The Sustainable Plastics Policy Commission

In January 2023, we launched a Call to Action Report, which outlined a forward strategy to move beyond fragmented solutions to the plastics problem and presented a clear interest in creating solutions that are interdisciplinary, inclusive, and holistic. One of the key conclusions of this report was that whilst academia, business, policymakers and publics can all provide parts of the solution, there is an urgent need for a systemic approach which encompasses the whole plastics lifecycle.

Since then, the vision has developed into a large-scale Policy Commission, which we have had the privilege to lead on this last year. For perhaps the first time, this Commission has enabled us to engage with the plastics waste problem, considering economic, environmental, and social impacts and developing comprehensive and evidence-based recommendations to tackle an issue that has seen the same challenges and piecemeal solutions presented for decades.

This area of inquiry presented a unique challenge due to the sheer breadth and depth of the issue. Throughout our evidence sessions, we have addressed a vast range of sectors across the entire plastics lifecycle, with each sector and lifecycle stage presenting enough information for a Policy Commission in its own right. It was essential that we had expert insights from a range of stakeholders, so we are grateful for the time and energy that all of our Commissioners and Witnesses have contributed to this project. The information presented to us throughout these sessions has been invaluable in seeking well-rounded, evidence based solutions to the plastic problem, from production through to end of life.

We know that the plastic waste problem is not static and that the challenges it presents to society will continue to change as more is learned about the unique impact, challenges, and opportunities that these materials present. The recommendations outlined in this report should be seen as a way to improve our relationship with plastics now, with further considerations for longer-term action referenced in the report body. Overall, we wish to highlight the significant need for collaboration and cooperation in this area to continue to create meaningful change and to build a sustainable future for plastic across its entire value chain.

Professor Andrew Dove and Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker