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• LEAF Gold Award, July 2026
  • The Williams group have been awarded a Gold level award for their LEAF submission again this year. Well done to the LEAF team and the whole group on their work to make sustainable changes to practical work in the labs.

• UK Catalysis Hub Conference, Harwell, 17^th-18^th June 2026
  • Congratulations to Dr Thomas McGuire on winning a poster prize, sponsored by RSC journals Energy & Environmental Science & EES Catalysis.
• Bordeaux Polymer Conference 2026 – June 1^st – 4^th
  • Several of the group presented their recent work at the BCP meeting and all had a great time!
  • Charlotte gave an invited lecture, with Dr Thomas McGuire, Dr James Runge and Balazs Striker also presenting their talks. Dr Hyun Suk Wang presented research from his previous position.
  • Dr Thomas Habets and Kira Mulcahy presented their posters, with Bonny Gao winning the Elsevier Poster Prize for her work on ‘Recyclable CO₂-Derived Plastics and Elastomers Toughened by Strain-Induced Crystallization’.
• Website Feature – Nature Chemistry Publication
  • A Nature Chemistry publication from the group has been highlighted by the department, showcasing a new predictive method for manufacturing low-pressure CO₂-based polymers.
  • Our work sets out detailed experimental measurement and understanding of how carbon dioxide pressure influences rates for the manufacture of plastics from carbon dioxide.  Our findings apply to many leading catalysts in the field, important as it helps tailor the best operating conditions for each catalyst.
  • Congratulations to DPhil student Rosie Thorogood and previous postdoctoral researcher Dr Katharina Eisenhardt for their exciting contributions to this topic!
• The SCHEMA Hub Spring Conference, University of Cambridge, 24^th-25^th March 2026
  • This two-day conference, organised by the SCHEMA Hub, brought together over 100 delegates working across many areas in sustainable chemicals and materials manufacturing, both in academia and industry.
  • Many interesting topics were discussed on working towards sustainability, including kinetic modelling, alternative feedstocks, life-cycle analysis, chemical and physical recycling, and utilising solar energy.
  • Several industrial leaders gave inspiring talks on some of the challenges to be overcome when taking research into commercialisation. It highlights the importance of these collaborative schemes to bring academia and industry together to tackle current global issues.
  • The conference was well attended by the Williams group, with Dr Alexander Craze winning the poster prize, sponsored by Green Chemistry, for his work titled ‘CO₂-Derived, Tough and Recyclable Poly(Cyclopentene Carbonate) (PCPC) Blends: Sustainable Thermoplastics’. Congratulations Sandy!

• Commercial Manufacturing of Carbon Dioxide Polymers, 23^rd March 2026
  • Econic Technologies announce the opening of the world’s first commercial-scale production site for carbon dioxide polyether carbonates by their partner Changua Chemical. The manufacturing plant is set to produce 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-polymers per year, with further scale-up of manufacturing planned at the site.
  • The manufacturing process applies Econic Technologies proprietary catalyst technologies. The new polymers, branded as Carnol™, have a 30 % lower carbon footprint compared to current commercial materials.   

• STEM for Britain, Houses of Parliament (March 2026)
  • Frederica (Freya) Butler was chosen to present her work as a poster for the STEM for Britain event in the Houses of Parliament.
  • This event aimed to communicate ongoing research to MPs and other researchers across a range of STEM fields
  • Freya’s poster titled ‘Catalyst Development for Circular Economy Plastics Production’ led to some interesting discussions over the one day event, including with her local MP Victoria Collins (Science, Innovation and Technology Spokesperson for Liberal Democrats).

• The Netherlands’ Catalysis and Chemistry Conference (NCCC) Plenary Lecture, 2^nd-4^th March 2026
  • Charlotte gave a plenary lecture at this NCCC meeting on Advance Chemistry & Catalysis through Mutual Stimuli. Her talk was titled ‘Catalysis for the circular economy: understanding and predicting performances in polymerizations and depolymerizations’.
• Congratulations to Kanyapat Yiamsawat on winning a conference talk prize (February 2026)
  • Kanyapat attended the Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference (PACCON) 2026, in Phitsanulok, Thailand.
  • Her talk titled ‘Balancing Performance and Environmental Impact: Recyclable Fluorinated Polymers in Solid-State Batteries‘ was recognised with an oral presentation award – well done Kanyapat!

