YouBamboo as a business has been around for a couple years now but has only ever sold a few different pieces, and hasn’t really had much direction. That was before the YOU Movement came along… I took over YouBamboo with a vision that it could be so much more than it was, and with a vision that it could be so much more than just a company. Here’s the story from my point of view…
My name is Jack Bennett, I am the part-owner and Managing Director of YouBamboo and I’m 19. I have always had a passion for the natural world, even from a young age, and so when I was eight years old I jumped at the opportunity to take part in a sailing race across the North Atlantic Ocean. As amazing as the experience was, it was somewhat ruined by the fact that plastic waste and miniature islands of rubbish made up the view for the majority of the journey. Could you imagine how incredibly upsetting a sight that was for someone so young and excited by the environment? A child who was expecting to see flying fish and to conquer crazy storms was instead met with empty, floating man-made bottles! Well since then, I have consistently been involved in activities and conversations that would allow me to make some difference.
I managed a small eco-friendly candle company when I was 16, I have helped to support wildlife foundations at any opportunity possible, and I have also worked with environmental leaders around the globe, including his excellency President Nasheed, a truly inspirational man. However, despite all this, my real dream is to create something that people can actively get involved in so that we can all work together in order to do better for ourselves, our people and our planet.
When I was given the opportunity to take charge of YouBamboo I saw a potential chance to finally put this dream into action. The planet-sustaining properties that bamboo possesses, and the fantastic products we can make from it, have shown me that this dream is indeed achievable. I can finally take the beauty I see in nature, put it into something people can fall in love with, and make sure that we preserve this beauty all at the same time.
