Pacific Plastics: Science to Solutions

The Pacific Plastics: Science to Solutions project brings together an international partnership, whose mission is to reduce plastic leakage in the Eastern Pacific region to conserve our oceans, protect marine wildlife, and support people whose livelihoods depend on the health of this unique ecosystem. The Eastern Pacific, an area of great ecological, economic and conservation importance, is under significant threat from ocean plastic pollution. Remote islands like Galapagos are especially sensitive to marine plastic, due to a combination of endangered endemic species and the high pollution load entering the Marine Reserve. Reducing the scale of plastic entering the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires a regional approach, addressing the cycle of plastic production, consumption and waste. Our network, led by the University of Exeter and Galapagos Conservation Trust, is supporting the development of a circular economy for plastics. We are working to identify the sources and drivers of plastic pollution in the region, describe the economic, ecological and social impacts, and implement interventions to reduce further plastic entering the ocean. By combining cutting edge science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement, we are ensuring that sustainable and effective solutions are implemented at a local level.