• 2026 Cheetham Lectureship, University of California, Santa Barbara (January 2026)
  • Professor Charlotte Williams presented the 2026 University of California Santa Barbara Cheetham Lecture at the Materials Outreach Research Symposium at UCSB. 
  • The award lectureship was established in 2008 to honour scientists making outstanding impacts in the field of materials science with industrial applications.  
  • The symposium included presentations from researchers at UCSB working in Chemistry, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. Thanks to all involved for a great event and for the inspiring presentations and posters.

• UK Catalysis Conference, Loughborough, 7^th-9^th January 2026
  • DPhil Student Rosie Thorogood gave a talk in the Sustainable Polymer Synthesis session titled ‘Linear Free Energy Relationships for Accelerated  Ring-opening Polymerisation Catalyst Design’
  • PDRA Dr Katharina Eisenhardt gave a talk in the Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms sessions titled ‘Quantifying the Influences of Epoxide Binding in Epoxide/CO2 Ring Opening Copolymerization Catalysis’
• Faraday Success Story: ‘Polymer binders – towards more practical solid-state batteries’, January 2026
  • Work from the Williams group, and a cross-department team, working on the SOLBAT project has been highlighted by the Faraday Institution in their Research Advances section.
  • This work package resulted in the filing of two patents for novel cathode binder polymer materials for solid-state batteries, replacing harmful fluorinated materials to moderate volume changes in the cathode on discharge and recharge.
  • Dr James Runge, PDRA in the Williams Group ‘We’ve been able to demonstrate that our oxygenated polymers used as a binder could outperform fluorinated polymers both in terms of battery capacity and cycle life – and remove the need to use hazardous materials.’
  • Active discussions are now ongoing with Oxford University Innovation and potential licensees to commercialise this technology in battery applications.
•  Job Posting: The Williams Group is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Polymer Chemistry! The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday, Monday 5th January 2026. For more information and to apply please click here. 

•  Congratulations to Dr Lukas Wille for successfully defending his thesis to finish his DPhil studies (November 2025). Well done Lukas!

• Congratulations to Freya on winning the RSC Chemical Sciences for Sustainability essay competition, October 2025
  
  • Freya won the Europe and Central Asia category for her essay titled ‘From rags to riches: the role of the chemical sciences in transforming waste into valuable products.’
  • This insightful piece of work can be read in the RSC Sustainability journal (Butler F., RSC Sustainability, 2025, 3, 4858-4861)

• Congratulations Kanyapat Yiamsawat for being awarded an academic prize by Trinity College, October 2025
  • This prize was given for academic excellence in her graduate studies – well done Kanyapat!

• The SCHEMA Hub Autumn Conference 2025 – University of Oxford, 15-16^th September

  • The SCHEMA Hub Autumn Conference 2025 brought together over 100 researchers, industry leaders, and early career scientists for two days of discussion and collaboration at the University of Oxford - about double the number of delegates than our Spring conference.
  • The event highlighted the Hub’s commitment to advancing sustainable chemistry through interdisciplinary research, leadership development, and inclusive practice.
    • Congratulations to Dr Ella Clark for winning one of two poster prizes sponsored by RSC Sustainability.

• UK Catalysis Hub Conference – Harwell Campus, 1^st July 2025
  • The UK Catalysis Hub kicked off Phase III with its most popular Summer Conference yet—welcoming over 120 attendees to the Harwell Campus. Spanning two days, the event featured talks across four core themes: Digital Chemistry, Sustainability, Advanced Characterization, and Catalysis for Net Zero.
  • Freya Butler delivered a talk titled "Uncovering Structure-Activity Relationships in Sustainable Polymerisation Catalysis", presented at the UK Catalysis Hub Summer Conference (1st-2nd July).
    • In this presentation, generalisable structure-activity relationships were discussed for a series of Co(III)M(I/II) heterodinuclear catalysts, as applied to the ring-opening copolymerisation of epoxides with carbon dioxide and with anhydrides. A rationale for the observed correlations between catalytic activity and M(I/II) Lewis acidity was outlined, as well as the insights these correlations reveal into the distinct role of each metal in the polymerisation mechanism and intermetallic synergy. 

