Addressing the global plastics crisis
Catalysing a transition to a sustainable future
We’re on a mission to tackle the plastics crisis for our local community and the wider world.
From developing sustainable fashion to combatting microplastics, we’re putting our research into practice, working with local groups, organisations, businesses and individuals to solve the plastic problem.
We’re assembling teams of scientists, business-leaders, campaigners and citizens who share our ambition to transform the way we make, use and dispose of this polluting material. You too can join the Revolution.
Ready to join the revolution?
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Revolution Plastics: Join the revolution and address the global plastics crisis
Professor Steve Fletcher invites you to join the University of Portsmouth in its ambition to drive change in the plastics sector and create a sustainable future.
The University of Portsmouth is working on a transformative programme focussed on sustainability and the environment, Revolution Plastics. This is our initiative to really drive change, in particular in the plastics sector. We're working at three levels, what we call the triple transformation.
We're working to transform the university's own environment and sustainability performance to be one of the world's leading green universities.
We're working to build a research community within the university that draws from a whole range of disciplines. This includes fashion, urban design, enzyme innovation, our marine scientists and geographers.
And the third part of our transformation is working with city authorities and partners within the city to really drive Portsmouth's transformation to a sustainable city.
We believe very strongly that we can't do everything and we need to work in partnership with others. We're working on projects with the G20. We're working with the UN Environment Programme, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the World Bank and a whole host of leading researchers to really drive our research programme around plastics and sustainability.
I believe that it has the potential to be truly transformative, both for the people of Portsmouth and for the wider world.
And this is where you can help.
Your involvement and energy in helping supporters on that journey would be amazing. So we'd invite you to join the revolution and play your part.
PlasticsFuture 2023: A forum for sustainable transformation
20-22 June 2023
PlasticsFuture 2023 is our mission-driven conference aiming to inspire new solutions to end plastic pollution. It will be an opportunity to share global research and innovation across disciplines and communities, and forge future collaborations.
featured news
World needs ambitious 0% new plastic waste target by 2040
The United Nations is being urged to make a bold pledge and set a target of zero for new plastic pollution by 2040 in its upcoming Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution.
Mapping Microplastics ft. Dr Fay Couceiro
In this episode of Life Solved, Dr Fay Couceiro shares the latest on an exciting partnership between the University of Portsmouth and a 2,000 mile competitive rowing event!
Using art and song to help solve South African plastic waste crisis
Addressing the plastic crisis is our mission
We use plastic in almost every area of our lives – as packaging, in electronics, clothing and building materials. Plastic is inexpensive and easy to make. It’s unmatched in its cost-effective durability and resistance to degradation.
But this attractive durability has created a global plastic crisis. Some plastics take more than 400 years to break down, and around 11 million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans every year. Half of all plastic becomes waste within a year of being made, yet most isn’t recycled. Our planet is suffocating in plastic. We need radical action to halt this trend and limit the damaging consequences of plastic pollution on our health and the environment.
We’ve got to find solutions to the world's plastic problem. That’s where Revolution Plastics comes in.
Our ambition
We’re assembling teams of scientists, business-leaders, campaigners and citizens who share our ambition to transform the way we make, use and dispose of this polluting material.
Revolution Plastics is led by Professor Steve Fletcher and Dr Cressida Bowyer. Our mission is guided by the expertise of our Advisory Council, composed of senior executives from organisations and sectors that play a role in plastics and sustainability.
We've signed up to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. We're a member of their Network and the University of Portsmouth is profiled in their Higher Education Network of Universities. We were also invited to join the UN Global Partnership on Marine Litter.
Our revolution will ensure the elimination of damaging environmental and health impacts arising from plastics, through:
- Innovative technology that transforms methods of plastic production, use and disposal.
- An inclusive new plastics economy based on circular principles.
- Informed citizens so people make better choices about using and disposing of plastic.
- New governance approaches that incentivise sustainable plastic production, use and disposal.
- Partnerships with industry and policy makers to inspire sustainability initiatives and action
Our multidisciplinary approach to plastics research
All aspects of society, the economy and politics need to adapt to achieve sustainability. Revolution Plastics therefore spans all disciplines.
We’re already making progress. We've looked at how food and drink suppliers develop packaging. Studied how microplastics affect our oceans, economy and the air we breathe. And we’re aiming to develop a sustainable fashion and textiles social enterprise.
Learn more by reading a selection of our plastics research features.
