The development of the Global Plastics Policy Centre was funded by the Flotilla Foundation, and is delivered by Revolution Plastics at the University of Portsmouth.
About Revolution Plastics
The University of Portsmouth is committed to tackling global plastics problems through Revolution Plastics, an interdisciplinary initiative that 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.
At Revolution Plastics, we are creating best practices for addressing plastics pollution, both internally and externally; generating a globally-relevant community of plastics researchers and contributing to the sustainable transition of the city of Portsmouth as a prototype and showcase for a sustainable plastics future.
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
Revolution Plastics 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 also always further support and staffing from connected research centres within the wider university, broadening Revolution Plastic’s capacity significantly, having Research Fellows and Research Associates contribute on an ad-oc 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
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. Read more about the Advisory Council here.
The Council plays an imperative role in ensuring our research remains relevant, objective and effectively disseminated. Read more about the Council here. Similarly, much of the work by Revolution Plastics has a wide range of stakeholders who are consistently engaged with to ensure the feasibility and integrity of proposed solutions.
The Global Plastics Policy Centre core team
Steve Fletcher
DirectorI am Director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, as well as of Revolution Plastics. I am a Professor of Ocean Policy and Economy, and Director of the Sustainability and the Environment research theme, at the University. My key research interests are in the field of ocean policy and economy include conservation, the sustainable blue economy, the deep ocean, and ocean literacy.
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Antaya March
Research LeadI am the lead researcher of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, and a Senior Research Associate with Revolution Plastics. I have a strong background in marine resource management, the blue economy, the circular economy and marine plastics. Alongside Prof Fletcher and Dr Roberts we 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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Laura Nieminen
Project CoordinatorI am a Project Coordinator in the Revolution Plastics research team at the University of Portsmouth. While I have a keen personal interest in high seas fisheries and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through my studies, 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.
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 Revolution Plastics 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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Tegan Evans
Research AssociateI am a PhD Student at the University of Portsmouth researching Transformative Change in Blue Governance, and a Research Associate with the Global Plastics Policy Centre. I am interested in how people and institutions organise to create change, what that looks like, and how it can be achieved in practice. I work closely with Revolution Plastics, the Centre for Blue Governance, and the School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences.
Sayyidah Salam
Research AssociateI am a Project Coordinator and Research Associate within the Global Plastics Policy Centre and Revolution Plastics. My research interests and projects include the impact of plastic pollution on the climate, using creative methods to find sustainable transitions to tackle plastic pollution and enhancing diversity and participation within environmental sciences and UK marine management.
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Judy Hilton
Research AssociateI am a passionate about sailing and have great concern about marine plastics pollution. This has led me to examine global plastics policy, especially recycling, extended producer responsibility and plastic pacts. I have interests in the area of green house gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle and the problems of glass-fibre reinforced plastic disposal.
Stephanie Northern
Research AssociateI am a Research Associate working on projects involving the analysis of plastic governance in the South East Asian region, primarily around preventing plastic pollution around the Mekong River basin. With various involvements in other interdisciplinary projects in Portsmouth that include citizen science surveys on plastic use and disposal trends, and creative community and schools engagement methods.
