diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-images-base.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-images-base.yaml
index 44c553fc2..48d1a4945 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-images-base.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-images-base.yaml
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ jobs:
     name: Build Bundle
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -147,10 +147,10 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build, build-bundle]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/code-style.yaml b/.github/workflows/code-style.yaml
index 1b0db993f..5e12fc45c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/code-style.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/code-style.yaml
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ jobs:
             importpath: golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latest
 
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
 
       - name: Check out code
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
 
       - name: Check out code
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index 349f36d22..26e814e2e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Unit Tests
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go-version: [ 1.19.x ]
+        go-version: [ 1.20.x ]
         platform: [ ubuntu-latest ]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}
     defaults:
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ jobs:
       run:
         shell: bash
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -94,10 +94,10 @@ jobs:
     name: Verify manifests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ jobs:
     name: Verify bundle
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ jobs:
     name: Verify fmt
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Set up Go 1.19.x
+      - name: Set up Go 1.20.x
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.19.x
+          go-version: 1.20.x
         id: go
       - name: Check out code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Test Scripts
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go-version: [ 1.19.x ]
+        go-version: [ 1.20.x ]
         platform: [ ubuntu-latest, macos-latest ]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}
     defaults:
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 66cb82a29..7782a3b87 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Build the manager binary
-FROM golang:1.19 as builder
+FROM golang:1.20 as builder
 
 WORKDIR /workspace
 # Copy the Go Modules manifests
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 790b10255..4cbff0048 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ run-lint: $(GOLANGCI-LINT) ## Run lint tests
 	$(GOLANGCI-LINT) run
 
 $(GOLANGCI-LINT):
-	curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s -- -b $(PROJECT_PATH)/bin v1.50.1
+	curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s -- -b $(PROJECT_PATH)/bin v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: golangci-lint
 golangci-lint: $(GOLANGCI-LINT) ## Download golangci-lint locally if necessary.
diff --git a/api/external/maistra/v1/helmvalues.go b/api/external/maistra/v1/helmvalues.go
index 7f58c1f53..3d9007f32 100644
--- a/api/external/maistra/v1/helmvalues.go
+++ b/api/external/maistra/v1/helmvalues.go
@@ -13,24 +13,24 @@ import (
 // +kubebuilder:validation:Type=object
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XPreserveUnknownFields
 type HelmValues struct {
-	data map[string]interface{} `json:"-"`
+	data map[string]any `json:"-"`
 }
 
-func NewHelmValues(values map[string]interface{}) *HelmValues {
+func NewHelmValues(values map[string]any) *HelmValues {
 	if values == nil {
-		values = make(map[string]interface{})
+		values = make(map[string]any)
 	}
 	return &HelmValues{data: values}
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetContent() map[string]interface{} {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetContent() map[string]any {
 	if h == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return h.data
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetFieldNoCopy(path string) (interface{}, bool, error) {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetFieldNoCopy(path string) (any, bool, error) {
 	if h == nil || h.data == nil {
 		return nil, false, nil
 	}
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveStringSlice(path string) ([]string, bool, error
 	return value, ok, err
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetSlice(path string) ([]interface{}, bool, error) {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetSlice(path string) ([]any, bool, error) {
 	if h == nil || h.data == nil {
 		return nil, false, nil
 	}
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func (h *HelmValues) GetSlice(path string) ([]interface{}, bool, error) {
 	return slice, ok, err
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveSlice(path string) ([]interface{}, bool, error) {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveSlice(path string) ([]any, bool, error) {
 	value, ok, err := h.GetSlice(path)
 	if err == nil {
 		h.RemoveField(path)
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveStringToStringMap(path string) (map[string]stri
 	return stringToStringMap, found, nil
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetMap(path string) (map[string]interface{}, bool, error) {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetMap(path string) (map[string]any, bool, error) {
 	if h == nil || h.data == nil {
 		return nil, false, nil
 	}
@@ -254,15 +254,15 @@ func (h *HelmValues) GetMap(path string) (map[string]interface{}, bool, error) {
 		if rawval == nil {
 			return nil, ok, err
 		}
-		if mapval, ok := rawval.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
+		if mapval, ok := rawval.(map[string]any); ok {
 			return mapval, ok, err
 		}
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%v accessor error: %v is of the type %T, expected map[string]interface{}", path, rawval, rawval)
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%v accessor error: %v is of the type %T, expected map[string]any", path, rawval, rawval)
 	}
 	return nil, ok, err
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveMap(path string) (map[string]interface{}, bool, error) {
+func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveMap(path string) (map[string]any, bool, error) {
 	value, ok, err := h.GetMap(path)
 	if err == nil {
 		h.RemoveField(path)
@@ -289,12 +289,12 @@ func (h *HelmValues) GetAndRemoveStringMap(path string) (map[string]string, bool
 	return value, ok, err
 }
 
-func (h *HelmValues) SetField(path string, value interface{}) error {
+func (h *HelmValues) SetField(path string, value any) error {
 	if h == nil {
 		panic("Tried to invoke SetField on nil *HelmValues")
 	}
 	if h.data == nil {
-		h.data = map[string]interface{}{}
+		h.data = map[string]any{}
 	}
 	return unstructured.SetNestedField(h.data, value, strings.Split(path, ".")...)
 }
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ func (h *HelmValues) SetStringSlice(path string, value []string) error {
 		panic("Tried to invoke SetField on nil *HelmValues")
 	}
 	if h.data == nil {
-		h.data = map[string]interface{}{}
+		h.data = map[string]any{}
 	}
 	return unstructured.SetNestedStringSlice(h.data, value, strings.Split(path, ".")...)
 }
diff --git a/controllers/authpolicy_auth_config.go b/controllers/authpolicy_auth_config.go
index 675769705..56476d6ed 100644
--- a/controllers/authpolicy_auth_config.go
+++ b/controllers/authpolicy_auth_config.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) policyHosts(ap *api.AuthPolicy, targetNetworkObje
 		return common.TargetHostnames(targetNetworkObject)
 	}
 
-	uniqueHostnamesMap := make(map[string]interface{})
+	uniqueHostnamesMap := make(map[string]any)
 	for idx := range ap.Spec.AuthRules {
 		if len(ap.Spec.AuthRules[idx].Hosts) == 0 {
 			// When one of the rules does not have hosts, just return target hostnames
diff --git a/controllers/authpolicy_controller.go b/controllers/authpolicy_controller.go
index 8a23558ec..fa280d055 100644
--- a/controllers/authpolicy_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/authpolicy_controller.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) deleteResources(ctx context.Context, ap *api.Auth
 
 	// remove direct back ref
 	if targetNetworkObject != nil {
-		if err := r.deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx, ap, targetNetworkObject); err != nil {
+		if err := r.deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx, targetNetworkObject); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) reconcileNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx c
 	return r.ReconcileTargetBackReference(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(ap), targetNetworkObject, common.AuthPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
 }
 
-func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx context.Context, ap *api.AuthPolicy, targetNetworkObject client.Object) error {
-	return r.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(ap), targetNetworkObject, common.AuthPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
+func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx context.Context, targetNetworkObject client.Object) error {
+	return r.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, targetNetworkObject, common.AuthPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
 }
 
 // SetupWithManager sets up the controller with the Manager.
diff --git a/controllers/authpolicy_controller_test.go b/controllers/authpolicy_controller_test.go
index 6eda48086..74318cea2 100644
--- a/controllers/authpolicy_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/authpolicy_controller_test.go
@@ -428,9 +428,7 @@ func testBasicAuthScheme() kuadrantv1beta1.AuthSchemeSpec {
 					},
 				},
 				Credentials: authorinov1beta1.Credentials{
-					In: authorinov1beta1.Credentials_In(
-						"authorization_header",
-					),
+					In:          "authorization_header",
 					KeySelector: "APIKEY",
 				},
 			},
diff --git a/controllers/authpolicy_istio_authorization_policy.go b/controllers/authpolicy_istio_authorization_policy.go
index 798841928..3706b30f2 100644
--- a/controllers/authpolicy_istio_authorization_policy.go
+++ b/controllers/authpolicy_istio_authorization_policy.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
@@ -19,9 +20,10 @@ import (
 	api "github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/common"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/reconcilers"
+	"k8s.io/utils/env"
 )
 
-var KuadrantExtAuthProviderName = common.FetchEnv("AUTH_PROVIDER", "kuadrant-authorization")
+var KuadrantExtAuthProviderName = env.GetString("AUTH_PROVIDER", "kuadrant-authorization")
 
 // reconcileIstioAuthorizationPolicies translates and reconciles `AuthRules` into an Istio AuthorizationPoilcy containing them.
 func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) reconcileIstioAuthorizationPolicies(ctx context.Context, ap *api.AuthPolicy, targetNetworkObject client.Object, gwDiffObj *reconcilers.GatewayDiff) error {
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) deleteIstioAuthorizationPolicies(ctx context.Cont
 	}
 
 	for _, gw := range gwDiffObj.GatewaysWithInvalidPolicyRef {
-		listOptions := &client.ListOptions{LabelSelector: labels.SelectorFromSet(labels.Set(istioAuthorizationPolicyLabels(client.ObjectKeyFromObject(gw.Gateway), client.ObjectKeyFromObject(ap))))}
+		listOptions := &client.ListOptions{LabelSelector: labels.SelectorFromSet(istioAuthorizationPolicyLabels(client.ObjectKeyFromObject(gw.Gateway), client.ObjectKeyFromObject(ap)))}
 		iapList := &istio.AuthorizationPolicyList{}
 		if err := r.Client().List(ctx, iapList, listOptions); err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) deleteIstioAuthorizationPolicies(ctx context.Cont
 
 		for _, iap := range iapList.Items {
 			// it's OK to just go ahead and delete because we only create one IAP per target network object,
-			// and a network object can be target by no more than one AuthPolicy
+			// and a network object can be targeted by no more than one AuthPolicy
 			if err := r.DeleteResource(ctx, iap); err != nil && !apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
 				logger.Error(err, "failed to delete IstioAuthorizationPolicy")
 				return err
@@ -155,9 +157,9 @@ func istioAuthorizationPolicyRules(authRules []api.AuthRule, targetHostnames []s
 			for idx := range httpRouterules {
 				toRules = append(toRules, &istiosecurity.Rule_To{
 					Operation: &istiosecurity.Operation{
-						Hosts:   common.SliceCopy(httpRouterules[idx].Hosts),
-						Methods: common.SliceCopy(httpRouterules[idx].Methods),
-						Paths:   common.SliceCopy(httpRouterules[idx].Paths),
+						Hosts:   slices.Clone(httpRouterules[idx].Hosts),
+						Methods: slices.Clone(httpRouterules[idx].Methods),
+						Paths:   slices.Clone(httpRouterules[idx].Paths),
 					},
 				})
 			}
diff --git a/controllers/authpolicy_status.go b/controllers/authpolicy_status.go
index 4cb4cc69c..9fc238bd1 100644
--- a/controllers/authpolicy_status.go
+++ b/controllers/authpolicy_status.go
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	authorinov1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/authorino/api/v1beta1"
 	kuadrantv1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta1"
-	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/common"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	meta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) reconcileStatus(ctx context.Context, ap *kuadrant
 
 func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) calculateStatus(ap *kuadrantv1beta1.AuthPolicy, specErr error, authConfigReady bool) *kuadrantv1beta1.AuthPolicyStatus {
 	newStatus := &kuadrantv1beta1.AuthPolicyStatus{
-		Conditions:         common.CopyConditions(ap.Status.Conditions),
+		Conditions:         slices.Clone(ap.Status.Conditions),
 		ObservedGeneration: ap.Status.ObservedGeneration,
 	}
 
-	targetNetworkObjectectKind := string(ap.Spec.TargetRef.Kind)
-	availableCond := r.availableCondition(targetNetworkObjectectKind, specErr, authConfigReady)
+	targetNetworkObjectKind := string(ap.Spec.TargetRef.Kind)
+	availableCond := r.availableCondition(targetNetworkObjectKind, specErr, authConfigReady)
 
 	meta.SetStatusCondition(&newStatus.Conditions, *availableCond)
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) calculateStatus(ap *kuadrantv1beta1.AuthPolicy, s
 }
 
 func (r *AuthPolicyReconciler) availableCondition(targetNetworkObjectectKind string, specErr error, authConfigReady bool) *metav1.Condition {
-	// Condition if there is not issue
+	// Condition if there is no issue
 	cond := &metav1.Condition{
 		Type:    APAvailableConditionType,
 		Status:  metav1.ConditionTrue,
diff --git a/controllers/helper_test.go b/controllers/helper_test.go
index edde09529..6ee41f06c 100644
--- a/controllers/helper_test.go
+++ b/controllers/helper_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	meta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
diff --git a/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go b/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
index 43e313084..08a529c2c 100644
--- a/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/env"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	authorinov1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/authorino-operator/api/v1beta1"
@@ -135,11 +136,7 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) Reconcile(eventCtx context.Context, req ctrl.Reques
 		logger.V(1).Error(gwErr, "Reconciling cluster gateways failed")
 	}
 
-	specResult, specErr := r.reconcileSpec(ctx, kObj)
-	if specErr == nil && specResult.Requeue {
-		logger.V(1).Info("Reconciling spec not finished. Requeueing.")
-		return specResult, nil
-	}
+	specErr := r.reconcileSpec(ctx, kObj)
 
 	statusResult, statusErr := r.reconcileStatus(ctx, kObj, specErr)
 
@@ -356,32 +353,28 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) registerServiceMeshMember(ctx context.Context, kObj
 	return r.ReconcileResource(ctx, &maistrav1.ServiceMeshMember{}, member, reconcilers.CreateOnlyMutator)
 }
 
-func (r *KuadrantReconciler) reconcileSpec(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) (ctrl.Result, error) {
+func (r *KuadrantReconciler) reconcileSpec(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) error {
 	if err := r.registerExternalAuthorizer(ctx, kObj); err != nil {
-		return ctrl.Result{}, err
+		return err
 	}
 
 	if err := r.reconcileLimitador(ctx, kObj); err != nil {
-		return ctrl.Result{}, err
-	}
-
-	if err := r.reconcileAuthorino(ctx, kObj); err != nil {
-		return ctrl.Result{}, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	return ctrl.Result{}, nil
+	return r.reconcileAuthorino(ctx, kObj)
 }
 
 func controlPlaneProviderName() string {
-	return common.FetchEnv("ISTIOOPERATOR_NAME", "istiocontrolplane")
+	return env.GetString("ISTIOOPERATOR_NAME", "istiocontrolplane")
 }
 
 func controlPlaneConfigMapName() string {
-	return common.FetchEnv("ISTIOCONFIGMAP_NAME", "istio")
+	return env.GetString("ISTIOCONFIGMAP_NAME", "istio")
 }
 
 func controlPlaneProviderNamespace() string {
-	return common.FetchEnv("ISTIOOPERATOR_NAMESPACE", "istio-system")
+	return env.GetString("ISTIOOPERATOR_NAMESPACE", "istio-system")
 }
 
 func buildServiceMeshMember(kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) *maistrav1.ServiceMeshMember {
@@ -430,10 +423,7 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) reconcileClusterGateways(ctx context.Context, kObj
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := errGroup.Wait(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	return errGroup.Wait()
 }
 
 func (r *KuadrantReconciler) removeAnnotationFromGateways(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) error {
@@ -461,10 +451,7 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) removeAnnotationFromGateways(ctx context.Context, k
 		})
 	}
 
