Priyanka Borpujari

A leading environmental activist who spearheaded India's plastic bag ban movement in 2022, transforming waste management practices nationwide.

Priyanka Borpujari is a groundbreaking environmental advocate from India, best known for her pivotal role in the nation's landmark plastic bag ban legislation passed in 2022. Her grassroots campaign, 'Plastic Free India', mobilized millions through social media and community workshops, directly influencing policy changes in over 15 states. Borpujari's work addresses both ecological preservation and grassroots economic empowerment, creating biodegradable packaging cooperatives that now employ 20,000+ women artisans.

Her innovative approach combines traditional knowledge with modern recycling techniques, exemplified by the Borpujari Circular Economy Model adopted by UN Environment Programme as a global case study. Key milestones include:

• Organizing India's first nationwide plastic audit in 2020
• Launching the 'Seed Bombs Against Plastic' initiative to rehabilitate contaminated land
• Securing $12 million in green investments for rural waste infrastructure

Borpujari's TEDx talk Plastic isn't fantastic, but people can be has over 5 million views, inspiring similar movements in Bangladesh and Nepal. Her 2023 partnership with NASA's Climate Action Program marks the first Indian-led UN SDG project focused on ocean plastic remediation.