🌊 In my own words

Hi, I'm Arlian.

"I'm 20 years old, and for the past nine years I've been known as Plastic Free Boy.

I grew up between Australia and Austria. My mission started on my 11th birthday when I watched three sea turtles return to the ocean — and learned that by the time I'm 42, there'll be more plastic than fish. I decided right then that I had to do something."

"I believe my generation is the key to change. No one is too young to make a difference."

Ch 9A Current Affair

Ocean Mission

Arlian through the years

Arlian with Chris Hemsworth — Byron Bay

Plastic Free Boy — at the beach

Plenary speaker — Asia Pacific Cities Summit 2019

With Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk

School presentation — Be an Ocean Hero!

Age 12 — ABC Behind the News, 2018

Channel 9 A Current Affair

Arlian & Ciela — Plastic Free Kids

250+

Schools visited globally

9 years

On a mission

790,000+

Students reached by film

Countries & TV networks

My Story

From one moment on a beach to schools around the world

The day it all began

"It was January 2017 — my 11th birthday. I watched three sea turtles released back into the ocean after treatment for plastic pollution injuries. Then I found out that by the time I'm 42, there'll be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Millions of people who rely on fish for food could become climate refugees. I grew up between Australia and Austria, surrounded by nature — I couldn't just do nothing."

Plastic Free Boy is born

"My mum Karin is a professional documentary filmmaker who has dedicated her life to promoting a healthy ocean. Together we created 'Plastic Alarm' — a 22-minute documentary where I star as Plastic Free Boy, an eco-superhero. That film has now been watched by over 790,000 students in schools internationally. I was just a kid with a cape and a mission."

National TV — and Chris Hemsworth

"I appeared on ABC Behind the News, Channel 10's The Project, Channel 9's A Current Affair, Totally Wild, Austrian TV, and Korean CBS — reaching 10 million people. In July 2019, I was honoured to be the youngest plenary speaker at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum in Brisbane, speaking in front of 90 Mayors and 1,500 delegates. And then Chris Hemsworth personally reached out. I was 13."

Why Early Learning matters most

"After 250+ schools globally and speaking at events from Atlassian to Adidas Leadership Days, I kept asking: what if we started even earlier? Kids aged 2–6 form their values for life. If we plant the seed of environmental care through play, song and storytelling — before habits are set — we raise a generation of eco-heroes from the ground up. That's why I created these Early Learning Centre shows."

🤝 A mother & son team

Buddied up since Day One

When Arlian decided to take on the ocean plastics crisis at age 11, his mum Karin was right there beside him — camera in hand, heart wide open.

Presenter & Activist

Arlian Ecker

A compassionate young man who has been advocating for a healthy ocean since age 11. Now 20, he has visited 350+ schools globally, spoken at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit as the youngest ever plenary speaker, and earned support from Chris Hemsworth.

🇦🇺 Youth Ambassador — Clean Up Australia & World Clean Up Day
📸 Australian Geographic Ambassador
🌏 International Gen-Z Speaker — Premium Speakers Agency, Zürich

Filmmaker & Producer

Karin Ecker

A professional documentary filmmaker who has dedicated her life to promoting a healthy ocean. When her son Arlian decided to act at age 11, she picked up her camera and together they created Plastic Alarm — a 22-minute documentary now watched by 790,000+ students worldwide.

🎬 Documentary filmmaker — internationally screened films
🌊 Dedicated to ocean health & social impact storytelling
💛 "She's been my greatest partner since the very beginning." — Arlian

Karin and Arlian — The Plastic Free Boy Team

The PFB Team

"Together, Arlian and Karin bring the wonders and urgency of the ocean into people's hearts — through powerful storytelling, live performance, and a shared belief that every generation has the power to make a difference."

Karin Ecker Legacy & Arlian Ecker · Plastic Free Boy

📺 Channel 9 · 2019

A Current Affair

"Chris Hemsworth — who also lives in Byron Bay — publicly threw his support behind my mission. Channel 9's A Current Affair covered our story nationally."

"Well done Arlian for having the courage and passion to stand up and fight for something so important." — Chris Hemsworth

Watch on YouTube

Graham Quirk

Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, 2011–2019

"For someone so young to be invited to speak at such a significant Summit — with around 90 Mayors and other senior representatives from over 125 Cities and nearly 1,500 delegates — is a huge honour and a testimony of the high regard in which you are held. This Summit is regarded as the second largest Cities Summit in the Asia Pacific Region."

"You presented the case to free our oceans of plastic in a coherent and compelling way, with an appropriate level of passion that had credibility with the audience. You showed a maturity beyond your years."

— 2019 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors' Forum, Brisbane

"
Well done Arlian for having the courage and passion to stand up and fight for something so important — I'd encourage you to continue to have the strength to keep pushing forward.
Chris Hemsworth