-	if err := errGroup.Wait(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	return errGroup.Wait()
 }
 
 func (r *KuadrantReconciler) reconcileLimitador(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) error {
diff --git a/controllers/kuadrant_status.go b/controllers/kuadrant_status.go
index fe2f9d1d7..2ee1c1dfd 100644
--- a/controllers/kuadrant_status.go
+++ b/controllers/kuadrant_status.go
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	meta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) reconcileStatus(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrant
 func (r *KuadrantReconciler) calculateStatus(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant, specErr error) (*kuadrantv1beta1.KuadrantStatus, error) {
 	newStatus := &kuadrantv1beta1.KuadrantStatus{
 		// Copy initial conditions. Otherwise, status will always be updated
-		Conditions:         common.CopyConditions(kObj.Status.Conditions),
+		Conditions:         slices.Clone(kObj.Status.Conditions),
 		ObservedGeneration: kObj.Status.ObservedGeneration,
 	}
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) readyCondition(ctx context.Context, kObj *kuadrantv
 
 	if specErr != nil {
 		cond.Status = metav1.ConditionFalse
-		cond.Reason = "ReconcilliationError"
+		cond.Reason = "ReconciliationError"
 		cond.Message = specErr.Error()
 		return cond, nil
 	}
diff --git a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_cluster_envoy_filter.go b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_cluster_envoy_filter.go
index 1157d76fe..e90d02599 100644
--- a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_cluster_envoy_filter.go
+++ b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_cluster_envoy_filter.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	limitadorv1alpha1 "github.com/kuadrant/limitador-operator/api/v1alpha1"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	istioapinetworkingv1alpha3 "istio.io/api/networking/v1alpha3"
 	istioclientnetworkingv1alpha3 "istio.io/client-go/pkg/apis/networking/v1alpha3"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) reconcileRateLimitingClusterEnvoyFilter(ctx
 		rlpRefs := gw.PolicyRefs()
 		rlpKey := client.ObjectKeyFromObject(rlp)
 		// Add the RLP key to the reference list. Only if it does not exist (it should not)
-		if !common.ContainsObjectKey(rlpRefs, rlpKey) {
+		if !slices.Contains(rlpRefs, rlpKey) {
 			rlpRefs = append(gw.PolicyRefs(), rlpKey)
 		}
 		ef, err := r.gatewayRateLimitingClusterEnvoyFilter(ctx, gw.Gateway, rlpRefs)
diff --git a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller.go b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller.go
index 8c94a400a..e03e7b995 100644
--- a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller.go
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) deleteResources(ctx context.Context, rlp *ku
 
 	// remove direct back ref
 	if targetNetworkObject != nil {
-		if err := r.deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx, rlp, targetNetworkObject); err != nil {
+		if err := r.deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx, targetNetworkObject); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) reconcileNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(
 	return r.ReconcileTargetBackReference(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(policy), targetNetworkObject, common.RateLimitPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
 }
 
-func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx context.Context, rlp *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy, targetNetworkObject client.Object) error {
-	return r.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(rlp), targetNetworkObject, common.RateLimitPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
+func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) deleteNetworkResourceDirectBackReference(ctx context.Context, targetNetworkObject client.Object) error {
+	return r.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, targetNetworkObject, common.RateLimitPolicyBackRefAnnotation)
 }
 
 // SetupWithManager sets up the controller with the Manager.
diff --git a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
index 7c5b155c1..c1c6bd923 100644
--- a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/rlptools"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/rlptools/wasm"
 	limitadorv1alpha1 "github.com/kuadrant/limitador-operator/api/v1alpha1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 )
 
 func testBuildBasicGateway(gwName, ns string) *gatewayapiv1beta1.Gateway {
@@ -41,12 +42,12 @@ func testBuildBasicGateway(gwName, ns string) *gatewayapiv1beta1.Gateway {
 			Annotations: map[string]string{"networking.istio.io/service-type": string(corev1.ServiceTypeClusterIP)},
 		},
 		Spec: gatewayapiv1beta1.GatewaySpec{
-			GatewayClassName: gatewayapiv1beta1.ObjectName("istio"),
+			GatewayClassName: "istio",
 			Listeners: []gatewayapiv1beta1.Listener{
 				{
-					Name:     gatewayapiv1beta1.SectionName("default"),
+					Name:     "default",
 					Port:     gatewayapiv1beta1.PortNumber(80),
-					Protocol: gatewayapiv1beta1.ProtocolType("HTTP"),
+					Protocol: "HTTP",
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func testBuildBasicHttpRoute(routeName, gwName, ns string, hostnames []string) *
 				ParentRefs: []gatewayapiv1beta1.ParentReference{
 					{
 						Name:      gatewayapiv1beta1.ObjectName(gwName),
-						Namespace: common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.Namespace(ns)),
+						Namespace: ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.Namespace(ns)),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -79,10 +80,10 @@ func testBuildBasicHttpRoute(routeName, gwName, ns string, hostnames []string) *
 					Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 						{
 							Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-								Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-								Value: common.Ptr("/toy"),
+								Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+								Value: ptr.To("/toy"),
 							},
-							Method: common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")),
+							Method: ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")),
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -283,17 +284,17 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy controller", func() {
 					Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 						{ // get /toys*
 							Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-								Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-								Value: common.Ptr("/toys"),
+								Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+								Value: ptr.To("/toys"),
 							},
-							Method: common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")),
+							Method: ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")),
 						},
 						{ // post /toys*
 							Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-								Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-								Value: common.Ptr("/toys"),
+								Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+								Value: ptr.To("/toys"),
 							},
-							Method: common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("POST")),
+							Method: ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("POST")),
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -301,8 +302,8 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy controller", func() {
 					Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 						{ // /assets*
 							Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-								Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-								Value: common.Ptr("/assets"),
+								Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+								Value: ptr.To("/assets"),
 							},
 						},
 					},
@@ -338,8 +339,8 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy controller", func() {
 									Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 										{
 											Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-												Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-												Value: common.Ptr("/toys"),
+												Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+												Value: ptr.To("/toys"),
 											},
 										},
 									},
@@ -364,8 +365,8 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy controller", func() {
 									Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 										{
 											Path: &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPPathMatch{
-												Type:  common.Ptr(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
-												Value: common.Ptr("/assets"),
+												Type:  ptr.To(gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix),
+												Value: ptr.To("/assets"),
 											},
 										},
 									},
diff --git a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_status.go b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_status.go
index f57717c76..14e3e079c 100644
--- a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_status.go
+++ b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_status.go
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	meta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/reconcile"
 
 	kuadrantv1beta2 "github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta2"
-	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/common"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) reconcileStatus(ctx context.Context, rlp *ku
 func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) calculateStatus(_ context.Context, rlp *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy, specErr error) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicyStatus {
 	newStatus := &kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicyStatus{
 		// Copy initial conditions. Otherwise, status will always be updated
-		Conditions:         common.CopyConditions(rlp.Status.Conditions),
+		Conditions:         slices.Clone(rlp.Status.Conditions),
 		ObservedGeneration: rlp.Status.ObservedGeneration,
 	}
 
