Impact
We’re proud that our research contributes to the development of policy and informs the strategies, practices and priorities of public, private and community organisations.
In our innovative research work aimed at understanding and facilitating changes in consumption practices, we actively engage with individual households, large and small firms, social movements, and social enterprises, using innovative methods of research.
Mat Paterson / Director, SCI
The Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) brings together research on sustainability and consumption, exploring the relationships between governance, systems of provision and everyday life. Our researchers work with policymakers, businesses, civil society organisations, community groups and other stakeholders to develop and share evidence that can support more socially just and environmentally sustainable societies.
Our approach to impact is grounded in meaningful engagement: bringing research into policy debates, working collaboratively with external organisations, and creating opportunities for communities and wider publics to engage with sustainability research.
SCI is currently developing an Engagement and Impact Strategy to strengthen how our research connects with policymakers, practitioners, businesses, communities and wider publics, and to support the translation of research into meaningful impact beyond academia.
SCI researchers and postgraduate researchers have continued to receive recognition for the quality and wider contribution of their research.
- Tetyana Solovey a third-year PhD researcher, received the Faculty of Humanities Best Contribution to Society – Research Impact Excellence Manchester Doctoral College Award, recognising the public impact of her research on textile upcycling and sustainable consumption. As part of her PhD, Tetyana co-organised the Making Room Fair, which engaged more than 120 participants in hands-on activities promoting clothing reuse and creative approaches to reducing textile waste.
- Dr Aarti Krishnan received Innovator of the Year at the AMBS Staff Awards 2025 for an award-winning sustainability simulation developed with Siobhan Caughey. The simulation supports experiential learning around governance, global value chains and sustainability decision-making.
- Dr Sönke Mestwerdt and co-authors received the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Paper Award at the Business Association of Latin American Studies (BALAS) Annual Conference 2026.
- Dr James Jackson was awarded a $200,000 SSHRC Insight Grant, with Professor Ryan Katz-Rosene of the University of Ottawa, to research climateflation in the global political economy.
SCI researchers contribute to sustainability research and debate through leadership roles, editorial positions, advisory work, professional networks and collaborations nationally and internationally.
- Helen Holmes was appointed Co-Director of the University of Manchester’s Sustainable Futures research platform, working alongside Professor Alice Larkin. The appointment builds on her leadership in sustainability, consumption and materiality research and her involvement in major collaborative projects including the JUST Centre, the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership with Bupa on plastics circularity in healthcare, and the UKRI-funded One Bin to Rule Them All project.
- As Co-Director of Sustainable Futures, Helen Holmes also played a key role in the University of Manchester Research Institute’s 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime Call, supporting projects including a Pan Africa Mining Study, Community-led Energy Renewables and integrated decarbonisation of transport.
- Dan Welch, co-founder and editor of the journal Consumption and Society, saw the journal receive its first Journal Impact Factor of 3.0 in the 2025 Journal Citation Reports. The journal ranked in the top quartile for Sociology and second quartile for Environmental Studies.
- Maria Sharmina and Xintong Cao contributed their expertise to the development of the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, with a focus on ethical and resilient supply chains for the net-zero transition.
- SCI researchers contributed evidence and expertise to UK policy and parliamentary processes, including the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, and the UK Parliament International Development Committee.
- SCI researchers also continued to contribute to international research and policy networks through conferences, workshops and collaborations across Europe, North America, Asia and South America.
One of our key objectives is to develop research that advances critical understanding of sustainability issues and to use these insights to inform innovation, policy and public debate.
Our researchers engage with a wide range of organisations and audiences, including:
- governments and policymakers;
- businesses and industry partners;
- civil society and community organisations;
- international research networks;
- professional and academic organisations; and
- members of the public.
During 2025–26, this included collaboration with policymakers on circular economy, critical minerals, climate governance, food systems, water and sustainable transitions.
SCI researchers contributed to the development of the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, bringing expertise on ethical and resilient supply chains. Maria Sharmina also participated in a Scottish Government expert workshop contributing to the Circular Economy Indicator Framework, reviewing proposed indicators for Scotland’s progress towards a circular economy by 2045.
Our researchers also worked directly with industry and professional organisations. For example, Torik Holmes facilitated a roundtable on circular economy and plastic packaging at the CEAMS Industrial Engineering Polymer Recycling Workshop, working with industry partners to explore circular economy approaches and industrial recycling challenges. SCI researchers also engaged with organisations including the BRICS New Development Bank, Tesla and CATL during James Jackson’s visit to Peking University and Shanghai, focusing on climate finance, green transitions and battery production.
Knowledge exchange also takes place through the co-production of research and dialogue with communities. SCI supported Clare Cummings and the Medlock Valley Community Festival, bringing together local residents, researchers and environmental organisations to celebrate and protect Manchester’s urban green spaces using our small grants scheme.
SCI researchers seek to ensure that research on sustainability is relevant to the policy challenges facing governments and other organisations.
During 2025–26, researchers contributed to policy development and evidence-gathering at local, national and international levels.