• EPF European Polymer Congress 2025, Groningen, The Netherlands, 22^nd – 27^th June 2025
  • Charlotte delivered a plenary lecture on some of the recent research in the group, titled ‘Polyesters: Selective Catalysis, Controlling Polymerisation & Understanding Recycling’
  • The biennial EPF conference is always excellent and this year’s theme of ‘Polymers for a Sustainable Future’ made for some exciting and important discussions around polymer synthesis, properties and materials applications
  • Thank you to the organisers European Polymer Federation, Royal Netherlands Chemical Society, Polymeer Technologie Nederland, and the University of Groningen for the invitation to speak at this event 

• Gordon Research Seminar and Conference – Mount Holyoke College, MA June 7^th – 13^th 2025

  • Kam Poon and Bonny Gao attended the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Polymers, held at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, earlier this June. Kam presented a poster featuring work on recyclable CO₂-derived elastomers with dynamic ionomer crosslinks at both the GRS and GRC. Bonny gave a talk on her DPhil work on high-performance polyester elastomers toughened through strain-induced crystallisation at the GRS and also presented a poster on toughening CO₂ – derived plastics and elastomers by strain-induced crystallisation a the GRC.

    Congratulations to Bonny was awarded a prize at the Gordon Research Seminar for her talk on her DPhil work synthesising high-performance polyster elastomers.

• Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) Spring Meeting, 3^rd – 5^th June 2025   

  • Balazs Striker and Georgios Kalimeris presented their ongoing joint research project early June in Eindhoven. The two Oxford-based PhD students gave their talk on the Dutch Polymer Institute’s (DPI) Review Meeting about synthesising renewable engineering plastics from CO₂ (Balazs, Chemistry), accompanied by extended mechanical testing and model development (Georgios, Engineering), generously funded by DPI. This meeting was a great opportunity to network with fellow DPI scholars & partners as well as learn about the future of polymer science & technologies.  

• Congratulations to Dr Edward Shellard for a successful viva to complete his DPhil (June 2025). Well done Edward!

• Congratulations to Dr Kam Poon on being awarded the prestigious Jon Weaver Prize for his doctoral thesis! A fantastic achievement and a testament to all his hard work throughout his time in the group. 
  • Dr K. Poon “I am delighted to share that I have won the 2025 Jon Weaver Prize for the best PhD in polymer chemistry in the UK! I am so grateful to the Royal Society of Chemistry Macro Group UK for awarding me the prize, and to my supervisor Prof. Charlotte Williams and my external examiner Prof. Andrew Dove for nominating me. It’s been a privilege to work on advancing sustainable polymer materials—thank you to everyone who has supported, challenged, and inspired me along the way!”

• Outreach, 24^th and 25^th April – Plastic Fantastic?
  • Kira and Kate helped lead an outreach workshop on creating sustainable plastics, inspired by the group’s research, to 4 classes of primary school children over two days.
  • The students received the materials in advance and then carried out their investigations in real-time, with the support from the Oxford team, encouraging lots of enthusiastic discussion!
  • Thank you also to Saskia O’Sullivan, Louise Hewson and Isabelle Thacker for your leadership and support in running these engaging events.

• Congratulations to Dr Alexander (Sandy) Craze for completing his DPhil (April 2025). We look forward to seeing his future research with the SCHEMA Hub.

• Burton Lectureship, Kings College London, 3^rd April 2025

  • Charlotte has been awarded the Burton Lectureship in Chemistry at Kings College London. Charlotte presented her lecture titled ‘Using Catalysis to Make and Recycle Polymers’ on 3^rd April 2025.

• Congratulations to Kam Poon on winning 1^st prize in the #RSCPoster online conference in the #RSCMat category!
  • Check out Kam’s poster here on the 3D printing of CO₂- and bio-derived degradable elastomers using digital light processing (DLP).
  • Here are a list of other winners in a range of fields – some excellent research on display!

• Frontiers Award 2025, MPI CEC, March 20^th 2025
  • Professor Charlotte Williams was awarded the Frontiers Award by the Max Plank Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion at a ceremony in March.
  • The award highlighted Williams’ research into sustainable polymer technologies, as well as her dedication to further education in polymers to a wider audience. This long-standing annual award has been honouring outstanding research and scientists since 1995.
  • Professor Williams gave a lecture titled ‘Forward and Back Again: Using Catalysis to Make and Recycle Sustainable Polymers’, which focussed on research efforts into the catalysis allowing the sustainable production of polymers from renewable and waste sources. This lecture also demonstrated how polymer materials can be chemically recycled back to monomers for further materials formation, closing the loop in the lifetime of the polymer.
  • Following this lecture, a poster session and further discussions with the research groups at the MPI led to some insightful discussions. It was a thoroughly enjoyable event. For more information, see the MPI CEC webpages

