Nikita Da Silva

Brazilian environmental engineer who developed biodegradable alternatives to plastic using Amazonian plant fibers

Nikita Da Silva is an Amazonas-born environmental scientist whose bioengineering innovations are transforming global packaging industries. Her 2020 discovery of Manihot glaziovii plant fibers led to the creation of BioPak, a fully compostable material that decomposes in 45 days. This breakthrough addresses 30% of Brazil's plastic waste originating from the Amazon region.

Da Silva's 2022 book Beyond Plastic: The Amazon Solution details her work converting agricultural waste from Brazil's rubber and cocoa industries into sustainable packaging. Her company EcoPact now supplies 40% of Brazil's organic supermarkets with zero-waste packaging solutions.

In 2023, she pioneered the Plastico Zero initiative, training 2,000 Amazonian women to produce biodegradable materials. Her TEDx talk Amazon's Secret Weapon Against Plastic has garnered over 5 million views. Da Silva was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2024 for her work preserving the rainforest through sustainable innovation.