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Policy@Manchester Articles: Archives
Tag Archives for: "plastics"
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Family sorting recycling

Trashing the future: failures of UK plastic recycling policies and next steps

By Helen Holmes Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: March 28, 2023

We are all familiar with the problem of plastic waste – which has a devastating effect on marine life and oceans.  Plastic recycling seems complex and difficult and we are right to be concerned about the impacts waste plastic is having on our ecosystems. The One Bin to Rule Them All (One Bin) project team […]

Tagged With: climate change, environment, plastics, recycling, sustainability, sustainable consumption, sustainable future, waste management

Plastic bottles without bottle caps.

The Plastic Problem: moving from a linear to a circular economy.

Thomas Franklin By Thomas Franklin Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: March 9, 2023

Plastics have enabled society to progress at an unprecedented pace and have facilitated momentous advances in technology. However, it is the inherent durability of plastic which largely accounts for both its success and the plastic waste problem we now face. Our behaviour and choices as consumers or producers of plastic waste are of great importance […]

Tagged With: circular economy, environment, net zero, plastics, recycling, sustainability

Close up of plastic bottles

New business models cutting back on single-use plastic: lessons for a zero waste circular economy

Picture of Mariel Vilella By Mariel Vilella Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted: July 28, 2021

As the host for the COP26 this November, the UK is in the spotlight when it comes to reducing emissions. Plastic production and consumption is an important contributor to climate change, business models that are cutting back on single-use plastic offer important lessons, and inspiration, to drive an agenda that moves towards a circular economy. […]

Tagged With: business, circular economy, environment, Global South, plastics, SCI, sustainability

Plastics in the environment: Limiting the contamination of our rivers and oceans

Ian Kane By Ian Kane Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: June 8, 2020

Much of the world’s plastic waste is still not disposed of responsibly, and it can now be found in all natural environments. Dr Ian Kane has focused his research on understanding the problem of microplastics in world oceans. In this blog, he tells us about some of the pathways plastics take to enter oceans and […]

Tagged With: #oceans, #seafloors, climate change, environment, Life Below Water, MERI, microplastics, plastics, technology, waste

Learning from nature: a sustainable bio-based future?

By Kirk J Malone Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: September 20, 2019

Dr Kirk J Malone is Director of Commercialisation at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. In this blog he looks to nature as part of a wider rethink into how we produce, process and recycle materials. • There needs to be a fundamental rethink in the way we manufacture and dispose of materials. • One of […]

Tagged With: biotechnology, Business Energy & Industry, environment, graphene, Industrial Biotechnology, innovation, OnMaterials, plastics, science & engineering, sustainability, technology, waste

Science, industry, and government must pull together to solve our plastic addiction

By Mike Shaver Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: September 5, 2019

Mike Shaver is currently Professor of Polymer Science at the University of Manchester in the School of Materials. In this article Mike explores how we should be viewing the use of plastic and also how we can avoid the potential environmental problems from plastic alternatives. Sustainable alternatives to plastic need thoughtful analysis of the whole […]

Tagged With: Business Energy & Industry, consumption, environment, graphene, OnMaterials, plastics, science & engineering, sustainability, waste

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