The conference “STEPS Towards Sustainable Plastics” will present insights from national and international speakers and organisations on the various aspects for a sustainable plastic system such as decoupling plastic production from fossil resources, polymer and plastic design, recycling methods, policies and governance for a circular plastics economy.

Background

For over a decade, concerns about the problems with the widespread use of plastics and its disposal into the environment, have been growing. Inspite of the many economic and environmental benefits provided by plastics, these materials have come to be seen in a negative light. Nevertheless, this has created a much-needed momentum for taking on the many challenges of the current plastic system such as climate impacts of fossil-based plastic materials, a low degree of reuse and recycling, and microplastics in the environment through research and development and innovation for transition to a sustainable plastics system.

Who is it for? 

A broad audience including researchers from universities and organisations, students, industry scientists and managers, policy makers, and civil society.

Call for abstracts

The conference will comprise oral presentations by invited speakers, poster presentations and a panel discussion. We invite you to submit abstracts if you are interested in presenting your research or organisation with relevance to the scope of the conference: renewable building blocks and polymers, polymer design and recycling, and plastics governance. A few abstracts for posters will be selected even for oral presentations.

Please send in half a page abstract (250 words maximum) latest by 15th May 2024. You can find details on how to sumit your abstract on the STEPS conference page.

If you have been selected to be part of the programme, you will be notified by email by mid-June.

Registration and conference fee

As the number of participants will be limited, registration to the conference is compulsory. We encourage you to register as soon as possible, however no later than 30th June 2024.

We charge a nominal conference fee of 1500 SEK (145 euros) excluding VAT, payable by 31st July 2024. Students have to pay a discounted fee of 500 SEK only. No refunds will be made.  Once you register, you will receive a separate mail with payment information. 

Read more about the conference and register

Organisers

The conference is organised by STEPS, Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways. STEPS research programme was initiated in 2016. Our vision is a future society in which plastics are sustainably developed, produced, used and recycled in a circular economy. It is led by Lund University.

STEPS is based on close collaboration between our researchers and industry partners. Our consortium includes Lund University, University of Copenhagen, RISE, IVL, 22 industrial partners and the Regional Council of Scania.

STEPS is funded by Mistra Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning.