Harnessing the power of gaming to change the way we think about plastic waste is the focus of a new project by a team of scientists from the University of Portsmouth's Revolution Plastics Institute .
The project combines multidisciplinary expertise from academia and industry to create a commercially viable game that engages players in understanding waste management.
In partnership with leading games developer Rebellion , the project will create and test an innovative computer game designed to educate the public about the waste hierarchy, prioritising reduction and reuse over recycling. With plastic pollution reaching crisis levels, this creative and interactive approach could play a key role in shifting behaviours towards a more sustainable, circular economy.
Recycling is often seen as the gold standard of plastic waste management, but the reality is that reducing plastic use and favouring reusable items over single-use plastic items have a far greater impact in tackling plastic pollution. Traditional awareness campaigns struggle to shift behaviours, but games are an incredibly powerful tool for education and engagement. This project is about using cutting-edge digital innovation to reach people in a way that sticks.
Professor Steve Fletcher, Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth
Professor Steve Fletcher , Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Recycling is often seen as the gold standard of plastic waste management, but the reality is that reducing plastic use and favouring reusable items over single-use plastic items have a far greater impact in tackling plastic pollution. Traditional awareness campaigns struggle to shift behaviours, but games are an incredibly powerful tool for education and engagement. This project is about using cutting-edge digital innovation to reach people in a way that sticks."
The game will undergo rigorous testing to ensure both functionality and accessibility. Initial trials will be conducted in experimental economics laboratories, followed by large-scale testing with diverse audiences. By testing across different demographics, including neurodivergent individuals, the team aims to make the game as inclusive and effective as possible.
Dr Kate Whitman , from the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth is lead researcher. She said: "Our game will help people understand the waste hierarchy in a fun and interactive way, making sustainable choices second nature. By leveraging the power of digital engagement, we can reach new audiences and create real behaviour change."
Our game will help people understand the waste hierarchy in a fun and interactive way, making sustainable choices second nature. By leveraging the power of digital engagement, we can reach new audiences and create real behaviour change.
Dr Kate Whitman, Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth is lead researcher
With the support of an extensive industry-academic network, the game will be widely promoted and integrated into broader educational and behavioural change initiatives.
The game - which doesn't have a name yet - will be released in Jan 2026. It will be developed by researchers from the University of Portsmouth's Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries , including Dr Peter Howell and Dr Matthew Higgins .
This project aligns with the Higher Education Innovation Fund's (HEIF) priorities of business collaboration, industry-academia partnerships, and innovative product development, marking a major step forward in the fight against plastic pollution.
The University of Portsmouth will also collaborate with academics from the University of Surrey and University of Bath on the project.
