Brought to you by Chemistry

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, L...

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...

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 he...

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, ...

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 sc...

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 techniq...

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. Hosted...