The plastic-eating enzyme that could help overcome plastic pollution
Research centres
Revolution Plastics builds on the momentum of our globally-acclaimed plastics research in developing a plastic-dissolving enzyme that can digest some of the most polluting plastics. This research made national and international news, and won Research Project of the Year 2019. Our plastics research is supported by our Centre for Enzyme Innovation, which works with industry partners to advance the circular recycling of plastics.
In November 2021, we launched our Global Plastics Policy Centre — designed to give governments and industry groups the evidence needed to make better decisions on plastic policies. The Centre is the first of its kind and will provide a central point for information, effectiveness and barriers to plastics policy success.
Current research projects
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Microbial transformation of plastics in SE Asian seas: a hazard and a solution (MicroSEAP)
The MicroSEAP project seeks to understand the impact plastic pollution has on marine ecosystems in South East Asia and find solutions to the problem.
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Sustainable Transitions to End Plastic Pollution (STEPP)
Learn more about our collaborative project to help reduce plastic waste in low and middle income countries.
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Mapping Portsmouth’s Plastic (MAPP)
The world’s first programme of city-wide plastic pollution surveys using a citizen science-based approach.
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Assessing pollution in Great Britain's coastal waters with GB Row
In collaboration with GB Row, we're undertaking a detailed survey of microplastics, e-DNA and noise pollution around Great Britain’s waters.
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PO1 Sustainable Fashion and Textiles
Named after the Portsmouth postcode district, this project aims to create a sustainable fashion system.
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Innovative Fishing Gear for Oceans (INdIGO)
This project aims to reduce marine litter through the development of biodegradable fishing gear.
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PlastiCity
We’re a partner in a project that’s repurposing ‘lost plastics’ and developing ways to increase urban recycling rates to over 50%.
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FLOWER (Flax composites, LOW weight, End of life and Recycling)
This project aims to develop natural fibre composites that are environmentally-friendly, alternatives to glass fibre composites for the automotive, marine, and advertising sectors.
Researchers
Professor Steve Fletcher
Media ready expert
Dr Cressida Bowyer
Media ready expert
Dr Fay Couceiro
Media ready expert
Dr Keiron Roberts
Media ready expert
Dr Joanne Preston
Media ready expert
Professor Andrew Pickford
Media ready expert
Miss Antaya March
Media ready expert
Professor Hom Dhakal
News
Saving our UK coastlines by working in partnership
Keynote speakers announced for landmark conference to help end plastic pollution
Using art and song to help solve South African plastic waste crisis
New investigation reveals traditional roast dinner contains 230,000 microplastics
World needs ambitious 0% new plastic waste target by 2040
Blogs
Single-use plastic bans: research shows three ways to make them effective
Can aquatic plants trap microplastics in chalk rivers and streams
Events
Jun 20 2023
-Jun 22 2023
PlasticsFuture 2023: a forum for sustainable transformation
Collaborate with us
World leading research and practice doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why we're working with partners in business, government, the not-for-profit sector and academia around the world to understand the impact of plastic on our environment and develop solutions to reduce it. And we’re looking for more partners to join us.
If you share our ambition for a plastic revolution, please join us. We can partner with you on research projects, funding bids and commercial product innovation. You can also commission us to undertake research on your behalf.
Transforming Portsmouth
We’re putting our research into practice.
Together we want to transform Portsmouth into a global showcase for how to achieve a sustainable plastics future.
The city is home to an increasing number of organisations and groups advocating urban sustainability, ocean conservation and plastic waste reduction — such as Jetsam, a plastic-tracking app co-developed by one of our graduates. We also work with Portsmouth Football Club to arrange local beach cleans.
The Portsmouth Climate Action Board is chaired by Professor Steve Fletcher and the University partnered with the city council to run the first Portsmouth Climate Festival in 2021.
Our links to local organisations include:
- Jetsam – a plastic-tracking app co-developed by one of our graduates
- The Big Microplastics Survey – a project run in collaboration with Just One Ocean
- See Bin Sea Change – a programme which raised awareness of plastic pollution
- Portsmouth Climate Action Board – chaired by Professor Steve Fletcher
We want to work with more local organisations and are planning on hosting events, talks, surveys and other activities so you can get involved in the plastic revolution too.
If you’re part of a local organisation tackling the plastic problem and you want to collaborate with us, please get in touch.
Get in touch
If you'd like to find out more about Revolution Plastics, get involved with plastic surveys in Portsmouth, enquire about becoming a partner or tell us about your plastic related initiative, please contact us via the form below.
Alternatively, you can sign up to receive our Revolution Plastics e-newsletter. We'll send information about activities that might be useful to those with an interest in developing a sustainable future for plastics, including details of our conferences, events, research and opportunities to collaborate. We hope you find the information useful but if you don’t, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the e-newsletter.