In this short episode Royal society of chemistry journalist, Lizzy Ratcliffe, speaks with Historian Alex Hall about the history of plastics, the pros and cons of this innovation, and how public perception has evolved over the last four decades. Produced by Lizzy Ratcliffe, Kathy Page and Hiren Joshi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do plastics have a part to play in a sustainable future? And what innovations are on the horizon? In the final episode of our inaugural podcast series we speak to Professor Charlotte Williams, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Oxford University, and Dr Joanna Sadler, Edinburgh University, both who are working on the tricky problem of how to make plastics fit for the future.  Our reporter, Lizzy Ratcliffe, catches up with Rob Nicoll, Co-Founder, CMO of Chip[s] Board® - who develop...

What are biodegradable plastics? And are they the same as compostable plastics? What about bioplastics? And are any of them better for the environment than alternatives? This week we’re talking all things degradation, with a special focus on composting. We'll be hearing from Lesley Green and Professor Helen Hailes from University College London's Big Composting Experiment – they will tell us what happened when participants buried various plastics marketed as degradable in their compost heaps....

What makes a plastic recyclable? How can we design a plastic to be as sustainable as possible? And how does the way that we design specific products affect their impact on the environment?  In this episode we do a deep dive into the science of plastics – looking at how we might design plastic products with sustainability in mind. Dr Jenni Garden from the University of Edinburgh talks us through her research into different types of materials, while Mark Pawsey MP brings his 25 years experience...

Where does your plastic go? What does it turn into? And how much of what we put in the  recycling  bin  actually gets  recycled?  In this episode we bring together guests from all stages of the recycling process, from designing the plastics to managing our local recycling infrastructure. Professor Mike Shaver, Director of the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at the Henry Royce Institute, Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy and Council member Jess David,...

Microplastics are everywhere, from the water we drink to the air that we breathe. But can they hurt us? And what are scientists doing to find out? Our guests for this episode, Professor Paul Anastas, Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones and Professor Claire Gwinnett join us to share their vast experience on this topic, looking at everything from the marine environment to the clothing industry, and from the science laboratory to the corridors of power. Hosted by Alex Lathbridge Produced by Elisabeth...

As consumers we only see a small fraction of the life cycle of a product, and we're often very concerned about where it goes after we've used it, but what happens before that point? How is the product made, how is it transported, and what impact does all of that have on the environment? Research Fellow Charnett Chau is an expert in Life Cycle Assessment. She talks us through how scientific techniques can help us assess the overall impact of a material on the environment. Meanwhile, Ruth...

What would a world without plastics look like? Should we get rid of them all OR is there a place for plastics in a future society? To debate this sustainability issue is Tom Welton, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry at Imperial College London, and wildlife & natural history presenter Liz Bonnin. Hosted by Dr. Alex Lathbridge. Produced by Elisabeth Ratcliffe, Kathy Page and Hiren Joshi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.