Nicolina Pappas
2025 Eco-Hero
2nd PLACE
Nicolina Pappas
Age 13
Rock Island, Illinois, United States
Reducing Single-Use Plastic & Advocating for Policy Change
A determined environmental advocate since the age of eight, 13-year-old Nicolina Pappas channels her passion into Nicolina’s Turtle Co., a powerful initiative she founded to combat single-use plastic pollution. What began with designing and sewing straw pouches to sell with metal straws has evolved into a comprehensive movement impacting thousands and driving policy change across Illinois and Iowa.
Nicolina's Turtle Co. has raised over $15,000 in five years, directly funding crucial river cleanups, conservation camp scholarships, and classroom outreach through local organizations. Her dedication extends to direct education, where she has presented to approximately 3,500 students and adults at summits, conferences, classrooms, and city councils, fostering environmental literacy. The organization recently achieved non-profit status, amplifying its reach and impact.
Her most recent project is the "Skip the Plastic Campaign," an innovative, non-mandate initiative encouraging restaurants to provide plastic items only upon request and customers to politely decline them. This campaign, born from Nicolina's deep understanding of environmental justice and the financial burden of bans on underserved communities, has garnered overwhelming support. It has resulted in 14 city-wide proclamations in Illinois and Iowa, covering over 250,000 residents. Further solidifying her impact, Nicolina authored state resolutions, successfully making April 1st "Skip the Plastic Day" across Illinois, a testament to her persuasive power, including testifying before the state House and Senate.
Joel Vanderbush, Curator of Conservation & Education at Niabi Zoo and Nicolina's mentor, states, "I have never met any child of Nicolina's age who has been so driven and motivated to create change for the environment." He highlights her resilience, particularly after an initial proposal to her city council faced setbacks, leading her to "pivot from a ban on plastic straws to more of a 'just ask' policy... [gaining] a mayoral proclamation." This adaptability and strategic thinking are hallmarks of Nicolina's approach.”What started from her compassion for sea turtles to stop plastic straws from hurting them has become a mission-driven campaign to help people think about their use of single-use plastics and to make better choices about them.”
Nicolina is a firm believer in the power of individual action and sustained effort. She reflects on her journey, sharing, "I also learned that I can accomplish much more by recruiting partners and asking for advice than doing everything on my own." Looking ahead, Nicolina aims to expand the Skip the Plastic Campaign to other states and eventually the federal level, while also pursuing her aspirations of becoming a Marine Biologist or a Lawyer. Her remarkable drive, conviction, and ability to inspire meaningful change position her as a true leader in environmental sustainability.