diff --git a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_wasm_plugins.go b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_wasm_plugins.go
index 78cb994f3..093e24826 100644
--- a/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_wasm_plugins.go
+++ b/controllers/ratelimitpolicy_wasm_plugins.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	istioextensionsv1alpha1 "istio.io/api/extensions/v1alpha1"
 	istioclientgoextensionv1alpha1 "istio.io/client-go/pkg/apis/extensions/v1alpha1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ func (r *RateLimitPolicyReconciler) reconcileWASMPluginConf(ctx context.Context,
 		rlpRefs := gw.PolicyRefs()
 		rlpKey := client.ObjectKeyFromObject(rlp)
 		// Add the RLP key to the reference list. Only if it does not exist (it should not)
-		if !common.ContainsObjectKey(rlpRefs, rlpKey) {
+		if !slices.Contains(rlpRefs, rlpKey) {
 			rlpRefs = append(gw.PolicyRefs(), rlpKey)
 		}
 		wp, err := r.gatewayWASMPlugin(ctx, gw, rlpRefs)
diff --git a/doc/development.md b/doc/development.md
index 4b0874fc9..4582ce6f3 100644
--- a/doc/development.md
+++ b/doc/development.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 * [operator-sdk] version v1.28.1
 * [kind] version v0.20.0
 * [git][git_tool]
-* [go] version 1.19+
+* [go] version 1.20+
 * [kubernetes] version v1.19+
 * [kubectl] version v1.19+
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index f6260413b..2a67d9fff 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.20
 
 require (
 	github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap/v2 v2.2.0
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.7.0
 	github.com/onsi/gomega v1.24.2
 	go.uber.org/zap v1.24.0
+	golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230817173708-d852ddb80c63
 	golang.org/x/sync v0.1.0
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.31.0
 	gotest.tools v2.2.0+incompatible
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ require (
 	k8s.io/apimachinery v0.26.1
 	k8s.io/client-go v0.26.1
 	k8s.io/klog/v2 v2.80.1
+	k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20230726121419-3b25d923346b
 	sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime v0.14.6
 	sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api v0.6.2
 )
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ require (
 	go.uber.org/multierr v1.9.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/net v0.9.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.5.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.7.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.11.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/term v0.7.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.9.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/time v0.3.0 // indirect
@@ -89,7 +91,6 @@ require (
 	istio.io/pkg v0.0.0-20230523222708-7056be172a30 // indirect
 	k8s.io/component-base v0.26.1 // indirect
 	k8s.io/kube-openapi v0.0.0-20230109183929-3758b55a6596 // indirect
-	k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20221128185143-99ec85e7a448 // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/json v0.0.0-20221116044647-bc3834ca7abd // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/structured-merge-diff/v4 v4.2.3 // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/yaml v1.3.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 8a6a43fa3..8d7637171 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -263,7 +263,8 @@ golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20191011191535-87dc89f01550/go.mod h1:yigFU9vqHzYiE8U
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20200622213623-75b288015ac9/go.mod h1:LzIPMQfyMNhhGPhUkYOs5KpL4U8rLKemX1yGLhDgUto=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.5.0 h1:U/0M97KRkSFvyD/3FSmdP5W5swImpNgle/EHFhOsQPE=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20190121172915-509febef88a4/go.mod h1:CJ0aWSM057203Lf6IL+f9T1iT9GByDxfZKAQTCR3kQA=
-golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230108222341-4b8118a2686a h1:tlXy25amD5A7gOfbXdqCGN5k8ESEed/Ee1E5RcrYnqU=
+golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230817173708-d852ddb80c63 h1:m64FZMko/V45gv0bNmrNYoDEq8U5YUhetc9cBWKS1TQ=
+golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230817173708-d852ddb80c63/go.mod h1:0v4NqG35kSWCMzLaMeX+IQrlSnVE/bqGSyC2cz/9Le8=
 golang.org/x/lint v0.0.0-20181026193005-c67002cb31c3/go.mod h1:UVdnD1Gm6xHRNCYTkRU2/jEulfH38KcIWyp/GAMgvoE=
 golang.org/x/lint v0.0.0-20190227174305-5b3e6a55c961/go.mod h1:wehouNa3lNwaWXcvxsM5YxQ5yQlVC4a0KAMCusXpPoU=
 golang.org/x/lint v0.0.0-20190313153728-d0100b6bd8b3/go.mod h1:6SW0HCj/g11FgYtHlgUYUwCkIfeOF89ocIRzGO/8vkc=
@@ -308,8 +309,8 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210330210617-4fbd30eecc44/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210423082822-04245dca01da/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210510120138-977fb7262007/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220908164124-27713097b956/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.7.0 h1:3jlCCIQZPdOYu1h8BkNvLz8Kgwtae2cagcG/VamtZRU=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.7.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.11.0 h1:eG7RXZHdqOJ1i+0lgLgCpSXAp6M3LYlAo6osgSi0xOM=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.11.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/term v0.0.0-20201126162022-7de9c90e9dd1/go.mod h1:bj7SfCRtBDWHUb9snDiAeCFNEtKQo2Wmx5Cou7ajbmo=
 golang.org/x/term v0.7.0 h1:BEvjmm5fURWqcfbSKTdpkDXYBrUS1c0m8agp14W48vQ=
 golang.org/x/term v0.7.0/go.mod h1:P32HKFT3hSsZrRxla30E9HqToFYAQPCMs/zFMBUFqPY=
@@ -423,8 +424,8 @@ k8s.io/klog/v2 v2.80.1/go.mod h1:y1WjHnz7Dj687irZUWR/WLkLc5N1YHtjLdmgWjndZn0=
 k8s.io/kube-openapi v0.0.0-20230109183929-3758b55a6596 h1:8cNCQs+WqqnSpZ7y0LMQPKD+RZUHU17VqLPMW3qxnxc=
 k8s.io/kube-openapi v0.0.0-20230109183929-3758b55a6596/go.mod h1:/BYxry62FuDzmI+i9B+X2pqfySRmSOW2ARmj5Zbqhj0=
 k8s.io/kubectl v0.26.0 h1:xmrzoKR9CyNdzxBmXV7jW9Ln8WMrwRK6hGbbf69o4T0=
-k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20221128185143-99ec85e7a448 h1:KTgPnR10d5zhztWptI952TNtt/4u5h3IzDXkdIMuo2Y=
-k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20221128185143-99ec85e7a448/go.mod h1:OLgZIPagt7ERELqWJFomSt595RzquPNLL48iOWgYOg0=
+k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20230726121419-3b25d923346b h1:sgn3ZU783SCgtaSJjpcVVlRqd6GSnlTLKgpAAttJvpI=
+k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20230726121419-3b25d923346b/go.mod h1:OLgZIPagt7ERELqWJFomSt595RzquPNLL48iOWgYOg0=
 sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime v0.14.6 h1:oxstGVvXGNnMvY7TAESYk+lzr6S3V5VFxQ6d92KcwQA=
 sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime v0.14.6/go.mod h1:WqIdsAY6JBsjfc/CqO0CORmNtoCtE4S6qbPc9s68h+0=
 sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api v0.6.2 h1:583XHiX2M2bKEA0SAdkoxL1nY73W1+/M+IAm8LJvbEA=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 877773e7f..59fd4fe85 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 
 	authorinov1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/authorino/api/v1beta1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/env"
 
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 
@@ -48,7 +49,6 @@ import (
 	kuadrantv1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta1"
 	kuadrantv1beta2 "github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta2"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/controllers"
-	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/common"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/pkg/reconcilers"
 	//+kubebuilder:scaffold:imports
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	scheme   = k8sruntime.NewScheme()
-	logLevel = common.FetchEnv("LOG_LEVEL", "info")
-	logMode  = common.FetchEnv("LOG_MODE", "production")
+	logLevel = env.GetString("LOG_LEVEL", "info")
+	logMode  = env.GetString("LOG_MODE", "production")
 )
 
 func init() {
diff --git a/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions.go b/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions.go
index 4f7399c07..68ef12537 100644
--- a/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions.go
+++ b/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions.go
@@ -4,19 +4,13 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"sort"
 
