‍Washington, DC (May 29, 2025) – At this very minute, the equivalent of one truckload of plastic waste enters our ocean, contributing to the growing global plastic crisis--a sobering truth that highlights the urgent need for action. In this critical moment, young leaders are stepping forward to tackle plastic pollution head-on.

Today, EarthEcho International, the global nonprofit dedicated to building a youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet, and SC Johnson proudly announced the 2025 cohort of Marine Plastics Ambassadors—a dedicated group of 30 young changemakers (ages 16-22) from across the United States. These passionate advocates will lead the charge in designing and implementing innovative campaigns and entrepreneurial solutions to combat plastic pollution and raise awareness of its devastating effects on our oceans and communities.

"These passionate young leaders bring much-needed diverse perspectives, vision, and a deep sense of urgency to the critical issue of marine plastic pollution. By equipping them with the knowledge, resources, and mentorship to lead innovative campaigns, we are not only fostering the next generation of ocean stewards, but also accelerating solutions to restore the health of our oceans. Their voices will drive the change needed to reduce marine plastics and protect our planet's future," said Philippe Cousteau, Founder of EarthEcho International.

“It’s fantastic to see these young people using their talents to make a difference in the plastic pollution crisis,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “As a company, we’re committed to reducing plastic waste. Over the years, we’ve learned that making a difference requires a collective effort. Congratulations to this year’s class of Marine Plastics Ambassadors. I’m confident their campaigns will benefit their communities.”

Meet the 2025 Marine Plastics Ambassadors, who will come together this summer in Washington, D.C. to present their projects to members of Congress, demonstrating the power of youth-led solutions in shaping national policies on plastic waste reduction.

• Sanya Ahmed, 16, Davie, Florida
• Ana Baquedano, 18, Ithaca, New York
• Sadie Call, 20, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Sabine Castro, 16, New York City, New York
• Jenna Emons, 20, La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Alana Fisher, 21, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Janssen Marie Gallenero, 16, Queens, New York
• Naomi Goodwin, 17, Roswell, Georgia
• Ava Havidic, 19, Atlanta, Georgia
• Maya Heller, 18, Chicago, Illinois
• Sophia Hernon, 16, Centerport, New York
• Lia Huang, 16, Great Neck, New York
• Victoria Huber, 16, Oriedo, Florida
• Arya Kambhampati, 17, New York City, New York
• Riya Mehta, 16, Harleysville, Pennsylvania
• Mackenzie Messer, 20, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Olivia Miller, 18, Alpena, Michigan
• Lola Moreno, 17, New York City, New York
• Renee Mungal, 21, New York City, New York
• Samantha Paul, 20, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Jocelyn Perry, 21, Morehead City, North Carolina 
• Faye Riebe, 18, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Aana Shenai, 19, Chicago, Illinois
• Shivaani Sivaraman, 16, Chicago, Illinois
• Ishraq Talukdar, 16, Hamtramck, Michigan
• Logan Tamadon, 17, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Nevaeh Thomas, 18, Conway, South Carolina
• Anamika Verma, 17, Troy, Michigan
• Zihan Wang, 17, Brooklyn, New York
• Linda Zheng, 17, New York City, New York

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Marine Plastic Pollution Facts

• Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year - two thirds of which are single-use plastics, designed to be used once or for a few minutes and then thrown away (OECD, 2022).
• Approximately 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enters oceans annually (the equivalent of a garbage truck load of plastic every minute) with estimates of that number nearly tripling by 2040 (Pew Charitable Trusts, 2020).
• Plastic litter and resulting microplastics have devastating effects on marine ecosystems (UNEP, 2021). Microplastics can now be found throughout the food chain, including within humans (WHO, 2022).

For more information, visit www.earthecho.org/plastics-ambassadors and follow us on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho

Instagram: @EarthEcho

Twitter/X: @EarthEcho

For information about EarthEcho International, please visit www.earthecho.org.

Media Contact, EarthEcho International:

Andrew Postal

earthecho@signaldc.com