The UK Environment Agency has published a social science research review examining public perceptions and social acceptance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. As the UK intensifies its efforts to meet net-zero targets by 2050, the deployment of industrial-scale CCS is increasingly framed as a critical component of the national decarbonisation strategy. However, the report highlights that public awareness remains low, and local opposition could delay key infrastructure projects.
According to the review, social acceptance of CCS is highly conditional. The public often views the technology with caution, expressing concerns over safety, long-term monitoring, and the potential for CCS to distract from more direct emissions-reduction measures, such as recycling and renewable energy. The research suggests that transparent communication and early community engagement are essential to secure the social licence required to operate these large-scale environmental projects.
For UK waste management companies and Turkish recyclers exporting to the British market, this research underscores the shifting landscape of carbon accounting and industrial decarbonisation. As the UK government pushes forward with CCS clusters, energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities—which handle residual plastic waste—are increasingly targeted for CCS integration to mitigate their carbon footprint. Recyclers must monitor these developments closely, as the high capital costs of implementing CCS at EfW plants could drive up municipal waste treatment fees, indirectly incentivising higher recycling rates to avoid incineration costs. Furthermore, understanding public sentiment toward carbon mitigation technologies helps businesses align their corporate sustainability messaging with consumer expectations.
A practical takeaway for recycling and waste sector operators is to prepare for stricter carbon reporting standards. As the UK refines its industrial decarbonisation framework, businesses should audit their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions now. Demonstrating proactive carbon reduction through mechanical recycling, rather than relying on future industrial carbon-offsetting schemes, will remain the most socially accepted and economically viable path for the plastics supply chain.
