Moving towards responsible consumption and production requires collaboration with the organisations that produce, supply, use and ultimately recover materials and resources.
At ARU, we work with businesses, charities, local authorities, community organisations and our students to translate circular-economy principles into practical action. These partnerships range from reducing waste and extending the life of products to changing consumer behaviour, supporting more sustainable supply chains and sharing research that informs policy. Our wider Sustainable Futures theme also engages regional, national and international stakeholders to help translate sustainability research into change beyond the University.
Influencing global action on plastic pollution
Professor Dannielle Green at our Applied Ecology Research Group is an internationally recognised leader in understanding the environmental impacts of single-use plastics, microplastics and cigarette-butt pollution. Her research has helped shape policy discussions at national and international levels and contributed evidence to efforts aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting more sustainable consumption. Her work also contributed to the landmark 2021 United Nations Environment Programme report, From Pollution to Solution, a global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution. The report highlighted that plastic pollution is contaminating every ecosystem on the planet and has helped inform international negotiations towards a global plastics treaty involving more than 175 countries.
Professor Green has served as an expert panellist for the European Chemicals Agency, providing advice on the environmental risks associated with replacing conventional microplastics with biodegradable alternatives. Her work informed discussions on the testing and regulation of microplastic substitutes and highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of products marketed as environmentally friendly. Uniquely, research led by Professor Green demonstrated that some biodegradable plastics can still have significant ecological impacts, helping improve understanding among regulators and policymakers responsible for reducing plastic pollution.
Through direct engagement with industry, Professor Green has worked with organisations to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and improve environmental performance. Her research informed sustainability initiatives at DP World London, helping the organisation reduce its single-use plastic footprint and improve waste management practices.
Reducing cigarette-butt pollution and influencing producer responsibility
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world and contain plastic filters that can persist in the environment for many years. Research led by Professor Green demonstrated that smoked cigarette butts significantly reduced plant growth, with clover root biomass found to be 60% lower when cigarette butts were present. The research has been used to inform discussions with policymakers and contributed to efforts to introduce producer responsibility measures for tobacco products. Dr Green's evidence has supported calls for stronger regulation of cigarette filters and for cigarette litter to be treated within wider single-use plastics policy frameworks.
Reducing waste through community reuse
We promote a culture of reuse through partnerships with community organisations such as the British Heart Foundation. Through the Big Green Move Out scheme, students donate unwanted household goods, clothing and other items for reuse and recycling at the end of the academic year. By diverting materials from disposal and extending the lifespan of products, the initiative helps reduce waste while supporting charitable causes and encouraging more responsible patterns of consumption among students.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.