I grew up by the sea in Marseille. Sea life became a part of my everyday life, so I became more aware of the challenges that it faces. From a very early age I’ve been aware of the impact that humans have on the environment and understood that small changes in our behaviour can make a huge difference. I decided to be part of the movement that brings the solution to such an important cause, and I started to become part of the sustainable effort around the age of 25.

We are bringing in more sustainable and safer ingredients. The chemical industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and it is facing a large transition. My company, GFBiochemicals, is tackling the issues connected with products we use every single day. These could be personal care products, home care products or cleaning products that are having a negative effect on our health and the climate. It’s a business-to-business approach where we are replacing petrochemicals – old, obsolete molecules – with new bio-based molecules that have come from biomass, or agricultural waste.

Look at the back of the bottle – when you buy shampoo, when you buy shower gel, the ingredients are all there. We are replacing the harmful ones. You have to look for more natural formulations. Our biggest organ is the skin and when you shower every day using petrochemicals, you are putting harmful things on your body. It can have a negative impact on your health in the long run. And sometimes consumers forget: they have an enormous amount of power. Buying better is the best way to have a positive impact.

I am also looking at healthy lifestyle. We practise behaviours that are not sustainable. Nutrition, for example. I mean, in 2050, we could have more plastic in the sea than fish. The way we eat, in terms of eating more and more animal protein, is becoming a real problem for the planet. We need to eat the right way and have a balanced diet. Now, not everyone is a nature lover, but everyone cares about their health, and by becoming vegan and stopping my consumption of animal protein, I improved my on-field performance. It reduced the amount of inflammation in my body so I could recover much quicker after games and avoid illness and injury.

Héctor Bellerín is vegan and making major contributions. Arsenal too: they have made an agreement to reduce their CO2 emissions, and I believe other clubs want to follow. It is important for football to play its part, just like other industries that are transitioning.