The Marine Plastics Ambassadors program focuses on providing participants with advocacy training and policy engagement opportunities.

Washington, DC (March 31, 2026) – From rivers and lakes to coastal ecosystems, plastics continue to infiltrate the systems that sustain communities, wildlife, and economies around the world. To accelerate solutions, EarthEcho International—founded by explorer and ocean advocate Philippe Cousteau, Jr.—is launching its largest cohort of Marine Plastics Ambassadors, a growing national initiative funded by SC Johnson designed to empower young changemakers with the tools, training, and platforms needed to advance solutions that protect watersheds and ocean environments from plastic waste.

The Marine Plastics Ambassadors program equips participants with advocacy training and leadership development to address plastic pollution at its source. Through mentorship and hands-on policy engagement, Ambassadors will work to drive scalable solutions, tailored to their home communities, that reduce plastic waste and strengthen environmental protections nationwide.

“Young people recognize their own power and agency and are engaging with policy makers to affect positive change. The Marine Plastics Ambassadors are leading the way, and EarthEcho is proud to build a community of practice that empowers them to change the world.” Philippe Cousteau. 

“It’s encouraging to see young people stepping forward to help tackle this important issue,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “As a company, we advocate for smart government regulation as a crucial tool in tackling the plastic waste crisis. We’re pleased to partner with EarthEcho to support this next generation of leaders in their advocacy efforts.”

Meet the 2026 Marine Plastics Ambassadors, who will have the opportunity to come together this summer in Washington, D.C., to advance their policy priorities, engage with legislators and demonstrate the power of youth-driven solutions to reduce plastic pollution.

• Abigail Atwood (Massachusetts)
• Adrian Hill (California)
• Alex Webster (Florida)
• Alexis Moreno (Texas)
• Ally Good (Minnesota)
• Alyssa Wentzel (Texas)
• Amarachukwu Obinna (Michigan)
• Angel Mosqueda (Illinois)
• Annie Song (New York)
• Ariane Lemaire (North Carolina)
• Ashley Du (California)
• Aska Burks (Florida)
• Autumn Vetter (Indiana)
• Ava Charman (Connecticut)
• Bella Randerson (North Carolina)
• Bleakley Shettle (Florida)
• Caroline Wiesner (Colorado)
• Cassandra Jordan (Florida)
• Cathryne Belangee (South Carolina)
• Christiana Macias (California)
• Claire Nelson (Ohio)
• Daniela Ambriz (Florida)
• Divya Sivaram (Massachusetts)
• Emily Weiss (Louisiana)
• Emma Scott (Florida)
• Emma Bolton (Florida)
• Erika Mascota (California)
• Evalynd Maple Rodriquez (Hawaii)
• Forrest Gauron (Massachusetts)
• Grady Flinn (Connecticut)
• Gwendolyn Gangolea (California)
• Michelle Li (Florida)
• Heta Mody (Hawaii)
• Ibrahim Ahmad (New York)
• Jacquelle Jean Jacques (Florida)
• Jaelynn Figueroa (Florida)
• Jennifer Arca (Hawaii)
• Jessica Zhang (Texas)
• Kaileigh Ault (North Carolina)
• Kayla Drakes (New York)
• Kaylynn Malicdem (California)
• Keira Blakey (Florida)
• Kyla Vega (California)
• Lexi Anyanwu (California)
• Lillian Williams (North Carolina)
• Madison Clum (New York)
• Malak Albarati (New York)
• Maya Henson (Georgia)
• Mehak Arora (Texas)
• Mumtaz Cooper (New Jersey)
• Natalie Martinez (Texas)
• Rubi Fernandez (New York)
• Saanvi Chiliveru (Texas)
• Santhosh Kavula (Texas)
• Sarah Jonczyk (Massachusetts)
• Sophia Paone (New Jersey)
• Sophie Orr (Massachusetts)
• Tasnim Rahman (Michigan)
• Tatiyana Cooney (Ohio)
• Timothy Riordan (New York)
• Trinity Brindeau (New York)
• Valeria Suarez Tabares (Texas)
• Valery Estrada Sanchez (Lousisiana)
• Vic Kovtun (Maryland)
• Zoe Welch (Hawaii)

Marine Plastic Pollution Facts

• Over 430 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

LinkedIn: @earthecho-international  

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

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Media Contact, EarthEcho International:

Carrie Albright, Director of Communications

calbright@earthecho.org

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