You may know Camille behind the Girl Go Green Instagram account, which talks about ecology with humor and kindness. Today, Camille is working on many other fronts, always on the green side of the force: non-profit projects, MOOCs, songs, short films... Yet, not long ago, her professional career was far removed from these values. Discover how she brought coherence back to her life, her inspirations, and her projects in this interview.
To start
🎤 Introduce yourself in a few words
My name is Camille Chaudron, I live in Paris and I am an eco-activist. I started a zero-waste journey 6 years ago, which gradually led me towards more activism.
My goal is to try, on my small scale, to contribute to changing consumption patterns and mindsets towards more resilient, sustainable, and solidarity-based societies. To do this, I devote all my time, energy, and creativity to raising awareness about environmental and social issues and the solutions that exist to address them. I give talks, provide corporate consulting, run zero-waste workshops, create content on my Girl Go Green Instagram page, write protest songs, and recently I have started making audiovisual productions to tell new stories.
My latest short film: Collapsolove
Basically, I like to describe myself as an explorer of ecological lifestyles, a storyteller of new narratives, an awakener of consciences, or even a match on the fuse of commitment.
🎤 Tell us your story, how did you end up where you are today?
I had a very classic French elitist background, going through a preparatory class then a business school. From school on, I never felt like I belonged, and this unease worsened when I started working in large agri-food groups.
I tried to change things from within by proposing more sustainable, more ecological, less impactful solutions in my positions as an innovation manager, but in the end, I exhausted myself trying to move big machines that did not see the urgency of changing "the way we have always done it". My cognitive dissonance between my personal commitment and what I did on a daily basis became too great and too heavy to bear, so I left. I took a year to train myself, to read everything I could, to go to every possible and imaginable conference, to go work on permaculture and agroecology farms, I launched my Instagram page. I worked a lot in associations as a volunteer and then came a time when I felt legitimate enough to speak out and make it my job.
Her experiences
🎤 What pushed you to write an open letter "I have never been so useful to society... than when I was unemployed"?
I wanted the view on this period of unemployment, which was so beneficial and useful, to change! When you are not forced to work to survive (I was privileged, I was receiving unemployment benefits), then our mental load lightens and we can put part of our time at the service of society. I wanted to show that a world where universal basic income exists could be a wonderful world of commitment, solidarity, and allow us to move faster towards an ecological and social transition.
🎤 What impact did the publication of your open letter have on your life?
It above all gave me confidence that my voice was legitimate, that I had things to say and that when I dared to say them, they resonated with many people!
And it felt good to know that, it gave me the courage to start over and move forward.
🎤 Did you get feedback from professionals, about actions they put in place, after following your MOOC*?
You should ask the Future of Waste association which initiated and launched this MOOC, I only lent them a hand.
But yes, there were many professionals who followed it and festivals around the world that started a zero-waste approach: it's crazy!
* MOOC intended for professionals in tourism and events to adopt more sustainable practices and reduce their waste.
🎤 Tell us about one or more associations that are close to your heart.
Oh, there are many...
I admire the groundwork done by Notre Affaire à Tous by leading the Affair of the Century. I am fascinated by the work of Sea Shepherd. I feel very close to GreenPeace, Alternatiba and On Est Prêt whom I regularly help, I have a special crush on ANV COP 21 which trained me in civil disobedience and YOUTH FOR CLIMATE gives me a strength of hope in the future.
🎤 The most striking association experience you have lived?
It was when I participated in the action Let's Block the Republic of Polluters which was led jointly by several of the associations mentioned above.
I voluntarily handcuffed myself in the Total tower at La Défense in Paris for 10 hours with other people I didn't know.
Her projects
🎤 The 5 accomplishments/events you are most proud of since the beginning of your new life?
⭐ Having participated in the civil disobedience action Let's Block the Republic of Polluters
⭐ Having written a song during the action Let's Block the Republic of Polluters which since has been covered in action by Extinction Rebellion (heart to them)
⭐ Having co-written and co-directed the 48H short film Collapsolove which was awarded at the international festival of very short films
⭐ Having directed the music video of the song I had written Karaocup
⭐ Having an incredibly committed community on Instagram that I love so much
🎤 What are your resolutions or goals before the end of the year?
◼️ Make films for 1 month at the cinema training I will take with l'Atelier 7
◼️ Start a project to build a Tiny van or a converted van (the previous one left with the van's dad after we broke up)
🎤 What are your future projects? A vegetable garden or a farm in Paris?
I am already going to try to keep my balcony garden alive this summer 😉
But yes I nurture the dream of co-building an eco-place with other motivated people after doing a tour of France of alternatives (eco-places, oases, third places etc...)
Camille and brands
🎤 Your favorite object, accessory or piece of clothing?
I think I don't have one. I am not very materialistic so for me objects are mostly useful. What is most useful to me today is my phone. So there, my second-hand phone.
🎤 What are your favorite articles or brands on Meanwhile Boutique?
I loooove Candides and I am a total fan of the Sans Prétention bodysuit.
Discover eco-responsible cosmetics and ethical lingerie on Meanwhile Boutique.
🎤 3 other committed brands to share?
My best reco: sobriety and second hand! But if you want brands:
🔹 In cosmetics I really like Oden, oOlution, Matière Brute, Clémence and Vivien available in a guide on my Instagram page.
🔹 I love the zero-waste creations of Retour-o-Naturel and ZoEssentiels
🔹 In fashion: the sweaters from l'Envers Fashion which kept me warm all winter and with summer I wear the dresses from les Jupons de Louison
But for me the real fashion must-haves are the Réjeanne period panties 😃
🎤 What are your criteria to support a brand?
That it is coherent and ticks the maximum of criteria! We cannot tick them all but we can be in a permanent logic of improvement.
At the moment
🎤 3 zero-waste actions that we don't talk about enough according to you?
The zero-waste actions that we don't talk about enough are the non-"visible" zero-waste ones like:
▪️ Becoming vegetarian, vegan or greening your diet
▪️ Changing bank to put your savings in an ethical bank or in investments for virtuous projects
▪️ Stopping taking the plane
🎤 The Parisian spots that you missed the most during this lockdown?
The parks!!! And la Recyclerie, la Cité fertile, les grand voisins, le shakirail, the station and all the alternative, self-managed places where you can get out of Paris.
🎤 What is the last work (book, film, podcast… personal development or not) that marked you and why?
The film Woman at War marked me a lot because it is a beautiful example of resistance and what we can do alone/with others. I won't say more because otherwise I will spoil.
To conclude
🎤 Last question, what would you say to the YOU of 10 years ago?
That nothing beats the feeling of feeling aligned. Fuck the judgment of others, do what you want and what you believe in, and from there the magic of life will work to support you when you find yourself in your right place with the right energy.
🎤 A person to introduce us, a message to share to end this interview?
I am reading the book by @mellebene La révolution du potager and I can only recommend it (the book but also her Instagram account) !
And my final word:
Let's put dance in our resistance in order to bring joyful revolutions!
Thank you to Camille for her kindness and her availability. If you want advice on fashion or the vegetable garden while laughing, follow Camille on Instagram: Girl Go Green, Youtube : Girl go green, Twitter : Girl go green
If you want to know more about the brand chosen by Camille, here is the selection of all their products:
