One-stop policy shop with solutions to end plastic pollution

plastic pollution

An analysis of more than 100 plastic policies from around the world is available at a new free online platform.

The Global Plastics Policy Centre (GPPC), is a “one stop shop” of independent, evidence-based advice on plastic policy. The new website from the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics research initiative comes under the GPPC umbrella, which was launched by Revolution Plastics at COP26.

At the heart of the website is an analysis of more than 100 plastic policies from around the world that have been analysed for effectiveness by researchers. These include policies such as national bans; taxes and/or levies on plastic products; consumer behaviour campaigns; recycling and waste management strategies; private sector initiatives, business model adaptation, and increasing producer responsibility.

Half of all plastic becomes waste within a year of being made and the vast majority isn’t recycled. Eleven million metric tons of plastic ends up in the world’s oceans every year. If nothing is done, it is estimated this figure will triple to nearly 29 million metric tons by 2040.

The GPPC online platform is designed to give governments and businesses the evidence needed to make informed, evidence-based decisions around plastic policies and give citizens the knowledge to understand the actions being taken.

The launch of the GPPC online platform is timed to support the international process to establish a global treaty to end plastic pollution. In March 2022, during the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Australia agreed to join a legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution and stop it from entering our oceans.

Professor Steve Fletcher, Director of the Global Plastic Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth, said: “By the end of 2024, the text of a new agreement to end plastic pollution should have been developed. Through the Global Plastics Policy Centre we can provide independent, evidence-based analysis and advice on plastics policy. We are now in a great position to feed our research into this ambitious process.”

“Until now, there has been no go-to source of independent evidence on the effectiveness of policies to prevent plastic pollution for policymakers or the public, nor a platform to share analyses or advice on plastic pollution policies. Given the urgency of tackling plastic pollution, the need to develop better policy to reduce plastic pollution is a priority.”

The current analysis will be supplemented with additional evidence and advice as further studies are completed.

The research was supported by the Flotilla Foundation, a registered charity with a mission to enhance mankind’s relationship with the marine environment.

The GPPC online platform can be viewed at www.plasticspolicy.port.ac.uk

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