Trade-offs in closing the food plastic packaging loop: occurrence and lifecycle fate of additives
This project pivots around the topical, yet niche area of the lifecycle fate of additives used in food plastic packaging applications. It aims to explore the trade-offs associated with the mechanical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, by focusing on the occurrence and lifecycle fate of intentionally and non-intentionally added substances. PET is the most commonly used plastic packaging for the containment of beverages, e.g. water and soda drinks, and the most widely collected plastic for recycling at both formal and informal recycling systems. Thereby, interrogating all processes – from manufacturing to end-of-life management – involved in PET drinking bottles lifecycle, the project will champion innovative thinking and challenge the sustainability of closing the plastic material loops via the employment of mechanical recycling processes.
The outputs of this project, will be of wider benefit to the academic community that is increasingly facing the challenge of understanding the impacts of plastic packaging in the environment and society. The systemic approach taken by this study will benefit academics and stakeholders alike, as it will provide evidence on the lifecycle fate of additives used in food plastic packaging. This, in turn, can be used to assess the effectiveness of multiple proposed interventions in the plastic packaging system, and lead to effective decision-making regarding future policy interventions. This is a rapidly developing cross-cutting research area and it yields support from a wide variety of individuals and groups, including the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the European Food Packaging Forum.
Dr Eleni Iacovidou - I am a Professor of Environmental Management and Director of the Centre for Pollution Research and Policy (CPRP) at Brunel University of London. I develop sustainable solutions for resources and waste management, focusing on circular economy strategies and sustainability assessment. My research asks how materials, components, and products can stay in use at their highest value for as long as possible, rather than becoming waste.
At the heart of my work is the Complex Value Optimisation for Resource Recovery (CVORR+) framework and toolkit, a systems-based decision-making framework I developed to examine challenges from a whole-system perspective rather than in isolated parts. It helps pinpoint where targeted interventions can deliver the greatest value and impact across the value chain. Because resource recovery is never only a technical problem, I consider its social, economic, political and cultural dimensions alongside the environmental and engineering ones. The aim is to develop solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive and able to accelerate the transition to sustainability.
My research centres on five key areas:
Plastics and plastic packaging systems – assessing sustainable pathways to circularity
Textiles – advancing waste prevention, reuse and repair
Food loss and waste – addressing challenges in sustainable consumption and recovery
Construction products and components – promoting reuse and modular design
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – advancing repair, reuse and circular strategies
In addition, I examine the effects of technological, market 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 local needs and how digital technologies can enable product and component traceability across the value chain.
The ultimate goal of my research is to provide systemic, integrated sustainability assessments that support evidence-based policymaking, guide industry innovation and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.