Vivek Gurav, known as the Plogman, is a climate activist and the founder of Pune Ploggers. He has plogged across India and the UK, in Germany, Portugal and Spain, in the United States, and in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey. He is a pioneer of plogging communities in India and the UK, and Pune Ploggers has inspired more than 30 cities to start their own.
The story
Plogging is jogging while picking up litter. Vivek started Pune Ploggers in Pune, India in October 2019, and it grew into plogging communities in more than 30 cities.
In September 2021 he moved to the UK on a Think Big scholarship for an MSc in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Bristol. He started a 30-day daily plogging challenge in February 2022, then founded Bristol Ploggers: 140 volunteers from 12 nationalities, 400 miles of streets and 3,750kg of litter cleared. In July 2022 he received a Points of Light award from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he was later invited to 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and he was named one of the 75 Young Achievers by NISAU UK and the British Council.
In December 2022 he plogged through 30 UK cities in 30 days, collecting 360kg of litter with more than 250 volunteers. In summer 2024 he plogged 30 areas of London in 30 days. In 2025 he launched PlogYatra, a 50-city tour from London through UK cities, Faro, Lisbon and Coimbra in Portugal, Bremen and Hamburg in Germany, and many cities across India. He has spoken at COY17, the youth version of COP, and has been honoured at the UK Parliament. In November 2024 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wrote to thank him for mobilising plogging communities to clean up litter in the city.
In November 2026 he is leading Somebody: public parks and high streets in all 33 London boroughs in 30 days, every item counted.
What I care about
Clean and green spaces, urban development and river restoration. I think public space should be used more, and that streets and parks work best when people can walk to what they need: 5-minute neighbourhoods, and pedestrian streets like Oxford Street in London and Whiteladies Road in Bristol.
My MSc research at the University of Bristol compared the socioeconomic effects of riverfront development projects in London and Pune on the people who live beside the river.
That’s why Somebody is about parks and high streets. They’re the public spaces people share, and litter is the first thing that makes them feel like nobody’s.
Questions
Who is the Plogman?
Vivek Gurav, known as the Plogman, is a climate activist and the founder of Pune Ploggers. He has plogged across India and the UK, in Germany, Portugal and Spain, in the United States, and in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey. He is a pioneer of plogging communities in India and the UK, and Pune Ploggers has inspired more than 30 cities to start their own.
Who is Vivek Gurav?
Vivek Gurav is a climate activist with an MSc in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Bristol. He founded Pune Ploggers in 2019 and Bristol Ploggers in 2022, received a Points of Light award from the UK Prime Minister in 2022, and is leading the Somebody campaign across all 33 London boroughs in November 2026.
What is plogging?
Plogging is jogging, or walking, while picking up litter. The word combines the Swedish “plocka upp” (pick up) with jogging. The Plogman has taken it to nine countries and built plogging communities in India and the UK.
Where has the Plogman plogged?
Across India and the UK, in Germany (Bremen, Hamburg), Portugal (Faro, Lisbon, Coimbra) and Spain, in the United States, and in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey.
What is the Somebody campaign?
Somebody is a litter-picking campaign across all 33 London boroughs, 1–30 November 2026. Public parks and high streets in every borough, every item counted and the numbers published borough by borough.
How can I join a plog?
Join the WhatsApp group from the button on this page, or message @theplogman on Instagram with your borough.