KING's Joins Nymphia's Wanli Beach Cleanup, Taking Action to Make a Difference

To support ocean conservation and environmental sustainability, KING's Solution brought together employees, partners, and friends who share the same values on August 15 to join a beach cleanup in Wanli, New Taipei City. The event was organized by world-renowned drag queen Nymphia Wind and HiiN Studio. Through this hands-on activity, we hoped to bring the idea of sustainability into everyday life.

With everyone working together, the event collected a total of 697 kilograms of marine waste. In addition to plastic fragments and Styrofoam, participants also found large and extremely heavy discarded fishing nets that required several people to move. KING's Solution CEO Charles Hsu, who joined the cleanup, shared: “You do not realize how heavy the waste is until you actually pull up a fishing net. And once you bend down and start picking things up, you realize that the trash is much closer to us than we think. It was a very powerful experience.”

Protecting the Environment Is Not Just About Saving Sea Turtles. It Is About Protecting Ourselves.

During the pre-event briefing, HiiN Studio also encouraged everyone to rethink the relationship between people and the environment. When we talk about ocean pollution, many people first think of sea turtles, hermit crabs, or other marine animals. But environmental problems eventually come back to affect our own lives. When plastic enters the environment and breaks down into smaller microplastics, it can return to us through water, the food chain, and our everyday surroundings. Environmental protection is not something far away from us. It is connected to the choices we make every day.

The Real Problem Is Not One Plastic Bag

Taking one plastic bag may not seem like a big deal. The real problem is when we keep taking “just one more plastic bag” again and again. Environmental impact usually does not come from a single use. It comes from the accumulation of small habits over time. Instead of expecting ourselves to be perfect all at once, a more practical idea is this: use something because you need it, not simply because it is free.

Many single-use items are easy to get and often free, so people may take them without really needing them. But “free” does not mean there is no cost. Manufacturing, transportation, waste treatment, and the possible environmental and health impacts all create costs that society eventually has to bear. One message from the event left a strong impression on many participants: “Free can be the most expensive, because in the end, you may pay for it through your health.”

You Do Not Need to Become an Environmental Expert. Doing a Little Less Is Already a Good Start.

One reason environmental action can feel difficult is that people often think, “If I cannot do it perfectly, why do it at all?” But the message of this event was exactly the opposite. No one is asking everyone to stop drinking bottled water completely, never use a plastic bag again, or become an environmental expert overnight.

If you truly need something, use it. But when you do not need it, could you choose not to take one? If you regularly drink bottled water, maybe you do not need to stop completely. Perhaps you can simply drink one bottle less each week. One less plastic bag, one less bottle of water — being more aware already makes a difference. “Doing something is better than doing nothing.”

Environmental action does not have to begin with something difficult. For example, bringing your own utensils when eating out is a simple and practical step. Your own utensils are often the cleanest ones you can use. This does not mean everyone must completely stop ordering takeout or using disposable tableware. It simply means giving yourself another option. When we make small changes to our habits, we can reduce unnecessary waste.

Do not put too much pressure on yourself. Start by changing one small habit at a time. When more and more people make these small changes, the impact can become significant.

Why Reducing Waste at the Source Matters

A beach cleanup can make the shoreline cleaner in a single day, but if nothing changes at the source, waste can quickly return. Cleaning up trash is only the first step. More importantly, we need to think about how to reduce waste generation, improve sorting quality, and return recyclable materials to the right circular system.

One beach cleanup cannot solve the entire problem of marine waste, but it can help people see the issue more clearly. Protecting our blue planet does not always require a huge action. Today, you can bend down and pick up one piece of trash. Tomorrow, you can choose not to take one unnecessary plastic bag. And next time you go out, you can remember to bring your own water bottle and utensils.

Every Purchase Is a Vote for the World You Want

Writer and educator Anna Lappé once said: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”

Sustainability does not only happen during a beach cleanup. What we buy, what we use, whether we need single-use products, whether we choose reusable items, and whether we support companies that are willing to invest in environmental improvement are all choices. Every dollar we spend also influences what kind of products the market will continue to create.

Whether or not we can change the entire world, what truly matters is whether we are willing to take action to make it better. Start with one choice, and step by step, we can move closer to the kind of world we want to live in.