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
 
-// CopyConditions copies the set of conditions
-func CopyConditions(conditions []metav1.Condition) []metav1.Condition {
-	newConditions := make([]metav1.Condition, len(conditions))
-	copy(newConditions, conditions)
-	return newConditions
-}
-
 // ConditionMarshal marshals the set of conditions as a JSON array, sorted by condition type.
 func ConditionMarshal(conditions []metav1.Condition) ([]byte, error) {
-	condCopy := CopyConditions(conditions)
+	condCopy := slices.Clone(conditions)
 	sort.Slice(condCopy, func(a, b int) bool {
 		return condCopy[a].Type < condCopy[b].Type
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions_test.go b/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions_test.go
index 15346f447..29c152358 100644
--- a/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/apimachinery_status_conditions_test.go
@@ -10,113 +10,6 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
 
-func TestCopyConditions(t *testing.T) {
-	now := metav1.Now()
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name               string
-		expectedConditions []metav1.Condition
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "when multiple conditions then return copy",
-			expectedConditions: []metav1.Condition{
-				{
-					Type:               "Installed",
-					Status:             metav1.ConditionTrue,
-					ObservedGeneration: 1,
-					LastTransitionTime: now,
-					Reason:             "InstallSuccessful",
-					Message:            "Object successfully installed",
-				},
-				{
-					Type:               "Reconciled",
-					Status:             metav1.ConditionFalse,
-					ObservedGeneration: 0,
-					LastTransitionTime: now,
-					Reason:             "ReconcileError",
-					Message:            "Object failed to reconcile due to an error",
-				},
-				{
-					Type:               "Ready",
-					Status:             metav1.ConditionFalse,
-					ObservedGeneration: 2,
-					LastTransitionTime: now,
-					Reason:             "ComponentsNotReady",
-					Message:            "Object components are not ready",
-				},
-				{
-					Type:               "Validated",
-					Status:             metav1.ConditionUnknown,
-					ObservedGeneration: 0,
-					LastTransitionTime: now,
-					Reason:             "ValidationError",
-					Message:            "Object validation failed",
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "when one condition then return copy",
-			expectedConditions: []metav1.Condition{
-				{
-					Type:               "Validated",
-					Status:             metav1.ConditionUnknown,
-					ObservedGeneration: 0,
-					LastTransitionTime: now,
-					Reason:             "ValidationError",
-					Message:            "Object validation failed",
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name:               "when empty conditions slice return empty slice",
-			expectedConditions: []metav1.Condition{},
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(subT *testing.T) {
-			actualConditions := CopyConditions(tc.expectedConditions)
-			if diff := goCmp.Diff(tc.expectedConditions, actualConditions); diff != "" {
-				subT.Errorf("Conditions mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCopyConditions_OriginalConditionsNotModified(t *testing.T) {
-	now := metav1.Now()
-	expectedConditions := []metav1.Condition{
-		{
-			Type:               "Installed",
-			Status:             metav1.ConditionTrue,
-			ObservedGeneration: 1,
-			LastTransitionTime: now,
-			Reason:             "InstallSuccessful",
-			Message:            "Object successfully installed",
-		},
-		{
-			Type:               "Reconciled",
-			Status:             metav1.ConditionFalse,
-			ObservedGeneration: 0,
-			LastTransitionTime: now,
-			Reason:             "ReconcileError",
-			Message:            "Object failed to reconcile due to an error",
-		},
-	}
-
-	originalConditions := append([]metav1.Condition{}, expectedConditions...)
-	actualConditions := CopyConditions(expectedConditions)
-
-	// Check that the copied conditions are equal to the original conditions
-	if diff := goCmp.Diff(expectedConditions, actualConditions); diff != "" {
-		t.Errorf("Conditions mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
-	}
-
-	// Check that the original conditions were not modified
-	if diff := goCmp.Diff(originalConditions, expectedConditions); diff != "" {
-		t.Errorf("Original conditions were modified (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestConditionMarshal(t *testing.T) {
 	now := metav1.Now()
 	nowUTC := now.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
diff --git a/pkg/common/common.go b/pkg/common/common.go
index b6f999d63..0f0e0d160 100644
--- a/pkg/common/common.go
+++ b/pkg/common/common.go
@@ -18,10 +18,9 @@ package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	gatewayapiv1alpha2 "sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api/apis/v1alpha2"
 	gatewayapiv1beta1 "sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api/apis/v1beta1"
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 // TODO: move the const to a proper place, or get it from config
 const (
 	KuadrantRateLimitClusterName       = "kuadrant-rate-limiting-service"
-	HTTPRouteKind                      = "HTTPRoute"
 	RateLimitPoliciesBackRefAnnotation = "kuadrant.io/ratelimitpolicies"
 	RateLimitPolicyBackRefAnnotation   = "kuadrant.io/ratelimitpolicy"
 	AuthPoliciesBackRefAnnotation      = "kuadrant.io/authpolicies"
@@ -47,31 +45,6 @@ type KuadrantPolicy interface {
 	GetRulesHostnames() []string
 }
 
-func Ptr[T any](t T) *T {
-	return &t
-}
-
-// FetchEnv fetches the value of the environment variable with the specified key,
-// or returns the default value if the variable is not found or has an empty value.
-// If an error occurs during the lookup, the function returns the default value.
-// The key and default value parameters must be valid strings.
-func FetchEnv(key string, def string) string {
-	val, ok := os.LookupEnv(key)
-	if !ok {
-		return def
-	}
-
-	return val
-}
-
-// GetDefaultIfNil returns the value of a pointer argument, or a default value if the pointer is nil.
-func GetDefaultIfNil[T any](val *T, def T) T {
-	if reflect.ValueOf(val).IsNil() {
-		return def
-	}
-	return *val
-}
-
 // GetEmptySliceIfNil returns a provided slice, or an empty slice of the same type if the input slice is nil.
 func GetEmptySliceIfNil[T any](val []T) []T {
 	if val == nil {
@@ -89,24 +62,13 @@ func NamespacedNameToObjectKey(namespacedName, defaultNamespace string) client.O
 	return client.ObjectKey{Namespace: defaultNamespace, Name: namespacedName}
 }
 
-// Contains checks if the given target string is present in the slice of strings 'slice'.
-// It returns true if the target string is found in the slice, false otherwise.
-func Contains[T comparable](slice []T, target T) bool {
-	for idx := range slice {
-		if slice[idx] == target {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
 // SameElements checks if the two slices contain the exact same elements. Order does not matter.
 func SameElements[T comparable](s1, s2 []T) bool {
 	if len(s1) != len(s2) {
 		return false
 	}
 	for _, v := range s1 {
-		if !Contains(s2, v) {
+		if !slices.Contains(s2, v) {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
@@ -115,7 +77,7 @@ func SameElements[T comparable](s1, s2 []T) bool {
 
 func Intersect[T comparable](slice1, slice2 []T) bool {
 	for _, item := range slice1 {
-		if Contains(slice2, item) {
+		if slices.Contains(slice2, item) {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
@@ -131,7 +93,7 @@ func Intersection[T comparable](slice1, slice2 []T) []T {
 	}
 	var result []T
 	for _, item := range smallerSlice {
-		if Contains(largerSlice, item) {
+		if slices.Contains(largerSlice, item) {
 			result = append(result, item)
 		}
 	}
@@ -167,27 +129,6 @@ func Filter[T any](slice []T, f func(T) bool) []T {
 	return arr
 }
 
