The development of the Global Plastics Policy Centre was funded by the Flotilla Foundation, and is delivered by the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth.
About the Revolution Plastics Institute
The Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth aims to urgently confront the global plastics crisis through inclusive, solutions-focused research and innovation to support the transition to a sustainable plastics future.
The interdisciplinary research institute draws together colleagues from across the University, most notably from the Centre for Blue Governance, the Institute of Marine Sciences, and the Centre for Enzyme Innovation.
We see a critical space for the University as an independent, objective evidence provider at the interface of government, businesses, citizens, and researchers.
Who we are
The Revolution Plastics Institute directly employs around 15 staff based at its offices in Portsmouth, with a number of remote researchers. Research staff are divided into different projects based on their expertise and there exists a small core of finance, communications, technical and secretarial staff which provides support facilities.
There is further support and staffing from connected research centres within the wider university, broadening the Revolution Plastics Institute’s capacity significantly, having Research Fellows and Research Associates contribute on an ad-hoc collaborative basis.
Responsibility for management of the Institute lies with the director, Professor Steve Fletcher, who works with the research team to provide intellectual leadership of the research programmes.
Independent External Advisory Council
The Revolution Plastics Institute is guided by an independent external Advisory Council made up of senior executives from diverse organisations and sectors, including high-level policy agencies, NGOs and both national and multinational corporations.
The Council plays an imperative role in ensuring our research remains relevant, objective and effectively disseminated. The Revolution Plastics Institute has a wide range of stakeholders who are consistently engaged to ensure the feasibility and integrity of proposed solutions.
The Global Plastics Policy Centre core research team
Professor Steve Fletcher
DirectorI am Director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre and the Revolution Plastics Institute. I am a Professor of Ocean Policy and Economy and my key research interests include conservation, the sustainable blue economy, the deep ocean, and ocean literacy. My research and practice focus on creating sustainable outcomes for people and the planet, particularly the interconnected challenges of plastic pollution and the transition to a sustainable blue economy. I do research that generates meaningful societal outcomes and directly confronts biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.
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Antaya March
Research LeadI am the lead researcher of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, and a Senior Research Associate for the Revolution Plastics Institute. I have a strong background in marine resource management, the blue economy, the circular economy and marine plastics. I have been working closely with UNEP to help inform the development of a legally binding plastics treaty. I'm involved in a number of projects looking at sustainable transitions, marine resource management, nature based solutions and the social impacts of policy and governance. I also work closely with the Centre for Blue Governance.
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Dr Tegan Evans
Research FellowI am a Senior Research Associate with the Revolution Plastics Institute. My research interests include global plastics policy, plastic governance, circularity and the Global Plastics Treaty. I also work closely with the Centre for Blue Governance, and research blue economy transformations and transitions, ocean governance and ocean policy.
Laura Nieminen
Project CoordinatorI am a Project Coordinator for the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth. My current work revolves around supporting the UNEP process on international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. Before that, my projects have included consumer behaviour towards single-use plastics in Portsmouth, UK, exploring the connections between the plastics life cycle and climate change, and analysing the circularity potential within plastic and waste management policy frameworks in Southeast Asian countries.
Samuel Winton
Treaty PhD StudentI am a research associate who has worked in the Revolution Plastics team since it’s creation in 2020. With a background in environmental hazards and community preparedness, my main research focus is working with communities and a broad range of stakeholders to tackle environmental challenges. I have also conducted work with international organisations with a view to creating policies to tackle the global plastics problem and manage the environment in more sustainable ways.
Dr Keiron Roberts
Senior LecturerI am a Senior Lecturer in sustainability and the built environment. I have a strong background in waste management and policy, recently supporting the International Resource Panel on determining policies to eliminate marine plastic litter. Through the Global Plastics Policy Centre, myself, Prof Fletcher and Ms March have been producing work for UNEP to help inform the development of a legally binding plastics treaty. Alongside my work within the Global Plastics Policy Centre and the Revolution Plastics Institute, I work on multiple decarbonisation projects; ranging from developing hydrogen energy systems to mapping the global impact of COVID related plastics.
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