Shilshila Acharya, a sustainability entrepreneur, has been recognised as one of the BBC’s 100 inspiring and influential women from around the globe for 2024.
Acharya is the founder of Avni Ventures, one of Nepal’s largest plastic recycling networks. As a climate and waste educator, her organisation employs staff from marginalised communities, transforming waste into sustainable products such as baskets, mats, and jewellery crafted by indigenous artisans, thereby supporting their livelihoods.
Acharya gained prominence for spearheading the 2014 No Thanks, I Carry My Own Bag campaign, which led to a nationwide ban on plastic shopping bags in Nepal. Acharya is also a driving force behind a large-scale annual clean-up of the Himalayas, an initiative that has removed 119 tonnes of waste left by mountaineers since 2019.
Other notable women on the BBC 100 Women 2024 list include stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, visual artist Tracey Emin, climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu, and writer Cristina Rivera Garza.
The BBC 100 Women list this year emphasises resilience, recognising women who are pushing for change in a rapidly evolving world. It also underscores the significance of climate pioneers who are tackling the climate emergency and its impacts within their communities.
Women featured in the list represent diverse fields, including Culture & Education, Entertainment & Sport, Politics & Advocacy, and Science, Health & Tech.
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