Charlotte is seen receiving her award from MPI CEC Research Directors Professor Serena DeBeer and Professor Walter Leitner. Photo credits © MPI CEC

• UK Catalysis Hub III launch event, London 6th March 2025
  • Professor Charlotte Williams is the UK Catalysis Hub Director which launched the UK CATALYSIS HUB III: Researching Catalysis for Net Zero and Sustainability, at an event in London. This £12.5m investment from EPSRC brings together 46 universities, along with further companies, partners and international labs to support and deliver research across catalysis over a 7 year period.

  • Further information can be found here or on the UK Catalysis Hub website.

• Sir Edward Frankland Lectureship, Imperial College London, 27^th November 2024
  • Charlotte has been awarded the Imperial College London Sir Edward Frankland Lectureship in Inorganic Chemistry for 2024. She presented her lecture on 27^th November in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London.

• DPI Annual Review Meeting 19-20 November 2024
  • Balázs, 2nd year DPhil student, won runner-up presentation prize for his talk “Engineering polymers from CO2 using advanced switchable catalysis” in the Performance Polymers review meeting of the Dutch Polymer Institute. He also presented a poster of his research on the annual review meeting taking place in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

• RSC Sustainable Polymers for Liquid Formulations Summit, London, 2 October 2024
  • Charlotte lectured at this one-day event bringing together researchers from universities, industry, and funders to highlight the opportunities for sustainable materials in formulations. Charlotte's lecture outlined the research challenges associated with the urgent need to re-design the plastics system for sustainability, and provided case studies of how our research team are tackling this global challenge. The lecture included highlights from our EPSRC prosperity partnership, Clean Future, with Unilever and the University of Liverpool, showing how our team are undertaking research throughout the the lifecycle of polymers for formulations and our approach to integrated digital technologies to accelerate research.

• Congratulations to Dr Kam Poon for completing his DPhil (September 2024)

• Congratulations to Dr Francesca Fiorentini for completing her DPhil (September 2024)

• RAPS2024, Durham University, 4-6 September 2024
  • Congratulations to Kam Poon who won a lecture prize for his talk on "digital light processing to afford high resolution and degradable CO₂-derived copolymer elastomers"

• International Symposium on Ionic Polymerization (IP24), Mainz, 1-5 September 2024
  • Charlotte presented one of the plenary lectures. Her lecture focused on structure-activity-selectivity relationships in controlled polymerisation catalysis using renewable resources.
  • Kat Eisenhardt, a 3rd year DPhil student, gave a talk on "understanding structure-performance relationships to heterodinuclear catalysts for epoxide/CO₂ ROCOP".
  • There was also a poster session where Dr Nora Jannsen presented her poster on "accessing high molecular weight engineering polyesters through precise epoxide/anhydride ring-opening copolymerisation"

• Williams lab awarded Gold LEAF!
  • A hat-trick! Our labs have been awarded a Gold LEAF Award for the third year in a row.
  • A huge congratulations to Mati, Thom, and Sandy for leading the drive to make our labs as sustainable as possible!

• IUPAC Macro 24, Warwick, 1-4 July 2024
  • IUPAC Macro 2024, the 50th World Polymer Congress | Warwick, UK | July 1-4, 2024
  • Charlotte presented the opening plenary lecture at the IUPAC Macro 24, the 50^th World Polymer Congress. Her lecture focussed on sustainable polymer, using carbon dioxide and bio-derived monomers to make thermoplastics, elastomers, and electrolytes with options to mechanically and catalytically chemically recycle the products after use.
  • The Williams team were at the conference in force with presentations from Dr Thom McGuire, Dr Ryan Kerr, Dr Matilde Concilio, Kam Poon, Edward Shellard, and Maddie Smith, and poster presentations from other team members.

• IUPAC Macro 24 Poster Prizes awarded to Bonny Gao and Sandy Craze!
  • Congratulations to Williams group DPhil students Bonny and Sandy who both won best poster prizes at the IUPAC Macro 24 Conference. Bonny was awarded the RSC Materials Horizons and Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B & C prize and Sandy the European Polymer Journal prize.