Examples include:
- UK Critical Minerals Strategy: Maria Sharmina and Xintong Cao contributed expertise to the development of the strategy, emphasising ethical and resilient supply chains for the net-zero transition.
- Scottish Government Circular Economy Indicator Framework: Maria Sharmina participated in an expert workshop reviewing proposed indicators for Scotland’s progress towards a circular economy by 2045, covering environmental, economic, international and social dimensions.
- UK Parliament: SCI researchers contributed written evidence to parliamentary processes, including the House of Lords Built Environment Committee’s inquiry into New Towns and the UK Parliament International Development Committee’s work on global energy access.
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: SCI research contributed to the POSTnote on Management of Legacy Landfill, alongside wider work on circular economy and sustainable manufacturing.
- Seventh Carbon Budget Inquiry: researchers contributed an evidence submission examining issues relevant to the UK’s future carbon budget.
- JUST Centre: SCI researchers contributed to the Centre’s work on joined-up sustainability transformations, including a rapid evidence review examining sustainability transformations in the UK.
- Amazon and deforestation: Aarti Krishnan presented research on sustainability in the Amazon beef value chain and the EU Deforestation Regulation at the Amazônia+10 COP30 Roundtable in Belém, Brazil, advocating traceability systems as tools for inclusive and forward-looking governance.
Our researchers also participate in policy-focused workshops, panels and discussions that create opportunities to translate research into policy conversations. At the Shaping the Future of Global Sustainability Policy event, for example, Mat Paterson discussed the political complexities of climate change and the need for international negotiations and national policies to align for sustainability.
SCI researchers’ work has been featured in national, regional, and local broadcast and print media and a range of policy-focused blogs, including for the UK Energy Research Centre, Policy@Manchester, and articles for non-academic publications, such as The Conversation.
SCI’s research projects provide opportunities to work collaboratively with external organisations and communities and to develop research with practical relevance.
Joined-up sustainability transformations
The JUST Centre brings together research on justice and sustainability transformations. During 2025–26, SCI researchers contributed to the Centre’s research and engagement programme, including work examining joined-up sustainability transformations across the UK.
The Centre’s work brings together research, policy and community perspectives to explore how sustainability transformations can be made more inclusive and just. SCI researchers also contributed to the JUST Centre’s regional review and to events focused on just sustainability transitions.
Sustainable plastics and circular economy
SCI researchers continue to work with stakeholders across the plastics value chain to explore the social, organisational and infrastructural challenges associated with moving towards a circular economy.
Research on flexible plastic packaging recycling has informed engagement with industry and policy audiences. Torik Holmes participated in workshops and roundtables examining circular economy approaches to plastic packaging and the challenges of industrial recycling.
Household sustainability
SCI researchers are also developing interdisciplinary research examining how households can contribute to sustainability transitions across energy, water, food and waste systems.
A new ARC Discovery Project led by Professor Jo Lindsay, with colleagues including Alison Browne, examines how households can drive sustainability transitions across these interconnected systems. The project brings together researchers and partners including the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, the Sustainability Transitions Research Network, the University of Manchester and SCI.
Find out more
SCI is committed to making sustainability research accessible beyond academic audiences and creating opportunities for members of the public and community organisations to participate in conversations about sustainability.
During 2025–26, our public engagement included:
- Making Room Fair: Led by Tetyana Solovey at The Yard Manchester, this participatory event brought together members of the local community through upcycling, repair, sustainable fashion workshops, panel discussions and networking. More than 120 participants took part in activities promoting clothing reuse and creative approaches to reducing textile waste.
- Medlock Valley Community Festival: SCI and Clare Cummings supported Friends of Medlock Valley and the University’s Climate and Justice group to organise the festival, bringing together local residents, researchers and environmental organisations to celebrate and protect Manchester’s urban green spaces through arts, research and community engagement.
- Human Natures exhibition: SCI researchers Torik Holmes, Julia Perczel and Alison Browne contributed work to the Manchester Museum’s Human Natures exhibition. Contributions including Litmus by the Cottonopolis Collective explored themes of overconsumption, environmental change and sustainability.
- Communities of Environmental Knowledge Research Café: SCI researchers participated in this public-facing event exploring biodiversity, green spaces and community knowledge in Manchester.
- Sustainable fashion engagement: Tetyana Solovey delivered the public talk Is Sustainable Fashion Frustrating? Clothing Reuse as Emotional Repair for New Mills Fashion Activistas, highlighting practical and creative approaches to sustainable clothing through upcycling, mending and making.
- Platform Politics public events: Luke Yates took Platform Politics on an international speaking tour across New York, Toronto, Montreal, New Orleans and Mexico City, delivering seven public events with activists, policymakers and academic groups. The events facilitated public dialogue around platform capitalism, urban housing struggles and new forms of digital political economy.
SCI also shares research with wider audiences through blogs, media articles and other accessible formats. During 2025–26, these included writing on flexible plastic packaging recycling, landfill mining, sustainable investment, water demand, joined-up sustainability transformations, green jobs and skills, and the protection of Manchester’s green spaces.