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Tag Archives for: "plastics"
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Family sorting recycling

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

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted:

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 […]

Plastic bottles without bottle caps.

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

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

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 […]

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 Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted:

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. […]

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

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

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 […]

Learning from nature: a sustainable bio-based future?

By Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted:

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 […]

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

By Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted:

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 […]

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