In conversation with Cyrill Gutsch, founder of Parley

This year, our Global Open Call, titled ‘Tree of Life: a Love letter to Nature’ centers on the theme of human and nature's interconnection. In much of the Western world, there's a noticeable drift from nature, often placing ourselves above it, a mindset that has contributed significantly to the environmental crises we encounter today. In contrast, Indigenous communities have always shown a deep reverence for nature, presenting an alternative viewpoint. They perceive humans as integral elements of nature's web, promoting a life in harmony rather than dominance. Their wisdom lights the way towards genuine sustainability and mutual respect. The theme for this year acts as a thoughtful nudge to reconsider our bond with the natural realm. The Tree of Life stands as a symbol of our interconnectedness with the environment, underscoring the profound links that connect us with our planet. Embracing this theme, we seek to alter the prevailing narrative. It involves recognising our non-superiority to nature and understanding that exploiting our environment is not just erroneous but unsustainable. Through the artworks and narratives contributed to this open call, we aim to foster a shift towards more empathetic, respectful, and sustainable engagements with our surroundings.

Partnering with Parley, a leading global environmental organisation, was a natural progression for us. Parley has established itself as a collaborative network that brings together creatives, environmental specialists, and thinkers all dedicated to the conservation of our oceans. Their primary mission revolves around repurposing human-made materials, transforming them into both functional and aesthetically pleasing products. This goal is supported by a broad environmental education initiative that bridges educators, experts, and the youth. Additionally, their art program focuses on leveraging creativity to highlight environmental issues, alongside partnerships with researchers and scientists aimed at pioneering new materials and conservation methods for the oceans and their ecosystems.

In conversations with Cyrill Gutsch, the founder of Parley, we delved into the organization's objectives, his aspirations for the future, the hurdles they face, and how their collaboration with PhotoVogue aligns with and enhances our mutual goals.

Cyrill, could you share the story behind the founding of Parley for the Oceans and what personally motivated you to focus on the protection of our oceans?

Parley started 12 years ago in a meeting with Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd. He was arrested in Germany, and I was there visiting. We met, we spoke, and I learned that the legacy of my generation could be that we leave behind a dead sea. That was such a shock, especially since nobody was discussing it. That same day we turned our design firm into an environmental organization and impact network, what is now Parley for the Oceans.

The initial idea was to create peace. The idea was to push the creative community to the center of a revolution, a material revolution. And that is the direction we are still working towards. Collaborating with the most creative, innovative and scientifically motivated people in our network to ultimately end the service for a destructive economy.

Parley has been at the forefront of addressing major environmental issues such as plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. How do you describe Parley's approach to tackling these challenges, and what makes it unique?

At Parley we aim to be a network, a collaboration space that is rapidly transforming the economy. We can speak about nature, about charity, about sustainability, but at the end of the day it's the way we are doing business that is destroying our planet.

Parley is all about collaboration. The concept of being fear-driven as a society and clinging to old technology is outdated. Our approach to operating businesses is vision-based, driven by new technologies and materials. What sets us apart is our belief in collaborating not only with humans, but also collaborating with nature at eye level. Nature is true high tech. And it’s something that we need to work with rather than against. Which is what we are doing now with all of our partners and creative collaborators.

How does Parley's vision align with the theme "The Tree of Life: A Love Letter to Nature"? What do you hope to achieve through this collaboration?

The environmental movement is so visual now. From plastic pollution around the globe, to real life Blade Runner, apocalyptic scenes in New York [last year].We have all the key visuals we need. We have learned over decades from cinematic films and imagery how the future of humanity could look. And now we are actually living in it and now it's time to switch. Switch from fear to vision and empowerment.

This collaboration will hopefully invite creatives from around the world to truly go out and get in touch with nature, through art. And through their art, we hope to reach bigger corporations, businesses and show them what we are fighting for and understand why we are bringing this to their attention. Why we must find empathy for the natural world, because it's not even about nature at this point. It's about human survival.

The Role of Art and Photography in Environmental Advocacy — You've mentioned that photography and film are key to making Parley's vision a reality. Could you elaborate on the power of visual media in driving environmental consciousness and action?

Parley for the Oceans was founded in the heart of the art community, with early supporters like Julian Schnabel and Ed Ruscha creating new work in solidarity with our organization and our cause. To me, there is nothing stronger, faster, better than fashion, art, and design to transform society because the creative community touches the heart.