-// SliceCopy copies the elements from the input slice into the output slice, and returns the output slice.
-func SliceCopy[T any](s1 []T) []T {
-	s2 := make([]T, len(s1))
-	copy(s2, s1)
-	return s2
-}
-
-// ReverseSlice creates a reversed copy of the input slice.
-func ReverseSlice[T any](input []T) []T {
-	inputLen := len(input)
-	output := make([]T, inputLen)
-
-	for i, n := range input {
-		j := inputLen - i - 1
-
-		output[j] = n
-	}
-
-	return output
-}
-
 // MergeMapStringString Merge desired into existing.
 // Not Thread-Safe. Does it matter?
 func MergeMapStringString(existing *map[string]string, desired map[string]string) bool {
@@ -238,7 +179,7 @@ func UnMarshallObjectKey(keyStr string) (client.ObjectKey, error) {
 	return client.ObjectKey{Namespace: keyStr[:namespaceEndIndex], Name: keyStr[namespaceEndIndex+1:]}, nil
 }
 
-// HostnamesToStrings converts []gatewayapi_v1alpha2.Hostname to []string
+// HostnamesToStrings converts []gatewayapiv1beta1.Hostname to []string
 func HostnamesToStrings(hostnames []gatewayapiv1beta1.Hostname) []string {
 	return Map(hostnames, func(hostname gatewayapiv1beta1.Hostname) string {
 		return string(hostname)
@@ -249,8 +190,8 @@ func HostnamesToStrings(hostnames []gatewayapiv1beta1.Hostname) []string {
 // is a subset of at least one of the domains.
 // Domains and subdomains may be prefixed with a wildcard label (*.).
 // The wildcard label must appear by itself as the first label.
-// When one of the subdomains is not a subset of any of the domains, it returns false and
-// the subdomain not being subset of any of the domains
+// When one of the subdomains is not a subset of the domains, it returns false and
+// the subdomain not being subset of the domains
 func ValidSubdomains(domains, subdomains []string) (bool, string) {
 	for _, subdomain := range subdomains {
 		validSubdomain := false
diff --git a/pkg/common/common_test.go b/pkg/common/common_test.go
index 94d01fc69..45f6b56cb 100644
--- a/pkg/common/common_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/common_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -74,78 +73,6 @@ func TestFind(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestFetchEnv(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("when env var exists & has a value different from the default value then return the env var value", func(t *testing.T) {
-		key := "LOG_LEVEL"
-		defaultVal := "info"
-		val := "debug"
-		os.Setenv(key, val)
-		defer os.Unsetenv(key)
-
-		result := FetchEnv(key, defaultVal)
-
-		if result != val {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", val, result)
-		}
-	})
-	t.Run("when env var exists but has an empty value then return the empty value", func(t *testing.T) {
-		key := "LOG_MODE"
-		defaultVal := "production"
-		val := ""
-		os.Setenv(key, val)
-		defer os.Unsetenv(key)
-
-		result := FetchEnv(key, defaultVal)
-
-		if result != val {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", val, result)
-		}
-	})
-	t.Run("when env var does not exist & the default value is used then return the default value", func(t *testing.T) {
-		key := "LOG_MODE"
-		defaultVal := "production"
-
-		result := FetchEnv(key, defaultVal)
-
-		if result != defaultVal {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", defaultVal, result)
-		}
-	})
-	t.Run("when default value is an empty string then return an empty string", func(t *testing.T) {
-		key := "LOG_MODE"
-		defaultVal := ""
-
-		result := FetchEnv(key, defaultVal)
-
-		if result != defaultVal {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", defaultVal, result)
-		}
-	})
-}
-
-func TestGetDefaultIfNil(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("when value is non-nil pointer type and default value is provided then return value", func(t *testing.T) {
-		val := "test"
-		def := "default"
-
-		result := GetDefaultIfNil(&val, def)
-
-		if result != val {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", val, result)
-		}
-	})
-	t.Run("when value is nil pointer type and default value is provided then return default value", func(t *testing.T) {
-		var val *string
-		def := "default"
-
-		result := GetDefaultIfNil(val, def)
-
-		if result != def {
-			t.Errorf("Expected %v, but got %v", def, result)
-		}
-	})
-}
-
 func TestGetEmptySliceIfNil(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("when a non-nil slice is provided then return same slice", func(t *testing.T) {
 		value := []int{1, 2, 3}
@@ -208,90 +135,6 @@ func TestNamespacedNameToObjectKey(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestContains(t *testing.T) {
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name     string
-		slice    []string
-		target   string
-		expected bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name:     "when slice has one target item then return true",
-			slice:    []string{"test-gw"},
-			target:   "test-gw",
-			expected: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when slice is empty then return false",
-			slice:    []string{},
-			target:   "test-gw",
-			expected: false,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when target is in a slice then return true",
-			slice:    []string{"test-gw1", "test-gw2", "test-gw3"},
-			target:   "test-gw2",
-			expected: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when no target in a slice then return false",
-			slice:    []string{"test-gw1", "test-gw2", "test-gw3"},
-			target:   "test-gw4",
-			expected: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if Contains(tc.slice, tc.target) != tc.expected {
-				t.Errorf("when slice=%v and target=%s, expected=%v, but got=%v", tc.slice, tc.target, tc.expected, !tc.expected)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestContainsWithInts(t *testing.T) {
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name     string
-		slice    []int
-		target   int
-		expected bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name:     "when slice has one target item then return true",
-			slice:    []int{1},
-			target:   1,
-			expected: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when slice is empty then return false",
-			slice:    []int{},
-			target:   2,
-			expected: false,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when target is in a slice then return true",
-			slice:    []int{1, 2, 3},
-			target:   2,
-			expected: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when no target in a slice then return false",
-			slice:    []int{1, 2, 3},
-			target:   4,
-			expected: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if Contains(tc.slice, tc.target) != tc.expected {
-				t.Errorf("when slice=%v and target=%d, expected=%v, but got=%v", tc.slice, tc.target, tc.expected, !tc.expected)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestSameElements(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name     string
@@ -550,81 +393,6 @@ func TestMap(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestSliceCopy(t *testing.T) {
-	input1 := []int{1, 2, 3}
-	expected1 := []int{1, 2, 3}
-	output1 := SliceCopy(input1)
-	t.Run("when given slice of integers then return a copy of the input slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output1, expected1) {
-			t.Errorf("SliceCopy(%v) = %v; expected %v", input1, output1, expected1)
-		}
-	})
-
-	input2 := []string{"foo", "bar", "baz"}
-	expected2 := []string{"foo", "bar", "baz"}
-	output2 := SliceCopy(input2)
-	t.Run("when given slice of strings then return a copy of the input slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output2, expected2) {
-			t.Errorf("SliceCopy(%v) = %v; expected %v", input2, output2, expected2)
-		}
-	})
-
-	type person struct {
-		name string
-		age  int
-	}
-	input3 := []person{{"Artem", 65}, {"DD", 18}, {"Charlie", 23}}
-	expected3 := []person{{"Artem", 65}, {"DD", 18}, {"Charlie", 23}}
-	output3 := SliceCopy(input3)
-	t.Run("when given slice of structs then return a copy of the input slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output3, expected3) {
-			t.Errorf("SliceCopy(%v) = %v; expected %v", input3, output3, expected3)
-		}
-	})
-
-	input4 := []int{1, 2, 3}
-	expected4 := []int{1, 2, 3}
-	output4 := SliceCopy(input4)
-	t.Run("when modifying the original input slice then does not affect the returned copy", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output4, expected4) {
-			t.Errorf("SliceCopy(%v) = %v; expected %v", input4, output4, expected4)
-		}
-		input4[0] = 4
-		if reflect.DeepEqual(output4, input4) {
-			t.Errorf("modifying the original input slice should not change the output slice")
-		}
-	})
-}
-
-func TestReverseSlice(t *testing.T) {
-	input1 := []int{1, 2, 3}
-	expected1 := []int{3, 2, 1}
-	output1 := ReverseSlice(input1)
-	t.Run("when given slice of integers then return reversed copy of the input slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output1, expected1) {
-			t.Errorf("ReverseSlice(%v) = %v; expected %v", input1, output1, expected1)
-		}
-	})
-
-	input2 := []string{"foo", "bar", "baz"}
-	expected2 := []string{"baz", "bar", "foo"}
-	output2 := ReverseSlice(input2)
-	t.Run("when given slice of strings then return reversed copy of the input slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output2, expected2) {
-			t.Errorf("ReverseSlice(%v) = %v; expected %v", input2, output2, expected2)
-		}
-	})
-
-	input3 := []int{}
-	expected3 := []int{}
-	output3 := ReverseSlice(input3)
-	t.Run("when given an empty slice then return empty slice", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(output3, expected3) {
-			t.Errorf("ReverseSlice(%v) = %v; expected %v", input3, output3, expected3)
-		}
-	})
-}
-
 func TestMergeMapStringString(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name          string
diff --git a/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils.go b/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils.go
index ccb743336..3f842dc26 100644
--- a/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils.go
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	gatewayapiv1alpha2 "sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api/apis/v1alpha2"
 	gatewayapiv1beta1 "sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api/apis/v1beta1"
@@ -204,12 +206,12 @@ func HTTPMethodToString(method *gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod) string {
 
