Researchers gather for the Plastics Research Forum at the University of Edinburgh
On 21st May 2026, After the Single Use co-organised the University of Edinburgh’s first ‘Plastics Research Forum' with the School of Chemistry and the Edinburgh Earth Initiative. Researchers from across the University of Edinburgh came together for the interdisciplinary event designed to connect scholars working on plastics across a wide range of fields.
The forum bought together expertise spanning social, political, and historical studies of plastics, alongside research in chemistry, medicine, engineering, synthetic biology, design, and sustainability. Through presentations, networking activities, and discussion sessions, participants explored opportunities for collaboration and identified shared challenges and interests.
The event reflected the growing breadth of plastics-related research taking place across the University and aims to strengthen connections between researchers working on different aspects of plastics, from microplastics and health to waste, materials innovation, and environmental sustainability.
The forum will form the basis of an ongoing network of plastics researchers, creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and future funding collaborations.
