About Us

We are striving for a world without plastic pollution and non-essential single-use plastic

We will work towards achieving our vision through building a strong movement in the UK that is taking action on plastic. A movement that is connecting, collaborating, inspiring, motivating, and supporting each other.

This will be achieved through:

An annual national Conference that showcases ground breaking ideas and solutions with a programme full of discussions and case studies from those leading the change
A membership scheme with an online platform to enable connection all year round

If you are an organisation or business that is concerned about the impacts of non-essential single-use plastic and plastic pollution, Action on Plastic UK is for you. By becoming a member, you can connect with other organisations and businesses that also care. Only by working together and supporting each other, can we achieve our vision.

Our Story

We started with people concerned about reducing single-use plastic and plastic pollution. Our founder, Greg Hewitt, has been an environmental activist since 2010, organising events in his local community to reduce waste. In 2021, a Plastic Free Festival was held in Chesterfield. When he moved to Sheffield a few years later, he realised there was no national conference tackling the issue of single-use plastic, so he set one up and recruited volunteers. The Plastic Free Gathering launched in 2025 in Birmingham, with 40 attendees. The feedback was astounding, and so a 2nd Gathering was launched in June 2026. The Gathering proved that people and organisations needed to come together to tackle this issue, because together we are stronger, and so Action on Plastic UK was born, as a way of connecting everyone together.

Meet The Team

Greg Hewitt

Founder & Chair

I set up Action on Plastic UK as I'm passionate about taking action on plastic. I have been involved in plastic campaigning since 2019, and having watched Blue Planet 2. Elsewhere, I run Sheffield Action on Plastic, where we hire out reusable cups to events that would have otherwise used single-use. I really enjoy building relationships, and bringing people together to make a difference. My role mainly involves keeping the organisation functioning.

Joshua Ludlam

Core Group Member

I care deeply for ecological justice and the power of grassroots change. My contributions consist of building and nurturing relationships, connecting with Universities, Colleges, Student Unions and National/ Grassroots Co-operatives who care for our cause. I also enjoy supporting with the hospitality of guests, speakers and exhibitors at our events, in addition to moderating panel discussions, and supporting audience participation.

Karen Hodgkinson

Core Group Member

I love nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. I am never happier than being outside in the countryside, it helps me to relax and unwind. I am luckily enough to live in the Yorkshire countryside and have lovely views of the Dales from our village. For these reasons, I try to pass on this enjoyment and appreciation of the environment to our children and people I interact with. I would like to think we can help protect and sustain the beautiful country we live in.

Daniela Bernal

Core Group Member

I grew up in a small city in Mexico where I witnessed not only the encroaching plastic pollution on the riverbeds and clogging the sewer mouths, but the wariness of my neighbors who, while they cared, could not think of what to do to fix problems much bigger than themselves. I am volunteering for those who don't have the organised groups or time to make a difference. I know we have the power to change. I hope every bit I do matters in the end.

Claire Hill

Core Group Member

I have over 20 years of experience in charity leadership, and a strong track record of building partnerships and supporting community-led change. I'm passionate about environmental sustainability, involvement in coastal events, beach cleans, and volunteering initiatives reflects a commitment to reducing plastic pollution and protecting the natural environment for future generations.

Emma Young

Core Group Member

Since becoming involved with Plastic Free Communities, my eyes have been opened to the damage plastic is doing to our society and culture. It is not the indispensable product people originally thought as once it is created it cannot be uncreated. Plastic has infiltrated not only our homes and environment but now poses a risk to our health. I hope to educate people to stop using it.

Cathy Fish

Core Group Member

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Rana Aljaibachi, PhD, MRSB

Core Group Member

I'm an environmental scientist and founder of Plastics Audit and Reporting Ltd, specialising in plastic pollution, freshwater health and environmental sustainability. I'm a passionate about turning environmental challenges into practical, measurable action and works collaboratively with businesses, communities and organisations to support a more sustainable, circular economy.