Clean Planet Peninsula
Clean Planet Peninsula
From Ice cap to Impact
The Clean Planet Foundation initiated the Clean Planet Peninsula project, now in collaboration with polar explorer, Captian Preet Chandi MBE, and the University Of Portsmouth.
This multi-year initiative provides early-career scientists with practical fieldwork expeditions, enabling research studies to be undertaken in the polar regions- particularly linked to plastic pollution and the impact of climate change.
PREET CHANDI
The Project
Background
Between 2023 - 2027, participants of the Clean Planet Peninsula project will gain hands-on experience through polar training courses, remote fieldwork camps and expeditions. First via our pilot (2023), then in the UK (2024), Scandinavia (2025), the Arctic Circle (early-2026), and finally the Antarctic (late-2026).
They'll have the opportunity to conduct their own vital research on climate change impacts, plastic pollution, and other environmental challenges, contributing to global conservation efforts and scientific understanding while developing essential fieldwork skills.
Impact
Rapidly melting ice caps caused by increasing global temperatures have resulted in rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities worldwide.
Microplastics have also been discovered in polar ice samples, indicating the far-reaching consequences of human-generated pollution.
The Clean Planet Peninsula project aims to provide participants with hands-on experience studying these environmental challenges, enabling them to contribute valuable data to the scientific community and inform global conservation efforts.
A final research paper will be published in 2027.
Training & Expedition Schedule
Launched with a pilot in 2023, our efforts have already yielded remarkable results: educating 40 UK-based scientists and attracting major media outlets such as the BBC and the Observer to follow the project.
In 2024, we commenced our 3-year mission to enable more early career scientists to undertake the necessary field skills to conduct their vital research in the Polar regions. The project combines intense classroom and field skills training in the UK and Scandinavia, followed by expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.
The project schedule is as follows:
-
2023 - Pilot Year: UK training
-
2024 - Year 1 - UK Field Experience
-
2025 - Year 2 - Arctic Training
-
2026 - Year 3 (P1) - Arctic Research
-
2026 - Year 3 (P2) - Antarctic Research
-
2027 - Year 4 - Research Publication
Project Leaders
_edited.jpg)
Key Partners
Clean Planet Foundation
Lead Sponsor
The Clean Planet Foundation (CPF) educates and takes action for the sustainable use of plastics, and reduction of carbon emissions. A not-for-profit organisation.
We believe that everyone deserves better, and provide community funding, sponsorship, investments and initiate flagship projects to mitigate the impact of the plastic and climate crises across the UK and beyond.
The Clean Planet Foundation is part of the Clean Planet Group which also builds technologies and infrastructure to remove hard-to-recycle plastic waste from the environment, and convert it into circular products.
Univesity of Porstmouth:
Revolution Plastics Institute
Science Lead
The University of Portsmouth's Revolution Plastics Institute is the scientific lead for the Clean Planet Foundation’s three-year Clean Planet Peninsula project.
As pioneers in microplastics research, the University of Portsmouth, under the leadership of Professor Fay Couceiro, Head of the Microplastics Research Group, will guide the scientific direction and enhance the training components of the project. The team at the University of Portsmouth is renowned for their comprehensive approach to studying microplastics, investigating their origins, distribution, and impacts on the environment and human health. Read More Here.
"[The Clean Planet Peninsula Project] is delivered as part of an overall survival skills course on Dartmoor, Devon.
It is the first step in a four-year programme aiming to take participants from across the UK, on polar expeditions.
This cohort is largely women, with participants hoping to redress the historic gender imbalance."
Harriet Bradshaw, Science & Climate Journalist, BBC
Reporting on-site from the Clean Planet Peninsula Project
ACROSS THE
BBC Climate & Science reporter Harriet Bradshaw joined the Clean Planet Peninsula team on Dartmoor (UK) in August 2023 for the Pilot Year.
Her written, and audio and video report was front-page across the BBC network- including BBC Breakfast, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Online, BBC Social, BBC Radio and BBC Spotlight. The report focussed on the importance of the project on environmental issues, with a specific focus on project coordinator, Ellie Honan's, course on female health in the polar regions.
Contributors
Sponsors
Turgleder
Ground Operations (Year 2)
Turgleder is a Norway-based expedition company specialising in Arctic travel and outdoor education, with deep expertise in Scandinavia and Svalbard. Their skilled polar guides prioritise safety, sustainability, and respect for nature.
Year 2's (2025) Svalbard expedition is co-developed with Preet Chandi and the Clean Planet Foundation, with Turgleder leading operations on the ground. Their values—cultural sensitivity, experiential learning, and environmental awareness—align with ours, making them the perfect partners for this ambitious and inspiring journey.
Education Through Expeditions
Expedition Leaders (Pilot & Year 1)
Education Through Expeditions is a Community Interest Company set up to deliver school workshops on the Polar Environment.
They have currently delivered over 450 Polar Fun Days to schools across the country and continue to inspire pupils about this beautiful part of the world whilst promoting issues of climate change and indigenous peoples. All of their ambassadors have been on expeditions lead by polar explorer Antony Jinman.
Dartmoor Search and Rescue - Plymouth
Course Training (Pilot & Year 1)
The Dartmoor Rescue Group comprises 4 teams to cover the 365 square miles of Dartmoor and beyond. The Teams support each other and often work together when needed. The four teams provide a search and rescue service for not only Dartmoor, but all of Devon and Cornwall, and also work with the Cornwall and Exmoor Search and Rescue teams. The members of Dartmoor Rescue Group, like those in the overall Mountain Rescue organisation are all volunteers. However, they are professionally trained in searching, navigation, casualty care, search dog handling and swift water rescues.
The Clean Planet Peninsula group worked with DSRT Plymouth on the Pilot and Year 1.
Expedition Foods
Food/Meal Sponsor (Pilot & Year 1)
Expedition Foods provides top quality freeze-dried meals to internationally acclaimed explorers, rowers, sailors, endurance athletes and mountaineers as well as campers, scouts, film crews, military personnel and rescue service teams all over the world.
Sold globally, Expedition Foods is recognised as one of the top brands of freeze-dried meals available in today’s market. Manufactured in Britain, Expedition Foods is the expert in producing meals that retain all the nutrition of a perfectly balanced meal in a single, light-weight packet.
UKPN
Course Content Contributor (Pilot Year)
The UK Polar Network organises skill development workshops and education and outreach opportunities for early career polar research scientists.
They are committed to making the polar sciences a welcoming and inclusive place for all. They have over 400 members and form the UK National Committee of APECS International, which has over 5500 members in 55 different countries.
All Year 2 (2024) Participants - Learn More
#CLEANPLANETGROUP
The Clean Planet Group believes in clean air, clean oceans, a clean planet. Since 2018 we've been tackling the plastic waste & climate crises. Clean Planet are the founders and lead sponsor of the Peninsula project.
Through our group companies we develop new technologies, build infrastructure, educate and take action to enable the sustainable use of plastics, and reduction of carbon emissions across our planet.
