The Real Environmental Heroes
The Ship & Battery Recycling Hero: Wayne Elliott
Largest ISO Certified Ship Recycler in North America
Innovator of Alkaline Battery Recycling (Sold to Blackrock)
Owner of Canada’s Largest Natural Health Products Company
Pioneering sustainable ship recycling, battery recycling and natural health solutions.
For two decades, and spending over $20 million, holding on to a strong belief
that environmental awareness and regulations would eventually catch up
with his mission. That belief was ultimately validated. His company won
a long-term government contract.
Stephen Mayfield had an epiphany! While he had been doing similar science all along, creating a tangible product made his work more relatable to the public. People outside of the academic world could now understand and appreciate his efforts. Even his mother, who had previously struggled to understand the nature of his research, called to tell him that she finally knew what he did for a living.
The Bio-Revolution Hero: Stephen Mayfield
From Algae to Action
Leading the bio-revolution with compostable plastics and
sustainable footwear through Algenesis and Blue View.
The Sustainable Water Systems Hero:
Kevin Gast
Water Tech for a Wiser Tomorrow
Engineering clean, energy-efficient water systems that
power a greener future with VVater.
The company has developed a breakthrough water treatment technology and recently won the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 Best in Innovation Award. CES recognition is one of the most esteemed accolades for groundbreaking technology.
To eliminating plastic waste, we must find alternative materials to replace some of the plastic in everyday products. At Okeanos, Larry and his team have discovered a way to do just that by substituting calcium carbonate, essentially finely pulverized stone, for a portion of the plastic used in packaging.
The Plastic-Free Innovation Hero:
Larry Wyman
Reinventing Plastics with Stone
Co-creating Okeanos, a revolutionary material that
replaces plastic with sustainable stone.
The New Coral Hero: Gator Halpern
Growing New Coral Really Fast
He won the Earthshot Prize,
awarded by Prince William, and recognition as a
United Nations Young Champion of the Earth.
Their approach parallels the principles of reforestation; by cultivating coral in innovative land-based farms, they can grow and nurture coral species before reintroducing them into the ocean.
Ready to Meet the Real Environmentalists?
These heroes aren’t just talking – they’re building, innovating, and transforming our planet for good.
Dive deeper into their groundbreaking work in The Real Environmentalists – a book about action, not activism.