A Keele University researcher is working with partners to ensure environmental initiatives such as single-use plastic reduction are inclusive and accessible to as many people as possible. 

Dr Abigail Pearson’s new project, funded by the National Lottery community fund, will see her working with partners including Everyday Plastic, Disability Rights UK, and Global Learning London, to move conversations away from simply banning single-use plastics, to acknowledging the difficulty of moving away from single-use plastics from some groups such as disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. 

Recent environmental campaigns around the world, including the UK banning plastic straws in 2020, have drawn attention to the significant problem of single use plastic pollution, and the impact it can have on the environment and wildlife.  

However, Dr Pearson and her colleagues say that an outright ban on these products can create disproportionate challenges for some groups, such as people with disabilities who might have difficulty using alternatives such as metal straws, or people on lower incomes who may rely on cheaper plastic packaged fruits and vegetables as opposed to loose alternatives. 

The goal of the project, therefore, is not to oppose sustainability initiatives, but to encourage policymakers to design sustainability and environmental policies that embed inclusion from the outset. 

As part of the project Dr Pearson will be contributing her specialist understanding of disability equality legislation and policy, and developing recommendations for both policymakers and the community.  

Dr Pearson became involved with the project following a webinar she hosted in 2023 for Keele’s Institute of Sustainable Futures, where she introduced her concept of ‘Placcess’ in response to the single-use plastic ban on drinking straws and its impact on people with disabilities. This project will now build this idea into a narrative around environmental policies and inclusivity. 

Dr Pearson, from Keele’s School of Law, said: “This project is a key opportunity to build on amplifying the voices and experiences of people with disabilities within environmental dialogue and policy moving forward to ensure inclusive sustainability and a clean and safe environment for all.” 

Beccy Mccray, Director of Campaign and Creative at Everyday Plastic, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside Dr Pearson and our partners to ensure that environmental action is rooted in inclusion from the start. The Big Plastic Count is about making sure everyone can take part in shaping solutions - especially those whose voices have been sidelined in climate conversations. This work is about co-creating a future where environmental justice and disability justice go hand in hand.”