Revolution Plastics – for a more sustainable world

If we don ’ t take radical action , the consequences of plastic pollution on our health and the environment will be catastrophic . To achieve a sustainable world , we ’ ve got to build a globespanning plastics economy based on circular principles .

Our Revolution Plastics initiative unites scientists , business leaders , campaigners and citizens to make change happen through research , innovation and global partnerships .

We ' re working to :

• Transform the potential of plastic recycling

• Reduce waste through innovative packaging

• Develop new , sustainable materials

• Further the world ' s understanding of microplastics

• Examine the effects of exposure to plastics on human health

Find out more at port . ac . uk / revolutionplastics

Restoring millions of oysters to the Solent

The native oyster is almost extinct in many areas around Europe – including in the Solent , the strait along Portsmouth ’ s seafront . We ’ re helping to bring them back from the brink .

We ’ ve collaborated with Blue Marine Foundation ( BLUE ) to open the country ’ s first oyster restoration hatchery in the Solent . It will provide a million native oysters a year .

Thanks to the native oyster ’ s astonishing capacity for keeping seawater clean by consuming algae , and the new habitats formed by reefs made of old oyster shells , this restoration project could transform the Solent ’ s water quality and increase its marine biodiversity .

New app to tackle sources of plastic pollution

The University has partnered with Portsmouth-based environmental technology company Jetsam Tech , whose app allows anyone to help map plastic pollution in Portsmouth .

Local people can use the app to submit photos of plastic waste they see in daily life . These photos will form a ‘ plastic heatmap ’, revealing when and where waste is building up .

Our researchers will use the data as an evidence base for solutions that will reduce the amount of plastic entering the sea and the wider local environment .

Your uni becoming climate positive

We ’ re working hard to achieve our vision of becoming a climate positive university by 2030 . That means we ’ ll go beyond net zero and save more emissions than we generate . It ’ s one of the most ambitious environmental targets of any UK university .

We encourage students and staff to live , think and work with sustainability in mind . You can choose to use less energy and water , reduce waste , and pick sustainable travel options .

Here ’ s some of the progress we ’ ve made :*

• our electricity is from 100 per cent renewable sources

• we ’ ve halved our carbon emissions from energy since 2009

• we ’ ve increased our recycling rate from 40 per cent to 70 per cent since 2011

• colour coded bins and specialist recycling points make it easy to dispose of your waste sustainably on campus

• students get involved in ecofriendly activities including organised beach cleans and a volunteering scheme to promote recycling

• we ’ re boosting biodiversity on campus with beehives on the grassed roof of Ravelin Sports Centre , and an urban orchard in Ravelin Park

• we aim for all our new buildings to achieve ‘ Outstanding ’ ratings for sustainable design from BREEAM ^† and ‘ A ’ ratings for energy use and carbon emissions

• we ' re eliminating single-use plastic from products sold in campus cafes

• we ’ re a Top 10 Vegan Friendly University in the UK , ^†† with 40 per cent of food on our menus being plant-based and rewards for choosing meat-free meals

• printed communications use paper and board from sustainable and recycled resources , vegetable-based inks , and laminates made from sustainable wood pulp – and like this prospectus , they ’ re all fully recyclable

* All facts and figures correct at the time of publication

†

The world ’ s leading sustainability validation and certification system

††

Veganuary and PETA rankings 2021

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+ 44 ( 0 ) 23 9284 4444 | myport @ port . ac . uk | port . ac . uk

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