Sofia Gaviria

Led a grassroots campaign in Colombia that successfully banned single-use plastics in 25 municipalities, influencing national environmental policies.

Sofia Gaviria is an environmental advocate from Colombia whose 2016-2019 campaign transformed plastic waste management in her country. Starting in her hometown of Cali, she mobilized over 5,000 volunteers through her organization Plastic Free Colombia, organizing beach cleanups and educational workshops about microplastic pollution. Her viral social media campaign #SinPlásticoNuncaMas (Never Plastic Again) reached 2 million people within six months.

In 2018, Gaviria's lobbying efforts resulted in the first municipal plastic bag ban in Buenaventura. By 2019, 25 cities had adopted similar regulations, prompting the national government to propose a nationwide ban. Her work was highlighted in National Geographic's 'Planet or Plastic?' initiative and earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2020.

Gaviria's methodology combines policy advocacy with community economic alternatives. She pioneered partnerships with local artisans to create reusable bags from recycled materials, creating 300+ jobs. Her 2019 TED Talk "How Colombia's Grassroots Movement Stopped Plastic Pollution" has over 2 million views, inspiring similar movements in Peru and Ecuador.