Andy Pag

Andy Pag is the Eco-Adventurer that drove a chocolate powered lorry to Timbuktu. This unique form of propulsion was the first big step on Andy’s personal journey to living sustainably, and the start of an experiment to prove that being green doesn’t mean giving up the things we love doing.

An award winning Journalist, TV Producer and Engineer, Andy Pag has lived out more boys-own adventures than most of us care to dream of, from being shot at by Senegalese bandits to being spoilt with Farrero Roche by the British Ambassador in Athens.

After 12 years of leading vehicle based expeditions to the remotest parts of the Africa and the Sahara Desert, his encounters and experiences have inspired him to change the elements of his life that were creating an unsustainable drain on the planets resources.

In 2007, Andy Pag researched renewable fuel technology that could power his travels, and converted 4 tonnes of waste cocoa butter into 2000ltrs of biodiesel to fuel the intrepid mission from London to Timbuktu, which was independently certified as the first ever carbon negative expedition. Now his status as tree-hugger and a petrol-head sit comfortably alongside each other.

In 2008, he launched the Grease to Greece Rally where teams have to drive across Europe powered only by waste vegetable oil that they scavenge from burger bars along the way. This inspiring eco-rally has encouraged hundreds of people to try sustainable fuels in their car.

The Bio-Truck Expedition:

Is it possible to drive around the world using rubbish? Apparently it is…

Andy bought an old school bus from a scrap yard and with the help of friends, got it running, refurbished the inside into an eco-home using reclaimed materials, and converted the engine to run on used cooking oil, to see if he could drive around the world using things that others have thrown away.

In September 2009, Andy Pag set off from London, England, heading east and about two years later he made it back to the UK. All of the fuel used had been made from sources of other peoples’ waste.

His eco-projects have drawn the attentions of millions around the world as he shows how living sustainably doesn’t mean calling a halt to everyday life.

Keynote Speaker:

Andy is an expert in communicating the science and sociology of sustainable energy, but can also change a lorry clutch by the side of the road with a couple of old spanners and a piece of rope!

His fascinating talks combine tales of derring-do with an inspiring message that inspire us all to live more sustainably.

An engaging and entertaining speaker, Andy speaks on topics such as:

• Sustainability
• The Environment
• Teamwork and engaging with Communities across Cultures
• Embracing Change
• Travel & Transport
• Science: can we travel without fossil fuels?

Andy’s talks are tailored for each event but often include:

Sustainability:

Is it possible to find a practical way to travel sustainably?  Andy Pag shares the successes and failures of his entertaining eco-adventures with a thought-provoking and uplifting undercurrent.

From turning four tonnes of waste chocolate into fuel to travel across the Sahara Desert to starting a fire under his vehicle to melt frozen cooking oil in the centre of Tehran, the lessons haven’t always been easy.

Facing a Challenge & Tough Times:

Locked up in an Indian prison over a bureaucratic mix-up, facing ten years in jail, sleeping on a cold stone floor sandwiched between a murderer and a squat toilet… Andy Pag’s two year journey around the world wasn’t going to plan.

Mechanical breakdowns of his Biotruck fuelled on chip fat dogged the expedition.  It almost came to an end when he ran out of fuel in a country where they don’t eat fries.  Andy shares the upsides of the downs in a funny and lively talk that reveals his insights into staying motivated and finding the silver lining.

Teamwork & Community (Engaging with the World):

After years of searching for sustainable ways to travel, eco-experimenter Andy Pag embarked on a journey so ambitious, it was bound to end in disaster. Strangely it didn’t.

Andy puts the unexpected success of his drive around the world fuelled by used cooking oil down to the enthusiasm of people for helping out a stranger.  He shares tales of generosity and friendship and draws surprising conclusions about the power of Community and the secret to being invited in.