Our economies’ reliance on plastics is polluting and warming our planet. We will address why mainstream solutions to the plastic crisis do not work and show how bottom-up initiatives from across the world can transform the ways we relate to this material. There will be presentations and discussions, with fika!

Plastic is a ubiquitous material that we seem unable to live without. Yet, only 9% of plastics ever made have been recycled while more than 60% of it has ended up in landfills or in natural environments, polluting lands and oceans. Moreover, plastic is a fossil-based material, which also impacts the warming of our planet. Mainstream solutions usually assume that the plastic crisis can be addressed without altering the economy, falling prey to illusions of containment, clean-up and control. In contrast, many bottom-up initiatives have emerged across the world in the last decade. They directly confront unsustainable plastic practices, offering alternatives to how we produce, use and discard, as well as govern plastics.  

Programme

At this open event, we will address why mainstream solutions to the plastic crisis do not work and showcase how bottom-up initiatives can transform the ways we relate to this material. It is split into two interactive sessions, with a short fika break in-between. In each session, presentations will be followed by a discussion where everyone is welcome to ask questions and share their thoughts. 

The first session will provide general insights on environmental problems with plastics, problematise mainstream solutions and give a global overview of initiatives that address the plastic crisis. 

The second session will zoom in on two specific cases – Plastic Free City from Germany and reducing plastic use at Lund University.  

Join us for learning about and discussing fresh ideas on tackling the plastic crisis in a convivial setting with (vegan) fika!  

Speakers: 

• Ekaterina Chertkovskaya (Lund University)
• Bhavesh Gulati (University of Pisa, Italy)
• Johanna Gäbken (Plastic Free City, Germany)
• Vera Visser (Lund University)

Pre-registration

Sign up for the event here | survey.mailing.lu.se

The event is part of Sustainability Week 2025, which runs between 5-10 May. Sustainability Week is an annual event in Lund organised as a joint venture by Lund University and Lund municipality. The week serves as a platform for bringing together ideas, raising public awareness and for inspiring sustainable change.

See the full programme at hallbarhetsveckan.event.lu.se