Improving the management of plastic packaging waste

Multidimensional Value Metrics for Assessing England's Plastic Packaging System and Monitoring Associated Targets

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and aimed to improve the management of plastic packaging waste. It mapped out and examined the plastic packaging system in England, and identified ‘intelligent’ new metrics that can be used for monitoring and assessing progress against Government targets. The project employed the Complex Value Optimisation for Resource Recovery (CVORR) approach in supporting the selection of metrics that are easy to understand by policy-makers and easy for citizens to see why they matter in a policy context. CVORR is a systems of systems approach and a methodology for monitoring progress within a network of interconnected systems. The project's report titled "Plastic Packaging - How do we get to where we want to be?" has been published on the DEFRA website in order to disseminate the findings broadly to UK local authorities.

The research report helped policy makers gain a better understanding of the plastic packaging system and how it operates including where inefficiencies arise in the system. It brought into the spotlight the concept of ‘producer responsibility’ for plastic waste, which has given DEFRA tangible evidence that the private sector is capturing value within the plastic packaging waste system at the expense of local authorities. This supports arguments and strategies that the producers should pay more than they currently do (e.g. via a taxation on production). The metrics recommended in the report are under consideration by Defra which is working on incorporating some of these into their new strategy with regard to recycling plastic packaging. The project has further helped DEFRA develop its strategy on environmental impact, specifically on litter and fly-tipping, and are using the report as evidence when reporting on their responsibilities to regulatory authorities.

Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project

Dr Eleni Iacovidou - My research focuses on sustainable solutions for resource and waste management, with a strong emphasis on circular economy strategies and sustainability assessment. I use a systems thinking approach (CVORR) to understand environmental challenges holistically and to identify points where practical interventions can generate the greatest value and impact. By considering not only environmental and engineering aspects but also social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions, my work highlights the multidimensional value of resource recovery systems. This approach helps create solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive, and supportive of a faster transition to sustainability. My research is primarily desktop-based and centres on five key areas: Plastic and plastic packaging systems – assessing sustainable pathways to circularity Textiles management – advancing prevention and reuse in a sustainable society Food waste management – addressing challenges for sustainable consumption and recovery Construction components – promoting reuse and modular structures Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – repair, reuse, and circular strategies In addition, I examine the effects of technological and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, and the impacts of informal recycling systems on society and the environment. I am also exploring how waste infrastructure can be tailored to area-specific contexts and how smart technologies can enable product and component tracking across the value chain. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide systemic and integrated sustainability assessments that support evidence-based policymaking, guide industry innovation, and foster academic collaboration. By applying systems thinking, I aim to reduce material leakage, extend product lifespans, and enhance resource efficiency, shaping a more resilient and sustainable future.

Related Research Group(s)

Sustainable Plastics - SPLaSH group combines the strengths of social scientists in the Department of Social and Political Sciences with colleagues working in the area of plastic pollution from Environmental Sciences, Design, Business & Marketing, and Engineering. We are leading experts on behaviour change, public health protection, resource and waste management, governance aspects and sustainability design.

Pollution Research and Policy - Predictive approaches in toxicology, including combined chemical exposures and development of new frameworks for non-animal approaches for predicting toxicity; Endocrine disruptor research with an emphasis on mechanisms of disease and test method development; Pollution monitoring, clean-up technologies and chemical analytics.

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Project last modified 09/01/2024