jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people
  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Career Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • Advertise a Job
  • Recruiters
  • Your Account

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

career-advice.jobs.ac.uk

Secondary Sidebar

jobs.ac.uk Career Advice

  • CV and Cover Letter Advice
    • CV Tips
    • Free CV Templates
    • Cover Letters with Examples
    • Personal Profiles
    • CV Resources
  • Jobseeking and Interview Tips
    • Jobseeking Tips
    • Academic Interviews
    • Professional Interviews
    • Jobseeking and Interview Resources
  • Career Development
    • Academic Careers
    • Research Careers
    • Career Progression Stories
    • Professional Careers
    • Working in Industry
    • Career Development Resources
    • Global Careers
    • Working From Home
  • Women in Higher Education
  • FE Career Advice
    • FE CV & Interview Tips
    • Working in FE
    • Managing your Career in FE
    • FE Jobs Profiles
  • Resources
    • Academic Case Studies
    • Professional Case Studies
    • Job Profiles
      • Biological Science Jobs
      • Health and Medical Jobs
      • Engineering and Technology Jobs
      • Computer Science Jobs
      • Physical and Environmental Science Jobs
      • Professional Service Jobs
        • Business Development Manager Jobs Profile
        • Chef Jobs Profile
        • Civil Service Jobs Profile
        • Compliance Officer
        • Email Marketing Jobs Profile
        • Office Admin Jobs
        • Programming Manager Jobs
        • SEO Jobs Profile
    • Vlogs
  • Webinars
  • Country Profiles
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Ghana
      • Kenya
      • Nigeria
      • South Africa
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • United States of America
    • Asia
      • Bahrain
      • Brunei
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Malaysia
      • Qatar
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Dubai
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • Turkey
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Work in Vietnam – Country Profile
      • Work in Uzbekistan – Country Profile
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Denmark
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
  • PhD and Studentship Advice
    • Before your PhD
    • During your PhD
    • After your PhD
    • PhD advice
    • Studentship Resources
    • PhD Vlogs
  • Need help advertising a job?
  • About jobs.ac.uk
  • Ask A Professional
  • Academic Spotlight Interviews
  • Menu
    • CV and Cover Letter Advice
      • CV Tips
      • Free CV Templates
      • Cover Letters with Examples
      • Personal Profiles
      • CV Resources
    • Jobseeking and Interview Tips
      • Jobseeking Tips
      • Academic Interviews
      • Professional Interviews
      • Jobseeking and Interview Resources
    • Career Development
      • Academic Careers
      • Career Progression Stories
      • Research Careers
      • Professional Careers
      • Working in Industry
      • Career Development Resources
      • Global Careers
      • Working From Home
    • Women in Higher Education
    • FE Career Advice
      • FE CV & Interview Tips
      • Working in FE
      • Managing your Career in FE
      • FE Jobs Profiles
    • Resources
      • Academic Case Studies
      • Professional Case Studies
      • Interview questions tool
      • Vlogs
      • Job Profiles
        • Biological Science Jobs
        • Health and Medical Jobs
        • Engineering and Technology Jobs
        • Computer Science Jobs
        • Physical and Environmental Science Jobs
        • Professional Service Jobs
        • Civil Service jobs
    • Webinars
    • Country Profiles
      • Africa
        • Work in Egypt – Country Profile
        • Work in Ghana – Country Profile
        • Work in Kenya – Country Profile
        • Work in Nigeria – Country Profile
        • Work in South Africa – Country Profile
      • Americas
        • Work in Canada – Country Profile
        • Work in the United States of America – Country Profile
      • Asia
        • Work in Bahrain – Country Profile
        • Work in Brunei – Country Profile
        • Work in China – Country Profile
        • Work in Hong Kong – Country Profile
        • Work in India – Country Profile
        • Work in Japan – Country Profile
        • Work in Kazakhstan – Country Profile
        • Work in Malaysia – Country Profile
        • Work in Qatar – Country Profile
        • Work in Saudi Arabia – Country Profile
        • Work in Singapore – Country Profile
        • Work in South Korea – Country Profile
        • Work in Turkey – Country Profile
        • Work in United Arab Emirates – Country Profile
      • Dubai
      • Europe
        • Belgium Country Profile
        • Work in Denmark – Country Profile
        • Work in Finland – Country Profile
        • France Country Profile
        • Work in Germany – Country Profile
        • Work in Ireland – Country Profile
        • Work in Italy – Country Profile
        • Work in the Netherlands – Country Profile
        • Work in Norway – Country Profile
        • Work in Russia – Country Profile
        • Work in Spain – Country Profile
        • Work in Sweden – Country Profile
        • Work in Switzerland – Country Profile
        • Work in the United Kingdom – Country Profile
      • Oceania
        • Work in Australia – Country profile
        • Work in New Zealand – Country Profile
    • Studentship Advice
      • PhD
      • Studentship Resources
      • Vlogs
    • Need help advertising a job?
    • About jobs.ac.uk

How can we end plastic pollution?

beat plastic pollution

World Environment Day is on June 5, and this year’s theme is Beat Plastic Pollution.
This global call to action urges us to reduce plastic use and waste by embracing the principles of refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink.