• Congratulations to our Part II students, Rosie and David, on their thesis hand-in and successful vivas (June 2024)
  • It's been a pleasure having them in the group and we're excited to see what they do next!

• The University of Oxford Statutory Chair in Inorganic Chemistry, 6 June 2024
  • Charlotte has been appointed as the University of Oxford Statutory Chair in Inorganic Chemistry. Statutory Professors are the most senior level of academic appointment at Oxford, providing academic leadership within their departments, in the wider University and beyond.
  • You can read more of Charlotte's reflections on research and the chair here: Charlotte Williams appointed to the Professorship of Inorganic Chemistry | Department of Chemistry (ox.ac.uk)

• Swiss Chemical Society Lectureship Award, Switzerland, 3-7 June 2024
  • Charlotte has been awarded a SCS Lectureship for 2024. She is lecturing this week in 5 universities on sustainable polymer chemistry (Universities of Geneva, EPFL (Lausanne), Basel, Bern, and ETH Zurich). The tour has been a fantastic opportunity to talk chemistry and materials science with academics across the country. With thanks to the local hosts Stefan Matile, Kay Severin, Tom Ward, Martin Albrecht, and Christophe Copéret and special thanks to Eva Hevia for all her work.

• May 2024: EPSRC Announce Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA) led by Charlotte Williams
  • The EPSRC have announced the successful Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (£11M investment) will be funded from 2024-2031. Charlotte is the principal investigator and founding director of the hub. The hub will prioritise research addressing the production of chemicals, polymers, and materials from renewable raw materials, such as biomass, carbon dioxide, and industrial wastes. It will apply integrated and efficient manufacturing processes, supported by computational and digital technologies, and link up different chemical and polymer end-using sectors. Research focusses on life-cycle design of materials to ensure they are recyclable and managed at end-life. The hub will support research across disciplines and departments at the Universities of Oxford, Bath, Cambridge, Liverpool, Cardiff, and York. It is supported by 30 industry, international, and catapult partnerships.
  • Read more here:
    • Hubs launched to create a sustainable future for manufacturing | UKRI
    • University of Oxford to lead new Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Research Hub | University of Oxford
    • University of Oxford to lead new Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Research Hub | Department of Chemistry
  • Keep an eye out for more information and news about SCHEMA in the coming months!

• May 2024: Chemistry World News Article on Future Chemical Industry and Interview with Charlotte
  • Chemistry World has a news feature on using renewable resources as future chemical industry feedstocks to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Charlotte was interviewed for the article as part of the Royal Society policy briefing and the recently announced Sustainable Chemical and Materials Manufacturing Hub is also highlighted.
  • Read the full article here: Biomass Plastic Waste and Carbon Dioxide Feedstocks Key to Cutting Chemical Industry's Emissions

• Royal Society Policy Briefing Launch: "Defossilising the Chemical Industry", London 8 May 2024
  • The Royal Society policy briefing "Catalysing Change: Defossilising the Chemical Industry" was launched today in London. The report emphasises the importance of developing the science and technologies which will allow the UK to decouple its future chemical industry from fossil fuels. It presents scientific explanations, written for the non-technical audience, of current options for sourcing chemicals and materials from biomass, carbon dioxide, and industrial wastes. The policy briefing was underpinned by consultations and expert input from leaders across academia and industry. Charlotte served on the working group for the report, collaborating closely with the experts in policy at the Royal Society; she presented today, at the launch event, on the science and technology options for the future chemical industry. There were also presentation from Prof. Graham Hutchings CBE FREng FRS, Prof. Matthew Rosseinsky OBE FRS, and Neil Johnson (Director, Department for Business and Trade) and a round table discussion and Q&A session with all presenters.
  • To read the briefing, please see: defossilising-chemical-industry-report.pdf (royalsociety.org)
  • To see more on the "defossilising the chemical industry" working group: Defossilising the chemical industry | Royal Society

 

• April-May 2024: Bürgenstock Stereochemistry Conference, Switzerland (28 April - 2 May)
  • Charlotte was invited to present at the 57th Bürgenstock Chemistry Conference of the Swiss National Science Foundation. She talked about recent results and chemistry enabling the production and recycling of polymers - how to design those materials for life cycle sustainability. With thanks to the organisers and committee for putting together such an inspiring and interesting conference where it's been fascinating to discuss and listen to cutting edge organic chemistry. For me details of the conference see Home (scg.ch). Below are photographs of the beautiful location (at sunrise), Charlotte after her talk, and a group photo of some of the female speakers who presented this year at Bürgenstock.

