Tom Berry answers the BRiMM life questionnaire
All-time top second-hand find
“I bought an incredible pink floral party shirt from some designer brand I hadn’t heard of. Based on comments from others with better fashion sense than me it seems to be both stylish and outrageous at the same time. It doesn’t come out very often, but I love it.”
Favourite walking route
“I love water generally, being by it, and (ideally) getting in it. In my second home city Sydney, the walk from Bondi to Bronte is good come (warm) rain or shine; and in London, the river path from Putney to Barnes bridge is always pretty special.”
Latest low-impact life reset
“I’ve been using the refill multi-surface cleaner and laundry sheets from ‘Good Clean Stuff’ – not only has it made me feel better about having less plastic bottles around (and in the recycling), it’s saved a bunch of space in the cupboards… joyful!”
Favourite planet-positive products
“Apart from the above. Method products – deliberately NOT eco or earthy looking – and have been pioneers in the ‘cool to be sustainable’ space for years. Nudie Jeans: organic, fairtrade cotton, repairs for life, trade-in scheme – nothing not to like.”
Most beautiful cycle journey
“Cycling past the Richmond Park deer on a sunny afternoon, or even a frosty misty winter morning, is pretty hard to beat.”
What’s your most joyful weekend moment
“Sitting in the sunshine in our little garden: drinking coffee, looking at the plants I planted with my mum, listening to kids laugh on the trampoline and glancing at the less depressing bits of the paper.”
Plant-based dish of dreams
“Ottolenghi’s Roasted Aubergine, black garlic/tahini/yogurt/saffron sauce, with pomegranate and basil scattered on top.”
Song that lights you up and the story behind it
“‘Time to Pretend’, by MGMT: I just love the vibe of the track, and the album – and it was the first song I put on a playlist I made for a friend back in 2010 and I’ve made one for them every year since – a process that forces me to keep me in touch with music generally.”
Independent coffee shop that makes you happy
“Hyde Farm is just across the road from me in Balham: it’s an amazing coffee shop, deli and produce store run by some amazing local people who celebrate their Italian roots.”
Second-hand store or market worth a mooch
“It’s on-line, but Thrift+ has been doing some amazing things for the last eight years or so – they offer great service to both buyers and sellers and have some great brands.”
Love really is what makes the world go round – and I think is ultimately what will protect it for future generations
Causes you give to every month
“Greenpeace: it’s old school and generally, I like working with more collaborative and less confrontational charities in my work, but I think genuine activists like Greenpeace play a really critical role in raising issues.”
Fave book that inspired you to make a change
“Ben Elton’s books were pretty formative – comedy but with strong social commentary: Stark, about the role of big business, government and ineffectual environmental activists. And Blind Faith, a 100-year-on dystopian future, which is pretty compelling on the current trends, socially and environmentally, that we should be avoiding now.”
Person who inspires you and why
“My dad was (and probably still is) my biggest inspiration: he didn’t ever really seem to shout or tell, he just made people want to be a better person, and helped them make the right choices. He was a headteacher at a school and he was the same way with staff and kids there as he was with me.”
Planet-positive hero
“Jonathan Porritt – he has a long history with the Green Party, Friends of the Earth and also set up the not-for-profit Forum for the Future, where I worked for a while at the time Forum and Jonathan pioneered a very innovative approach to partnering with corporates for change.”
What gets you every time
“Watching It’s a Wonderful Life at Christmas.”
What is love
“It really is what makes the world go round (or at least people’s worlds) – and I think is ultimately what will protect it for future generations.”
Issue you care most about changing
"At its heart, equity: treating people fairly, both people alive today, but importantly future generations – and not just in terms of acting with a social conscience, but also in that understanding that screwing up the planet now, isn’t any good for us or those that come after us.”
Find out more about Tom as part of our team and on his site, tbsustainability.com. Now read some of our other recent BRiMM Life Questionnaires