The Pentland Centre is hosting a series of sessions designed for our Professional Services members, and open to Professional Services colleagues across the University, as well as academic colleagues who may not have expertise in the topic. The sessions are designed to present research expertise in straightforward language, making it easier for non-academic staff to engage with the speaker's work. 

This research explainer session, led by Dr Alison Stowell, will explore the challenges of reducing plastic use through the lens of the Plastic Free July campaign and the PPiPL project.

Plastic Free July is a global campaign that challenges individuals to avoid single-use plastics for the duration of a month, with the aim of reducing plastic waste and its impact on the world by altering our lifestyle habit.

The Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives (PPiPL) project team have been exploring these issues. Over three and a half years, we examined how plastic food packaging is embedded in everyday life—looking across the entire supply chain from production to disposal. A key focus was understanding the attitude-behaviour gap: why people who care about plastic waste still struggle to change their lifestyle habits.

In this talk, Alison will share insights about our experiences of taking part in Plastic Free July as a research team. She will reflect on the challenges they faced, what surprised them, and how theirr personal experiences connect with the broader insights from the PPiPL project. It’s been revealing—and sometimes humbling—when putting theory into practice.

NB: The seminar runs from 14:00-14:50 in LUMS WP B007 and on Teams. Please note that this session will be recorded.

All Lancaster University staff welcome - registration required. 

Please register below - registrations close Sun 6 July 2025. Please contact pentlandcentre@lancaster.ac.uk for queries re booking after that date.

Photo at top of page by PPiPL team.

Dr Alison Stowell is a Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Organisation, Work and Technology in Lancaster University Management School. Alison's research interests focus on societal, organisational and management responses to complex wastes (e.g. e-waste, plastics etc). She is interested in how a range of actors (companies, government, civic society, local communities and individuals) respond to waste and how these actors can develop inclusive solutions to waste generation or circular solutions. Specific areas of interest include: 1) how actors respond to waste policy; 2) how latent values are negotiated and attributed to waste; and (3) how actors respond to waste as a particular type of occupation. For all three areas, she is focused on the impact on society.

Health & Safety and access information:

• In order to safeguard everyone's health, if you test positive for Covid-19 before the event, or are feeling unwell in any way, please don't attend (and please let us know).
• The room is on the first floor, accessible via lift, flat, wheelchair accessible and has an induction loop. There is a wheelchair accessible toilet nearby.
• Accessible parking - there are 3 disabled parking bays at the top of Gillow Avenue (next to the West Pavilion).

Find out more about the Pentland Centre on our website