Fatima Houda Pika

A Moroccan environmental activist leading grassroots initiatives to eliminate plastic pollution and empower marginalized communities through recycling.

Fatima Houda Pika, born in 1982 in a rural Moroccan village, transformed her community’s relationship with waste. Witnessing the environmental devastation caused by plastic pollution, she founded the RAC Plastic-Free movement in 2012. Starting with a single recycling bin, she mobilized locals to collect and repurpose plastic waste into useful products like benches and playground equipment. Her efforts led to Morocco’s 2016 ban on single-use plastics, a landmark policy credited to her advocacy.

Pika’s model of community-led recycling has been replicated in 15 African countries. She trains women in waste management and entrepreneurship, creating jobs in regions with high unemployment. Her documentary series highlights the human cost of plastic pollution, reaching millions via social media. In 2020, she launched the Plastic-to-Progress initiative, converting marine plastic waste into solar-powered boats for fishing communities.

Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Pika has received awards including the Global Green Hero Award (2021) and the Moroccan Queen’s Environmental Prize (2019). She emphasizes that environmental justice is inseparable from social equity: 'Every plastic bottle we recycle is a step toward dignity for the poor.' Her vision reshapes global narratives on sustainability as a human rights issue.