7 Women Fighting for Sustainability

In our view, every day should be International Women's Day! And since there's no better day than today, here we're sharing the stories of 7 women fighting for sustainability who have dedicated themselves to environmental activism. Who are they?

Over the years, these formidable women haven't just inspired us personally — they've motivated our entire team as we set out to protect nature too, with period products made from 100% organic cotton. 

They were fearless in their struggle, and their life stories — full of drive, purpose and personal sacrifice — inspire us to carry on the ENROUSH mission. We hope they give you inspiration too, and even greater hope for change! 

Jane Goodall

Primatologist, anthropologist and environmental activist

“We can choose to use the gift of our lives to make the world a better place — or not to bother.”

Fascinated by the animal kingdom, Jane Goodall travelled to Africa, where she made revolutionary discoveries about chimpanzee behaviour. Today, her nearly 60 years of work is regarded as one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 20th century. 

As an ambassador for nature and animal rights, she founded the global conservation and environmental organisation the Jane Goodall Institute, and was appointed a UN Messenger of Peace.

Today Jane follows a vegetarian diet and champions this way of eating for ethical, environmental and health reasons!

Greta Thunberg

Swedish environmental activist

“The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change.”

At just 16, she managed to launch an international movement on global warming — and to this day she continues to challenge world leaders to finally take action on climate change. In 2018 she started a movement to capture the attention of politicians and, among other things, raise awareness of CO2 emissions. Greta was named Time magazine's youngest ever “Person of the Year” and received no fewer than three Nobel Peace Prize nominations.

Wangari Maathai

Social, environmental and political activist

“The generation that destroys the environment is not the generation that pays the price. That is the problem.”

For her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace, Maathai became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004! She founded the Green Belt Movement, an NGO dedicated to tree planting, environmental conservation and women's rights. She chaired the National Council of Women of Kenya, served as an honorary councillor of the World Future Council and was a member of the Kenyan parliament.

Vandana Shiva

Environmental activist and scholar

“In nature's economy, the currency is not money, it is life.”

Because of her campaigning against genetic engineering, she is often called the “Gandhi of grain”. Her work is devoted to developing sustainable farming methods and protecting biodiversity and native seed varieties. She founded the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) and plays a central role in the global ecofeminist movement, encouraging ever more women to fight against environmental disaster! 

Sunita Narain

Environmentalist

“Every human being has a right to development — and that means every human being has a right to clean energy.”

Sunita is an environmentalist, political activist and advocate of sustainable development from India. She heads both the Society for Environmental Communications and the Indian research institute the Centre for Science and Environment, through which she exposed the high levels of pesticide residues in soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Over the years, Sunita has received numerous international awards for various sustainability projects, from rainwater harvesting to reducing air pollution.

Isatou Ceesay

Activist and social entrepreneur

“I believe that if you mistreat the environment, you mistreat yourself.”

Rachel Carson

Marine biologist, conservationist and author

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”

Rachel Carson is a pivotal figure in the emergence of the environmental movement in the 20th century. Her book “The Sea Around Us” became a bestseller, followed by her famous work “Silent Spring”, in which she warned of the harmful effects of chemicals, pesticides and insecticides on people, animals and the environment! Her books revolutionised the global environmental movement, sold more than 2 million copies and are now considered among the most influential environmental writings ever published.

Isatou Ceesay is known in the Gambia as the “Queen of Plastic”. An activist who — despite having to leave school early — has never stopped learning and taking action for the environment. She has inspired and led an entire community to radically change its behaviour and have a positive impact on the planet. Today, the women's initiative she founded in the Gambia works with communities across West Africa on environmental issues, particularly plastic waste. Her role in the empowerment of women in a male-dominated society is of crucial importance.