The day highlights the mounting scientific evidence on the impacts of plastic pollution and reinforces the global commitment made in 2022 to end plastic pollution through a global plastic pollution treaty.

World Environment Day is an opportunity to celebrate the progress made in finding solutions through innovation, science, and global partnerships.

The impact of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution has become a pervasive environmental threat, affecting every country and community worldwide. Recent data highlights the severity of the issue:

  • Annual Plastic Production: The world produces approximately 430 million tonnes of plastic each year, with a significant portion being single-use items like packaging and textiles.
  • Plastic in the Oceans: Estimates suggest that between 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic are currently in the world’s oceans.
  • Microplastics in Marine Life: Microplastics have been found in 92% of fish consumed globally, posing health risks such as cancer, infertility, and neurological damage.
  • Recycling Rates: Globally, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled. The majority ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or leaks into the environment.
  • Plastic Decomposition: Plastic items can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, break down into smaller microplastics that persist in ecosystems and even then, this waste never fully disappears.

Cutting single-use plastics

As a material, plastic is easy to make, durable and convenient. It has transformed every area of our lives; from the clothes we wear to the food we consume. As a result, the global population has become addicted to throwaway plastic products. Single-use plastics make up around half of all plastics produced and the majority cannot be recycled. From food wrappers to bottle lids, most of us use these items every day without thinking about where they might end up.

UNEP estimates that global plastic pollution could be cut by 80% by 2040 if governments, businesses and individuals act to eliminate single-use plastics. In 2022, 175 nations endorsed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution by committing to drawing up a legally-binding agreement by 2024. The agreement focuses on the creation of a circular economy for plastic, which considers every stage of a plastic item’s journey, from production until after it reaches the consumer. The circular economy calls for worldwide implementation of a reduction in single-use plastic production, reuse of existing plastic, recycling and reorientation (finding new, sustainable materials to replace plastics).

However, the responsibility for reducing single-use plastic waste also lies with individuals. If we don’t use these items, fewer will be produced. Investing in reusable, everyday items and making sustainable choices at home, such as swapping cling film for food containers or shampoo bottles for soap bars, make a big difference in the fight against plastic production and waste.

Advocating for change on a local level is also a great way to cut single-use plastic waste. Confronting businesses about their use of these items, putting pressure on local authorities, and getting involved in anti-plastic activism will help put an end to single-use plastic pollution.

Beating plastic pollution through innovative research

Along with the small changes individuals can make, the fight against plastic pollution demands collaborative thinking and innovative research. Pioneering academic research into finding solutions to plastic waste is happening worldwide, such as studies into plastic-eating microbes or the development of Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP).

Higher education is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research into the development of plastic-free and sustainable products, materials and technologies. Researchers, lecturers and senior-level academics in physical and environmental sciences play a key role in leading research into human impact on the environment. They also shape tomorrow’s environmental science innovators and activists.

If you’ve just graduated in an area of physical and environmental sciences, you may be considering pursuing your interests in this area through a PhD studentship. Or perhaps you already have a doctorate and are looking for your first lecturing or research job in this field. You’ll find a wide range of exciting academic jobs in physical and environmental sciences – check out our current opportunities here at jobs.ac.uk.

Further information:

  • World Environment Day – Get Involved
  • Case study: Working as an Environmental Sciences Lecturer
  • Academic jobs in Physical and Environmental Sciences

Sources:

  • UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • UNEP-Clean Seas Pledge
  • Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP)
  • Greenpeace
  • UK
  • UKRI

What did you think of our article? - please rate

5 / 5. 1


Share this article

Kate Pynn

Freelance writer and journalist who creates dynamic, flawless copy for a range of national and international titles in print and online with over 12 years experience. Previously a senior journalist at a leading national press agency.

Reader Interactions

You may also like:

  • Students Engaged in Group Discussion in University Classroom

    The Teaching Tightrope: Presence Versus Pressure

  • female gas analyst

    The future of women in engineering

  • How to keep motivated halfway through the year

    How to keep motivated halfway through the year

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

three × 1 =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow us

Career Progression Stories - jobs.ac.uk

Latest Jobs

  • Associate Professor in Management Consulting

    Faculty of Business, University of Leeds

    Location: Leeds

    Salary: £59,139 - £68,529 Grade 9


  • Image Data Analyst

    RDM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford

    Location: Oxford

    Salary: £34,982 - £40,855 per annum : Grade 6


  • INFUZE Trial Officer

    Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds

    Location: Leeds, Hybrid

    Salary: £32,546 - £38,249 Grade 6 / pro rata


  • Bookings and Events Manager

    Sport and Physical Activity, University of Leeds

    Location: Leeds

    Salary: £27,644 - £31,637 Grade 5


  • PhD Studentship: Research Studentship in ‘Deformation and fracture of TRISO fuel particles’

    Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford

    Location: Oxford

    Salary: See advert for details


  • Clinical Research Midwife (Bank of Midwives)

    Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University

    Location: Swansea

    Salary: £21.55 per hour


Footer

jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people
  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Career Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Copyright © jobs.ac.uk 1998 - 2025

  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Careers Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people

Copyright © jobs.ac.uk 1998 - 2025