Environment and Plastics Research Network

Understanding and tackling the impacts of plastic pollution through interdisciplinary research.

Problem

Plastic pollution has become a significant global problem with far-reaching consequences that threaten our planet's health and well-being. Each year, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally, and up to 91% of this plastic waste is not recycled, instead, it ends up in our oceans, landfills, and even in our food and water systems.

As plastic production continues to increase, so does the severity of its environmental impact posing a threat to both wildlife and human health. The difficulty in recycling plastic exacerbates this issue, as well as the release of harmful chemicals during their degradation into the surrounding environment.  Therefore, plastics present an urgent global challenge where science-led interventions, sustainable policies, and changes in our production, consumption and disposal of plastics are crucial.

Aims

Our research network was established with the goal of uniting experts from various academic disciplines across the university, including the School of Chemistry, School of Engineering, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, School of Psychology, and the Business School. By sharing knowledge and resources, we aim to produce cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that addresses the complexity of plastic and its environmental impacts and provides solutions to solve this global problem.

We aim to build on the university’s track record of internationally-leading research on plastics to foster partnerships and build collaborations with communities and stakeholders impacted by plastics. By working closely with these groups, we seek to develop solutions that are effective, equitable and sustainable.

We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our research, team members, and current projects. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or ideas for collaboration. Together, we can work towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

Themes

Research

• Allison, T. et al. 2023. Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade? Science of the Total Environment 894, doi
• Al-Moftah, A.M.S.H. et al. 2021. Thermal Decomposition Kinetic Study of Non-Recyclable Paper and Plastic Waste by Thermogravimetric Analysis. ChemEngineering 5(54), doi
• D’Souza, J.M., Windsor, F.M., Santillo, D., Ormerod, S.J. Food web transfer of plastics to an apex riverine predator. Global Change Biology 26(7), pp. 3846-3857. doi
• Guschina, I.A. et al. 2020. Polystyrene microplastics decrease accumulation of essential fatty acids in common freshwater algae. Environmental Pollution 263, Part B,  doi
• Jâms, I.B et al. 2020. Estimating the size distribution of plastics ingested by animals. Nature Communications 11(1594), doi
• Liu, P. et al. 2022. Microplastic atmospheric dustfall pollution in urban environment: Evidence from the types, distribution, and probable sources in Beijing, China. Science of The Total Environment 838, Part 1, doi
• Lofty, J. et al. 2023. Microplastics in the riverine environment: Meta-analysis and quality criteria for developing robust field sampling procedures. Science of the Total Environment 863(5), doi
• Lofty, J. et al. 2022. Microplastics removal from a primary settler tank in a wastewater treatment plant and estimations of contamination onto European agricultural land via sewage sludge recycling. Environmental Pollution 304, doi
• Stone, C. et al. 2020. Natural or synthetic – how global trends in textile usage threaten freshwater environments. Science of the Total Environment 718, doi

Academic Staff

Board

Network Champions

Events

Past Events

Plastics For Future Generations: Panel Discussion & Research Talks

14th June 2023

In this networking conference, we invited stakeholders and Cardiff University researchers to discuss challenges and opportunities related to plastics. The discussions revolved around the themes of environmental pollution, consumer behavior, waste management, circular economy, and production.

To hear about the research talks and panel discussions, we invite you to watch our conference video recording.