Artwork can play an important role in supporting a movement like Parley’s for fundraising, communication, and building doors to subject matters which can otherwise be difficult for people to understand. Visual media and film especially are key to evoking emotion and driving forward the new and the innovative.

In your journey with Parley, what have been some of the most significant challenges you've faced, and how have they shaped the organization's strategies?

A majority of environmental issues we are facing today are caused by corporations. You can protest and not buy their products, but this is difficult. We depend on the products that they make – but we know that they are destroying our planet. It is difficult for such established companies to innovate, to find alternatives to leather and fur, to plastic, to dyes and prints.

These challenges have helped us scale our strategy by going out and finding these larger brands that believe in our mission and are willing to commit to work together. To help them innovate new products and materials. And invest in a new business model by investing in nature.

Can you highlight one or two Parley projects that you feel have made a significant impact on protecting the oceans and promoting environmental stewardship?

Our largest and longest, ongoing initiative is our Global Cleanup Network, which is focussing on much more than just cleaning up. At Parley we believe that community solutions are essential. Since 2015, we have activated 1 million participants in cleanups and education programs across 57 countries.

This past year the Parley Maldives team hosted Maldives for the Oceans to honor World Oceans Day, which quickly became the nation’s largest ever day of environmental action. The initiative brought together roughly half the population of the Maldives across 275 islands for beach cleanups, underwater cleanups, and an Ocean Lesson broadcast online and on national TV. Alongside efforts by hundreds of Maldivian schools, resorts, businesses and communities, a huge number of individuals around the world pledged their solidarity and support, committing to take action by signing the Ocean Pledge.

Looking ahead, what new initiatives or areas of focus is Parley exploring to further its mission?

The three main components of the Parley ecosystem are Parley Ocean School (education), Parley Ocean Defense, and Parley Future Material. We continue to create educational platforms and access to those who typically wouldn’t have the knowledge; have programs in over 30 countries that are working on the frontlines to intercept plastic and marine debris from coastlines; and now we are really trying to focus on a fully transparent, material revolution. That is intercepting and recycling the most harmful materials on the planet — plastic waste, e-waste, and carbon dioxide. Now we are trying to push it further. To go back to nature. To partner with influential biomaterial companies, like we have with Bananatex, to push the envelope even further on using natural, non-toxic, non-harmful materials to replace plastic and create new products that will create harmony with the environment.

What advice would you give to artists and photographers who want to use their work to advocate for the environment and contribute to the global movement for nature conservation?

I think the main thing to understand is that innovation is not just one road. It's an open process. That’s the beauty in it and that's the danger. Failure can actually be the biggest success. I have always found inspiration in failure. When things fall apart, there’s space for the new and an urgent opportunity to rebuild. I truly believe we are at a turning point in the story of humankind. But to succeed in changing everything, we first need to feel what’s happening — to grieve what we are losing and fall in love with the beauty that we can still protect. We need to reconnect to nature, and actually talk to one another. Together is the only way we can do that. It’s the only way forward.

For our readers who are interested in taking actionable steps, could you explain the Parley AIR Pledge and how individuals and communities can get involved?

The Parley AIR Pledge, aligned with the Parley AIR Strategy, encourages individuals and communities to commit to avoiding single-use plastics and other harmful products, intercepting plastic before it enters waterways and natural ecosystems, and supporting the redesign of products and practices for eco-innovation. Those taking the pledge commit to making conscious choices to reduce personal plastic consumption, engaging in or supporting clean-up initiatives, and advocating for eco-friendly alternatives. Communities can further contribute by organizing educational campaigns, participating in clean-up events, and promoting sustainable practices in your local community. By collectively embracing the Parley AIR Pledge, individuals and communities become active participants in the global effort to combat plastic pollution and ultimately, protect our oceans.

Lastly, the collaboration between Parley and PhotoVogue is a testament to the power of partnerships in amplifying environmental messages. How do you see the role of such collaborations evolving in the future, particularly in the context of environmental protection and sustainability?

The more you learn and the closer you look, you see that all of nature is interconnected. The oceans and the water cycle serve up this vast and beautiful reminder that we’re not separate from the environment or each other, we’re all bound together. It seems so obvious then that things would start to click into place when we start sharing knowledge and listening to each other. The threats we are facing impact every living species on this planet. For environmentalism to break through its echo chambers, we need everyone. At this point, collaboration is a survival imperative.