saving our planet from a sea of plastic - nerc
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IMPACT
Saving our planet from a sea of plastic
NERC science is delivering solutions to one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges: plastic waste. Research we funded enabled the 2018 ban that prevents billions of microbeads from entering our oceans.
Why it mattersPlastic has a role in almost every aspect of our lives, but there is mounting concern over its environmental impact. Discarded plastics contaminate vital ecosystems and threaten the food chains we rely on. An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste – enough to fill eight Wembley Stadiums – enters the world’s oceans each year1. Pieces under 5mm long (called ‘microplastics’) are of particular concern.
What we didSince the mid-2000s, NERC science has examined the extent and effects of plastic pollution throughout the environment, uncovering its presence everywhere from UK river basins and soils, to remote oceans and the Antarctic
landmass. NERC’s support for world-class science, research infrastructure, innovation and training has revealed the hazard to both wildlife and people from long-lasting plastic pollution and helped to deliver practical solutions to the problem.
For example, NERC scientists:• Were the first to predict that
microplastics could be widespread in the marine food chain and provide evidence that this is the case.
• Provided the first-ever evidence of microplastics in UK freshwater environments in research published by NERC’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
• Delivered a co-funded study revealing deep-sea creatures were ingesting microfibres.
NERC’s impact in numbers
fewer microbeads enter our oceans
each year
4,000 tonnes
86% fewer plastic
bags used
12 million UK viewers informed about the dangers of plastic waste by Blue
Planet II10
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Impacts and benefits• 4,000 fewer tonnes/year of plastic enters the oceans2
thanks to the 2018 UK ban on plastic microbeads in certain products. This ban enacted Environmental Audit Committee recommendations3 informed by NERC scientists. NERC research also supported policy changes in the US and Canada, and helped the UN frame its policy advice on plastic pollution.
• Retailers reduce plastic bag use by 86%4 following introduction of the 5p ‘plastic bag tax’ across the UK between 2011 and 2015. The policy introduced in England specifically referenced NERC research.
• Surging awareness of plastic pollution as a direct result of input by NERC-funded scientists into the final episode of Blue Planet II5, which helped trigger global debate and a shift in attitudes. The ‘Blue Planet effect’ has been cited in many actions by government and businesses. More than a quarter of a billion people worldwide watched the series6.
February 2019
Some of the scientists behind the successes
1. United Nations Environment Programme (2017). Online statement. http://bit.ly/2MPvwyA [accessed December 2018].2. NERC (2018). Website article. http://bit.ly/2GkMXWS [accessed December 2018].3. House of Commons (2016). Environmental Impact of Microplastics. http://bit.ly/2S9xksb [accessed December 2018].4. DEFRA (2018). Official figure for England, covering the seven largest retailers. http://bit.ly/2Ga2VDW [accessed December 2018].5. BBC (2017). Online extract from Blue Planet II. https://bbc.in/2MNXxqD [accessed December 2018].6. E.g. HM Treasury (2018). Tackling the Plastic Problem. http://bit.ly/2RA66G8 a list of companies is included in an October 2018 news article. http://bit.ly/2WFaSG9 [accessed December 2018].7. HM Government (2018). Press release. http://bit.ly/2D9Vusr [accessed December 2018].8. PRIF is managed by UKRI and delivered via EPSRC, Innovate UK, and NERC. Tackling the plastics problem https://www.ukri.org/research/themes-and-programmes/tackling-the-plastics-problem/ [accessed January 2019]. 9. NERC (2018). Website article. http://bit.ly/2WI0ehJ [accessed January 2019].10. Official viewing figure for Episode 7 from BARB for week ending 10 December 2017. http://bit.ly/2GmtGUM 11. Professor Tamara Galloway, Professor Brendan Godley and Dr Ceri Lewis, University of Exeter ; Professor Richard Thompson OBE and Professor Steven Rowland,
University of Plymouth; Dr Penelope Lindeque and Dr Matt Cole, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).12. NERC (2018). Website report on the NERC Impact Awards. http://bit.ly/2UEM5A2 [accessed December 2018].13. BBC (2017). Online extract from Blue Planet II. https://bbc.in/2MNXxqD [accessed December 2018].
Our investment in research and training delivers the skills and expertise necessary to address complex social, economic and environmental challenges. The many NERC-supported scientists who have made key contributions in this area include:
Professors Tamara Galloway, Richard Thompson OBE and Dr Penelope Lindeque: Tamara, Richard and Penelope are world-renowned authorities on marine pollution. Working with colleagues11 they were the first to predict that microplastics could be widespread in the marine food chain and provide proof of it. They gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee in 2016 and were part of the team that won the 2018 NERC Impact Awards12.
Dr Lucy Quinn: As a specialist on the marine environment working for NERC’s British Antarctic Survey, Lucy gave a compelling interview to Blue Planet II about her work13. This was a key part of the programme’s message about the harmful impacts of plastic waste on wildlife.
Dr Chris Sherrington: After securing his NERC-funded PhD, Chris joined consultants Eunomia and is now an acknowledged authority on topics such as microplastics produced by tyre wear. He has provided important input to the European Strategy for Plastics, and also gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee.
Investing for the futureOn behalf of UKRI, NERC and Innovate UK lead a coalition that aims to make the UK a leader in sustainable plastic packaging and in reducing its environmental impact. The government has announced up to £60 million of funding7 for this initiative. This is in addition to the £20 million Plastics Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) aiming to explore new ideas that can change UK plastics manufacturing and consumption patterns8 NERC also leads a collaboration between UKRI and think tank Policy Connect to engage parliamentarians and industry with research to guide UK solutions for managing its waste plastic and reducing how much enters our environment9.
Award-winning microplastics researchers.