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