Merijn Tinga

About Merijn Tinga

One person can indeed make a difference

Merijn Tinga is a biologist, surfer, and environmental activist. As a Plastic Soup Surfer, he has been conducting actions and expeditions for over ten years to make the harmful effects of plastic pollution visible and to change legislation.

His campaigns are a mix of activism, creativity, and perseverance. He has surfed hundreds of kilometers on self-built boards made from plastic waste, organized lawsuits, and initiated the so-called awareness exploit to hold producers accountable. With success: thanks in part to his actions, a deposit system was introduced for small plastic bottles (2021) and cans (2023). In 2023, he windsurfed 1,800 kilometers from Oslo to London to symbolically return a washed-up British bottle to the British government. A year later, he undertook a journey from London to Paris, where he spoke with Mayor Anne Hidalgo. In 2025, he embarked on another heroic expedition: 1,250 kilometers paddling, walking, and surfing from Paris to Nice, where Hidalgo pledged to advocate for the introduction of a deposit system in France.

In addition to the well-known expeditions, Merijn also conducts small-scale and creative actions. Together with Dirk Groot, he forms the Plastic Avengers, with whom they run campaigns to highlight the role of plastic in litter. For instance, there was Operation Straw, which aimed to draw attention to plastic drink covers with straws that often end up on the streets after use. During the Trash Bin Count Day, they demonstrated how many trash bins are broken into by deposit hunters and what types of waste end up in public spaces as a result. With Operation Backtrack, they campaigned against the weakening of existing plastic measures, calling for these to be tightened instead. And with Operation Good Bag, they are currently mapping the many plastic bread bags that are primarily discarded around supermarkets and stations.

Additionally, Merijn hosts the podcast Trash Talk, where he engages in conversations with experts and pioneers in the field of sustainability. Although plastic pollution often serves as the starting point, the discussions go deeper and touch on broader sustainability issues. He also conducts research on litter risks: with specially developed indicators, it becomes visible how to-go packaging ends up on the streets and how these risks can be addressed already in the design process of packaging.

Merijn has published two books. His latest, Against the Current (just released in September 2025), weaves his expeditions and campaigns with personal reflections on leadership, perseverance, and social change. His message is powerful and simple: change begins with action, and every individual or organization can make a difference.

Keynotes & Presentations

Merijn Tinga is a captivating storyteller. His keynotes combine adventurous expeditions with lessons in leadership, change, and social responsibility. Each presentation is filled with visuals, personal experiences, and practical insights.

His presentations are suitable for companies, governments, and social organizations seeking inspiration to demonstrate leadership and initiate change.