19 April 2024

What a dynamic two days at the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge Enabling Research Programme Event, hosted by the outstanding UKRI team at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton!

Gathering together 10 groundbreaking Enabling Research projects funded by the UK and spearheaded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) since 2020, this event was a melting pot of innovation and research.

From pioneering projects exploring plant-based and compostable plastics to those tackling reuse and refill solutions, communications strategies, and system optimisation for plastic packaging recycling, the range of topics covered was truly inspiring.

Thrilled to be part of an interactive panel discussion titled 'Reduction, Reuse, and Reimagining Materials,' Safia Qureshi from CLUBZERØ joined leading academics to delve into the implementation of sustainable plastics and the critical role of legislation in shaping the evolving policy landscape for plastics.

A heartfelt shoutout to all the remarkable researchers who shared their groundbreaking work - Mark Miodownik from UCL, Maria Piacentini & Dr Alison from Lancaster University, James Elliott from University of Cambridge, Dr Nisha Middleton from University of Strathclyde, Dr Garrath Wilson from Loughborough University, Dr Christian Reynolds from City, University of London, Dr George Fern & Lesley Henderson from Brunel University, Dr Tom McDonald from Unviersity of Liverpool, Thomas Webb & Sarah Greenwood from University of Sheffield, Professor Michael Shaver from University of Manchester, Steve Fletcher from University of Portsmouth and Ellen Ronn from Defra.

Special appreciation also goes out to the dedicated individuals who brought this event to life, including Dr. Paul Davidson, Dr. Heather Birch, Pat Jennings, Geraldine, Sally Beken, Stephen Hunt, and countless others!

Events like these are vital as we press forward in our collective fight against climate change. Let's keep the momentum going!