 func GetKuadrantNamespaceFromPolicyTargetRef(ctx context.Context, cli client.Client, policy KuadrantPolicy) (string, error) {
 	targetRef := policy.GetTargetRef()
-	gwNamespacedName := types.NamespacedName{Namespace: string(GetDefaultIfNil(targetRef.Namespace, policy.GetWrappedNamespace())), Name: string(targetRef.Name)}
+	gwNamespacedName := types.NamespacedName{Namespace: string(ptr.Deref(targetRef.Namespace, policy.GetWrappedNamespace())), Name: string(targetRef.Name)}
 	if IsTargetRefHTTPRoute(targetRef) {
 		route := &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRoute{}
 		if err := cli.Get(
 			ctx,
-			types.NamespacedName{Namespace: string(GetDefaultIfNil(targetRef.Namespace, policy.GetWrappedNamespace())), Name: string(targetRef.Name)},
+			types.NamespacedName{Namespace: string(ptr.Deref(targetRef.Namespace, policy.GetWrappedNamespace())), Name: string(targetRef.Name)},
 			route,
 		); err != nil {
 			return "", err
@@ -316,7 +318,7 @@ func GatewaysMissingPolicyRef(gwList *gatewayapiv1beta1.GatewayList, policyKey c
 	for i := range gwList.Items {
 		gateway := gwList.Items[i]
 		gw := GatewayWrapper{&gateway, config}
-		if ContainsObjectKey(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && !gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
+		if slices.Contains(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && !gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
 			gateways = append(gateways, gw)
 		}
 	}
@@ -329,7 +331,7 @@ func GatewaysWithValidPolicyRef(gwList *gatewayapiv1beta1.GatewayList, policyKey
 	for i := range gwList.Items {
 		gateway := gwList.Items[i]
 		gw := GatewayWrapper{&gateway, config}
-		if ContainsObjectKey(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
+		if slices.Contains(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
 			gateways = append(gateways, gw)
 		}
 	}
@@ -342,7 +344,7 @@ func GatewaysWithInvalidPolicyRef(gwList *gatewayapiv1beta1.GatewayList, policyK
 	for i := range gwList.Items {
 		gateway := gwList.Items[i]
 		gw := GatewayWrapper{&gateway, config}
-		if !ContainsObjectKey(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
+		if !slices.Contains(policyGwKeys, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&gateway)) && gw.ContainsPolicy(policyKey) {
 			gateways = append(gateways, gw)
 		}
 	}
@@ -403,7 +405,7 @@ func (g GatewayWrapper) ContainsPolicy(policyKey client.ObjectKey) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	return ContainsObjectKey(refs, policyKey)
+	return slices.Contains(refs, policyKey)
 }
 
 // AddPolicy tries to add a policy to the existing ref list.
@@ -434,7 +436,7 @@ func (g GatewayWrapper) AddPolicy(policyKey client.ObjectKey) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	if ContainsObjectKey(refs, policyKey) {
+	if slices.Contains(refs, policyKey) {
 		return false
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils_test.go b/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils_test.go
index 1f0668c22..5309baeba 100644
--- a/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/gatewayapi_utils_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
@@ -713,13 +714,13 @@ func TestGatewaysMissingPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -727,13 +728,13 @@ func TestGatewaysMissingPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-1"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -742,13 +743,13 @@ func TestGatewaysMissingPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as missing policy ref")
 	}
 }
@@ -788,13 +789,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithValidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -802,13 +803,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithValidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-1"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -817,13 +818,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithValidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with valid policy ref")
 	}
 }
@@ -863,13 +864,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithInvalidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if !Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if !slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -877,13 +878,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithInvalidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-1"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
 
@@ -892,13 +893,13 @@ func TestGatewaysWithInvalidPolicyRef(t *testing.T) {
 		{Namespace: "gw-ns", Name: "gw-3"},
 	}, policyRefConfig), gwName)
 
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-1") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-2") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
-	if Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
+	if slices.Contains(gws, "gw-3") {
 		t.Error("gateway expected not to be listed as with invalid policy ref")
 	}
 }
@@ -931,10 +932,10 @@ func TestGatewayWrapperPolicyRefs(t *testing.T) {
 		PolicyRefsConfig: &KuadrantRateLimitPolicyRefsConfig{},
 	}
 	refs := Map(gw.PolicyRefs(), func(ref k8stypes.NamespacedName) string { return ref.String() })
-	if !Contains(refs, "app-ns/policy-1") {
+	if !slices.Contains(refs, "app-ns/policy-1") {
 		t.Error("GatewayWrapper.PolicyRefs() should contain app-ns/policy-1")
 	}
-	if !Contains(refs, "app-ns/policy-2") {
+	if !slices.Contains(refs, "app-ns/policy-2") {
 		t.Error("GatewayWrapper.PolicyRefs() should contain app-ns/policy-2")
 	}
 	if len(refs) != 2 {
@@ -1032,7 +1033,7 @@ func TestGatewayHostnames(t *testing.T) {
 		PolicyRefsConfig: &KuadrantRateLimitPolicyRefsConfig{},
 	}
 	hostnames := gw.Hostnames()
-	if !Contains(hostnames, "toystore.com") {
+	if !slices.Contains(hostnames, "toystore.com") {
 		t.Error("GatewayWrapper.Hostnames() expected to contain 'toystore.com'")
 	}
 	if len(hostnames) != 1 {
@@ -1095,7 +1096,7 @@ func TestGetGatewayWorkloadSelector(t *testing.T) {
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	_ = corev1.AddToScheme(scheme)
 	_ = gatewayapiv1beta1.AddToScheme(scheme)
-	k8sClient := fake.NewFakeClientWithScheme(scheme, gateway, service)
+	k8sClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithScheme(scheme).WithRuntimeObjects(gateway, service).Build()
 
