FOREWORD
Our legacy of actionable research
Foreword by Professor Steve Fletcher Director of Revolution Plastics , University of Portsmouth
Many of the articles within these pages are drawn from past issues of SOLVE , the University of Portsmouth ’ s magazine about actionable research . Together , these features trace the early growth of our Revolution Plastics initiative . Looking back over these stories , what strikes me is how far and how fast Revolution Plastics has grown and evolved in just a few eventful years . This feels appropriate for an initiative propelled by the need for radical , global change .
The challenges we face are both epochal and urgent . Yet for all our revolutionary zeal , as researchers we are guided by empirical evidence more than idealism . As we discover and innovate , the path before us constantly branches off into new directions . Our collective knowledge and insight , and that of our partners , equips us with the certainty to choose the right paths on our quest to turn the art of the possible into the craft of change .
Introducing the Global Institute for Sustainable Plastics
Since its inception in 2020 , Revolution Plastics has created a world-leading research community , developing high-profile global partnerships with academia , industry , NGOs , civic society and policymakers . Revolution Plastics and the University of Portsmouth are now recognised as working at the forefront of plastics research and innovation . The breadth and depth of the mission-driven research we undertake uniquely positions the University as a global research and innovation leader . It is time to go further .
I am delighted to announce the next stage in the evolution of Revolution Plastics : The Global Institute for Sustainable Plastics . We recognise that the global plastic pollution crisis cannot be tackled through mono-disciplinary research , nor by relying on technocratic fixes , governments or industry alone . Our only options are to draw solutions from multiple disciplines and to work in partnership with the wider global plastics community . The new Institute at the University of Portsmouth will do exactly that .
The new Institute seeks to urgently transform our understanding of the global plastics crisis through inclusive , solutions-focused research and innovation , to support the transition to a sustainable plastics future . We will do this through a transdisciplinary collaborative partnership that brings together leading international plastics-focused organisations from the policy community ( including universities ), plastics industry , NGOs , and community groups , with the University of Portsmouth to develop shared actionable solutions .
4 REVOLUTION PLASTICS / 2023