Every year, the UK throws away over six billion single-use packaging items, with around a million pieces discarded each month in Bristol alone. Why is it still so hard to break the habit?

This expert panel brings together James Piper, co-host of the Talking rubbish podcast and winner of Resource Media Top 100 Communicator of the Year, alongside UWE Bristol’s own experts Dr Sarah Hills and Dr Ben Williams, and students to explore the psychology, behaviour and systemic barriers behind our dependence on disposable packaging.

Together, they’ll unpack the social, economic and design challenges that make single-use so persistent, and the potential solutions paving the way for a circular, reusable future. Through real-world examples and audience discussion, we’ll ask what it really takes to shift habits, change systems and make reuse the new normal.

This panel has been curated by UWE Bristol’s students and forms part of events being offered as part of Green Week.

Registration and tickets
Cost: Free
Attendance: Booking required