Sustainability and the environment
Global demand for energy, minerals and plastics continues to rise, making sustainable use of Earth's natural resources more difficult. Meeting need while preserving ecosystems requires scientific research across multiple disciplines.
Research across the Departments of Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Biology covers resource recovery, circularity, and ethical sourcing, combined with policy insights to inform how the materials and systems we rely on can be used more sustainably.
Current initiatives include:
- Oxford EARTH Programme: Launched in 2025, this multi-disciplinary initiative addresses supply chains and ethical challenges relating to natural resources needed for the net-zero energy transition, such as rare earth minerals. Oxford EARTH includes research into resource recovery, social licence, and sustainable mining technologies.
- Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA): Funded by the EPSRC, SCHEMA works on redesigning plastics and polymer production by replacing fossil feedstocks with renewable inputs like CO₂, biomass, or waste streams, and using renewable energy. Led by Oxford, SCHEMA includes partners from Bath, Liverpool, Cardiff, York, and Cambridge, along with industry partners.
- SCG–Oxford Centre of Excellence: Launched in 2012 as a collaboration between University of Oxford and SCG Chemicals (SCGC), a Thai chemical company, the CoE develops chemical innovations aligned with SCG's ESG goals. Research themes cover Circular Economy and Plastics, Carbon Dioxide Management, Green Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Feedstocks, and Materials for Environmental Sustainability.