Our Work
We bring together leaders in engineering, materials science, chemistry, policy, public health, ecology, business, and more.
As one of the most versatile, affordable, and durable substances ever produced, plastic provides tremendous benefits and economic value. But the benefits of widely used plastic materials are diminished by the mounting environmental and human health impacts of plastic debris in our air, land, waterways, and oceans.
The Program on Plastics, Ecosystems, and Public Health (PEPH) at the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy delivers scalable solutions addressing challenges related to the global use and accumulation of plastics. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together experts from across Northwestern as well as collaborators from academic, civic, NGO, and industrial partner institutions.