Assessing plastic policies around the world
Plastics have been found in every location that has been surveyed, from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the Himalayas 鈥 and even in human blood.
And plastic has another, less visible, environmental impact 鈥 climate change. are used for plastic production each year. With the anticipated growth in the plastics sector, by 2050 production and disposal will be responsible for up to . Plastic pollution is also reducing the resilience of communities and the natural world to cope with the effects of a changing climate.
Plastic pollution is a global, transboundary problem requiring urgent coordinated policy action on all levels, from local to international.
Addressing the plastic problem
Around the world, many countries and businesses have adopted measures to reduce plastic pollution, including banning certain plastic items such as bags or straws, introducing better waste collection, sorting and recycling facilities, and introducing taxes to discourage the use of certain plastics in products. But it鈥檚 not enough to look at interventions in isolation. The entire lifecycle of plastics must be considered holistically to identify sustainable solutions.
To do so, evidence-based analysis of plastics policies is needed to help policy-makers and decision-makers successfully tackle plastic pollution and its effects on people and the planet. And this is exactly what the aims to achieve.
Current policies to tackle plastics
We鈥檝e found that the existing plastic policy landscape often addresses specific plastic products or stages within the plastic lifecycle in an isolated way that inhibits joined-up approaches to tackle the plastic problem.
Currently there are no global agreements that offer an all-encompassing framework for plastics sustainability. But the commitment from 175 nations to end plastic pollution, agreed at the UN Environment Assembly in March 2022, offers a pathway for a legally-binding agreement to be in place by 2024. The Global Plastics Policy Centre is playing a key role in generating evidence to inform the agreement and its subsequent implementation.
What is the Global Plastics Policy Centre?
The Global Plastics Policy Centre is the first of its kind. It鈥檚 designed to give governments and industry groups the evidence needed to make better decisions on plastic policies. It鈥檚 one of the core research centres of the University鈥檚 Revolution Plastics Institute.
Focused on positive change, the Centre analyses plastic policies as they are developed around the world. It provides a central point for information, effectiveness and barriers to plastics policy success. We aim to convene a global community around plastics policy.
In July 2022 the Centre launched an online platform with resources, case studies and videos to showcase effective practice in plastic policy. Our researchers believe this unique resource will ultimately help reduce the negative impacts of plastics.
News from the Centre
Global Plastics Policy Centre advocates for trade measures to promote reuse systems at WTO event
GPPC urges delegates at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) event to focus on trade measures that encourage the adoption of reuse systems.
Plastic experts urge world leaders to prioritise 'Reuse'
Researchers from the Revolution Plastics Institute delivered an important message to negotiators at the fourth round of Global Plastics Treaty talks in Canada 鈥 reuse systems are key to success.
A global plastics treaty is being negotiated in Ottawa this week 鈥 here鈥檚 the latest
Researchers from the GPPC give an update on the crucial negotiations taking place in Ottawa, Canada, from 23-29 April
Research outputs
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We鈥檝e independently reviewed over 150 plastics policies and initiatives from around the world, including bans on single use plastics, incentives such as subsidies/tax rebates, regulations on recycling and waste management. Each policy has been scored against criteria to determine its effectiveness and to identify barriers to progress. In light of this evidence, we offer recommendations to enhance future policy making.
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Antaya March, Dr Keiron Roberts and Prof Steve Fletcher from the Global Plastics Policy Centre were the lead authors on this report. It was commissioned by UNEP to inform the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.
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Focusing on select 鈥渉ot topics鈥 from the treaty negotiations, our policy briefs bring together key evidence from various data sources to shed light on each topic and aid the countries in their decision making journey. Published around each Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting, the first looked at the , and the second highlighted the . You can track our treaty-based research, the progress of the negotiations, and updates from each meeting .
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We're working with stakeholders to use their lived experiences to inform the development of the Global Plastics Treaty and national level policy. The first was a piece of legislative theatre highlighting the challenges that informal waste pickers face and what an effective plastics treaty should consider to ensure their needs are met.
Funding
The Global Plastics Policy Centre is supported by the Flotilla Foundation, the UN Environment Programme, the World Bank, and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Contact us
For further information about the work of the Centre, please contact globalplastics@port.ac.uk.
Interested journalists can contact the University's Media and Communications team for support and advice on all media engagement.