What begins as a single person picking up trash can grow into a movement that brings people together, reshapes communities, and restores hope.
Niklas, known online as The Island Keeper, is one of those individuals who quietly turns intention into action. What started as a personal response to the pollution he witnessed in Cyprus has evolved into a growing community, a clear life purpose, and a vision for true sustainability beyond clean-ups.
In this interview, Niklas shares his journey, his challenges, and the simple mindset that keeps him going.
Niklas, before becoming “The Island Keeper,” who were you, and what brought you to Cyprus in the first place?
I wasn’t happy anymore in my home country. I wanted to take the step before I got older and maybe wouldn’t dare do it anymore. I always dreamed of sun and the sea. Moving abroad was a goal of mine since I was a child. Cyprus felt right because of the weather, the friendly people, and also the tax situation. In spring, I visited a friend who had already moved here, and after that trip I decided to do the same.
What was going through your mind when you posted your first clean-up video online?
To be honest, I just enjoyed doing it. When people saw me cleaning, they often came up to me, asked questions, and we had nice and respectful conversations. People really appreciated it, and that motivated me a lot. I did it because it made me sad to see how dirty this beautiful island is. That the videos later did well online was just a bonus.
On difficult days, when progress feels slow, what keeps you going?
That’s a very good question. When things feel hard, I stop what I’m doing and meditate. I sit in my favorite spot at home, close my eyes for 10–15 minutes, and focus on my breathing. I really want to change something in a sustainable way. The motivation comes from inside me and it is always there.
At some point, people stopped seeing you as “a guy cleaning beaches” and started joining you. How did it feel when the movement became bigger than you?
I always told myself: “If I can motivate just one person, I’ve already won.” Now there are more than 110 people in the Island Keeper group. It makes me very happy to see people meeting, becoming friends through the clean-ups, and doing something good together. That’s why I use social media to reach more people and inspire them to join.
Has “The Island Keeper” changed you as a person?
It shows more and more what I really want to do in life: bring people together, do something good for the environment, build something meaningful, and work towards a goal that is bigger than myself. Yes, it has definitely changed me and helped me to find a purpose.
You recently announced on your social media that you want to take a step further and build a small plastic recycling facility. Please, tell me more about it.
Collecting trash is one thing. But if it ends up buried in a landfill, that’s not real sustainability. Only a few types of plastic can really be recycled properly PET, HDPE, and sometimes PP. PET is the one most people know. You can melt it and make useful things like kitchen items, furniture, or everyday products.
That’s what I want to do with my recycling company, called “Items of Cyprus.” I want to make products from the trash we collect ourselves and sell them through social media. We can also make tables and chairs for schools. I believe in this idea and I’m ready to invest all my savings into it. For me, this is real sustainability.
Finally, a question I ask everyone in my interviews: what is one small step towards sustainability each of us can embrace?
Before you think about littering, start by buying less. Use a water filter at home instead of plastic bottles. Use reusable cotton bags instead of plastic bags. And pick up one piece of trash every day. I think that would already make a big difference.
Interviewed by Lusine Mirzoyan
www.natureallydone.com 
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