• April 2024: Inorganic Chemistry Graduate Symposium presentations for Sandy Craze and Edward Shellard
  • Sandy Craze and Edward Shellard, final year DPhil students in the group, gave excellent lectures at the Inorganic Chemistry Graduate Symposium.
  • Edward presented on the development of new Al(III)K(I) catalysts for epoxide/anhydride ring-opening copolymerization, including kinetic investigations of how protic compounds accelerate the catalysis.
  • Sandy presented on strategies to exploit precision polymerization catalysis to make new sequence selective block polymers which improve the properties of commercial bio-based PLLA. Sandy's work allows for toughening of PLLA without compromise to its recyclability or degradability.

• Congratulations to Dr Holly Yeo for completing her DPhil (March 2024)

The latest DPhil graduate is Dr Holly Yeo! Very many congratulations to Holly on a successful DPhil viva examination. Holly's thesis entitled "New Polymerization Approaches for Future Batteries" was co-advised with Prof. Mauro Pasta and Prof. Peter Bruce FRS in the Department of Materials and with Dr George Gregory (RS Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow). With thanks to the examiners Prof. Paul Beer and Prof. Remzi Becer. Holly has been a fantastic colleague and researcher in the group, working hard to develop new polymer electrolytes, binders and elastomers - her work has brought together our discoveries in switchable catalysis and block sequence selectivity, and also allows for the replacement of PFAS in solid state battery applications. Holly was funded by the OxICFM CDT and was also a key group member of the outreach team. She helped put together the London Design Museum Exhibition of Williams Group Chemistry for the 'Waste Age' Exhibition and undertook several other outreach and engagement activities for the Dept. Chemistry. We all wish her well in her future career in the civil service and in her move to Manchester.

• March 2024: Expectations of Chemistry in a Sustainable World, Royal Society and Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
  • The Royal Society and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities met together in London to present and discuss some of the opportunites for chemistry in delivery a sustainable future. Charlotte presented on recent work examining the global plastics system and on using carbon dioxide to make polymers. With thanks to the organisers; Dame Clare Grey FRS, Sir Richard Catlow FRS, Joachim Sauer ForMemRS, and Mathias Driess, for the excellent meeting and to all attendess for interesting perspectives and discussions.

• February 2024: iCAST Creative Hub Launch Event
  • Professor Charlotte Williams presented on the vision for innovation and co-creation of projects with industry. Dr Ryan Kerr and Dr Greg Sulley also attended the event which was held at Brunel’s Carriage Works, Swindon.
  

• ‘Cleaning up cleaning: policy and stakeholder interventions to put household formulations on a pathway to net zero’

  • Researchers from the group, along with a team in environmental economics at the Oxford Smith School and working with Unilever Home Care have jointly reported on the policy interventions required to improve sustainability of household products. Their aim is to reduce the consumption of fossil-fuel derived feedstocks used in many chemical formulations ubiquitous in everyday household products.

  • The report can be read in full here.

  

• ‘Designing a circular carbon and plastics economy for a sustainable future’ – Perspective in Nature published
  • A collaborative team from the Williams group, as well as other teams in law and environmental economics, published a perspective piece in Nature today detailing a set of ambitious targets to achieve a net zero plastic economy. Their report analyses the current plastic economy and several proposed scenarios to combat the multifaceted issues with current plastics manufacturing and use. They find that only the most drastic of measures will be sufficient to achieve substantial change by 2050. Their proposal for the future of the plastics economy centres on: a reduction on plastic consumption by half, replacement of all fossil-fuel-based plastics with renewable feedstocks, designing materials to enable 95 % of all plastics to be recycled, and minimizing environmental impacts by removing pollution and hazards to all organisms and decreasing the carbon footprint in their lifecycle.
  • The team have been advising the UN Environment Programme and UK Government to aid with the ongoing discussions around the second global pollution treaty, due for completion in 2024, focussing on the lifecycle of plastics.
  • The full article can be found here and this work is highlighted on the departmental website.

• January 2024: Collège de France and the Royal Society Building a Climate Resilient Society
  • Charlotte presented on carbon dioxide transformation into chemicals at the bilateral discussion meeting between the Royal Society and Collège de France. The meeting focussed on key challenges we need to solve to improve climate resilience in society.