Overview:

As part of our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals that have been set out by the United Nations, we must tackle the unprecedented levels of plastic waste that is generated by society. To this end, we are organising an event on ‘Sustainability and Plastics’, aiming to bring the key Warwick researchers who are actively involved in sustainability research across the plastic value chains, from polymer chemistry, processing and manufacturing, data science, environmental science, business management, social science and beyond. Through this event, we hope to build a Warwick community on ‘sustainable plastics’, to identify key challenges, bridge the knowledge gaps, link our research strengths and explore joint solutions. Warwick Cross Faculty Plastics Group - Research with Impact

Who should attend: academics across the University of Warwick

Register here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/mediacentre/events/sip/

On 17 September, the BBC filmed an episode of Digging for Britain at the University of Warwick with Professor Robin Allaby about the Mesolithic finds that are being made at Bouldnor Cliff on the Isle of Wight.

Professor Allaby’s team have been investigating the sedimentary ancient DNA from the site which showed the controversial presence of wheat 8000 years ago suggesting contact with European farmers at the time (Smith et al. Science 347: 998-1001). In this episode Allaby’s team return to the site to investigate their findings further. Program to air towards the end of 2021.

Warwick-Australian team identify potential for natural attenuation of petrochemical degradation in ecosystems within the monsoon tropics.

Read the paper

(December 2021)

Maria Puig de la Bellacasa speaks of her research on human-soil relations on a recent episode of the BBC3/AHRC Green Thinking podcast series exploring latest research on the climate and nature emergency ahead of COP26.

Listen to Green Thinking: Soil

(September 2021)

Alice Mah talks about her work at the meeting ‘Governing Petrochemicals: the dual challenges of decarbonizing the plastics economy and phasing out virgin plastic production.

Watch the Governing Petrochemicals webinar

(August 2021)

New paper studying the impact of marine conservation on local communities in Cambodia.

Find out more

Jess Savage has received funding to find long term solutions to protect marine systems through the effective design and implementation of management systems.

Find out more

New article examining the rise of the circular economy as a dominant corporate sustainability concept, focusing on the flagship example of the circular economy for plastics.

Mah, A (2021) Future-Proofing Capitalism: The Paradox of the Circular Economy for Plastics. Global Environmental Politics.

Read the article