Plastics policies are changing the game—but are SMEs being left behind?

The UK plastics policy landscape is undergoing major changes. While consultations stress the importance of avoiding harm to SMEs, policies often lack concrete measures against such harm. Research by the University of Manchester indicates that current and forthcoming plastics policies, shaped by these consultations, would affect stakeholders across the plastic supply chain differently, with SMEs suffering the most. In this article, Dr Adeyemi Adelekan and Professor Maria Sharmina examine the unintended consequences of these emerging policies and how they could be mitigated.