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“Because of the work we’ve been doing, we’ve stopped it getting worse.”— Professor J Iwan Jones
Queen Mary researchers are tackling microplastic pollution
Plastic pollution is an urgent global environmental challenge, with up to 23 million tonnes entering water ecosystems every year. Working in partnership with 18 organisations across France and England, the Preventing Plastic Pollution project, led by Professor J. Iwan Jones, Head of the River Communities Group at Queen Mary, seeks to understand and reduce the impact of plastic waste, from source to sea.
By combining scientific research, citizen engagement, and policy development, the project identifies pollution hotspots, encourages behavioural change in communities and businesses, and delivers practical, evidence-based solutions.
This collaborative work has produced the UK’s largest open-access resource on river plastic pollution, enabling researchers, policymakers, and communities to identify pollution sources, track progress, and shape effective strategies to protect ecosystems and guide future environmental policy.
Read more about the project.
Key achievements from the Preventing Plastic Pollution project
107 tonnesplastics removed
from rivers and coastlines across England and France
6.1% improved river health in project areas
1,469kmof rivers and coastlines cleaned
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