 	var selector map[string]string
 	var err error
@@ -1136,7 +1137,7 @@ func TestGetGatewayWorkloadSelectorWithoutHostnameAddress(t *testing.T) {
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	_ = corev1.AddToScheme(scheme)
 	_ = gatewayapiv1beta1.AddToScheme(scheme)
-	k8sClient := fake.NewFakeClientWithScheme(scheme, gateway, service)
+	k8sClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithScheme(scheme).WithRuntimeObjects(gateway, service).Build()
 
 	var selector map[string]string
 	var err error
@@ -1157,7 +1158,7 @@ func (p *FakePolicy) GetTargetRef() gatewayapiv1alpha2.PolicyTargetReference {
 }
 
 func (p *FakePolicy) GetWrappedNamespace() gatewayapiv1beta1.Namespace {
-	return gatewayapiv1beta1.Namespace("")
+	return ""
 }
 
 func (p *FakePolicy) GetRulesHostnames() []string {
@@ -1193,9 +1194,7 @@ func TestValidateHierarchicalRules(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 
 	if err := ValidateHierarchicalRules(&policy2, gateway); err.Error() != expectedError.Error() {
-		t.Fatal("the error message does not match the expected error one")
-		fmt.Println(expectedError.Error())
-		fmt.Println(err.Error())
+		t.Fatal("the error message does not match the expected error one", expectedError.Error(), err.Error())
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/pkg/common/istio_utils_test.go b/pkg/common/istio_utils_test.go
index 3744d04ac..a35a8677c 100644
--- a/pkg/common/istio_utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/istio_utils_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 package common
 
diff --git a/pkg/common/k8s_utils.go b/pkg/common/k8s_utils.go
index 03f716db3..563e8300f 100644
--- a/pkg/common/k8s_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/common/k8s_utils.go
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	DeleteTagAnnotation      = "kuadrant.io/delete"
-	ReadyStatusConditionType = "Ready"
+	DeleteTagAnnotation = "kuadrant.io/delete"
 )
 
 // ObjectInfo generates a string representation of the provided Kubernetes object, including its kind and name.
@@ -80,9 +79,7 @@ func IsObjectTaggedToDelete(obj client.Object) bool {
 // condition type.
 func StatusConditionsMarshalJSON(input []metav1.Condition) ([]byte, error) {
 	conds := make([]metav1.Condition, 0, len(input))
-	for idx := range input {
-		conds = append(conds, input[idx])
-	}
+	conds = append(conds, input...)
 
 	sort.Slice(conds, func(a, b int) bool {
 		return conds[a].Type < conds[b].Type
@@ -170,16 +167,6 @@ func ObjectKeyListDifference(a, b []client.ObjectKey) []client.ObjectKey {
 	return result
 }
 
-// ContainsObjectKey tells whether a contains x
-func ContainsObjectKey(a []client.ObjectKey, x client.ObjectKey) bool {
-	for _, n := range a {
-		if x == n {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
 // FindObjectKey returns the smallest index i at which x == a[i],
 // or len(a) if there is no such index.
 func FindObjectKey(a []client.ObjectKey, x client.ObjectKey) int {
diff --git a/pkg/common/k8s_utils_test.go b/pkg/common/k8s_utils_test.go
index 18e03b81b..f14adc651 100644
--- a/pkg/common/k8s_utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/k8s_utils_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 package common
 
@@ -732,48 +731,6 @@ func TestGetServicePortNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestContainsObjectKey(t *testing.T) {
-	key1 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns1", Name: "obj1"}
-	key2 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns2", Name: "obj2"}
-	key3 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns3", Name: "obj3"}
-	key4 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns4", Name: "obj4"}
-
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name     string
-		list     []client.ObjectKey
-		key      client.ObjectKey
-		expected bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name:     "when list contains key then return true",
-			list:     []client.ObjectKey{key1, key2, key3},
-			key:      key2,
-			expected: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when list does not contain key then return false",
-			list:     []client.ObjectKey{key1, key2, key3},
-			key:      key4,
-			expected: false,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "when list is empty then return false",
-			list:     []client.ObjectKey{},
-			key:      key4,
-			expected: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			result := ContainsObjectKey(tc.list, tc.key)
-			if result != tc.expected {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected result: got %t, want %t", result, tc.expected)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestFindObjectKey(t *testing.T) {
 	key1 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns1", Name: "obj1"}
 	key2 := client.ObjectKey{Namespace: "ns2", Name: "obj2"}
diff --git a/pkg/common/mesh_config_test.go b/pkg/common/mesh_config_test.go
index d0e8a8962..836e4fb59 100644
--- a/pkg/common/mesh_config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/mesh_config_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 package common
 
diff --git a/pkg/common/yaml_decoder_test.go b/pkg/common/yaml_decoder_test.go
index 8bf5307fa..f77c54752 100644
--- a/pkg/common/yaml_decoder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/yaml_decoder_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 package common
 
diff --git a/pkg/istio/envoy_filters.go b/pkg/istio/envoy_filters.go
index 31ead0102..dc8741fb6 100644
--- a/pkg/istio/envoy_filters.go
+++ b/pkg/istio/envoy_filters.go
@@ -15,23 +15,23 @@ import (
 // Note: This should be removed once the mentioned issue is fixed but that will take some time.
 func LimitadorClusterPatch(limitadorSvcHost string, limitadorGRPCPort int) ([]*istioapiv1alpha3.EnvoyFilter_EnvoyConfigObjectPatch, error) {
 	// The patch defines the rate_limit_cluster, which provides the endpoint location of the external rate limit service.
-	patchUnstructured := map[string]interface{}{
+	patchUnstructured := map[string]any{
 		"operation": "ADD",
-		"value": map[string]interface{}{
+		"value": map[string]any{
 			"name":                   common.KuadrantRateLimitClusterName,
 			"type":                   "STRICT_DNS",
 			"connect_timeout":        "1s",
 			"lb_policy":              "ROUND_ROBIN",
-			"http2_protocol_options": map[string]interface{}{},
-			"load_assignment": map[string]interface{}{
+			"http2_protocol_options": map[string]any{},
+			"load_assignment": map[string]any{
 				"cluster_name": common.KuadrantRateLimitClusterName,
-				"endpoints": []map[string]interface{}{
+				"endpoints": []map[string]any{
 					{
-						"lb_endpoints": []map[string]interface{}{
+						"lb_endpoints": []map[string]any{
 							{
-								"endpoint": map[string]interface{}{
-									"address": map[string]interface{}{
-										"socket_address": map[string]interface{}{
+								"endpoint": map[string]any{
+									"address": map[string]any{
+										"socket_address": map[string]any{
 											"address":    limitadorSvcHost,
 											"port_value": limitadorGRPCPort,
 										},
diff --git a/pkg/istio/mesh_config.go b/pkg/istio/mesh_config.go
index 0cd23eb19..2e012c9d5 100644
--- a/pkg/istio/mesh_config.go
+++ b/pkg/istio/mesh_config.go
@@ -127,10 +127,8 @@ func (w *OSSMControlPlaneWrapper) SetMeshConfig(config *istiomeshv1alpha1.MeshCo
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := w.config.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", meshConfigStruct.AsMap()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+
+	return w.config.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", meshConfigStruct.AsMap())
 }
 
 // meshConfigFromStruct Builds the Istio/OSSM MeshConfig from a compatible structure:
diff --git a/pkg/istio/mesh_config_test.go b/pkg/istio/mesh_config_test.go
index 916c7397f..f75cf714b 100644
--- a/pkg/istio/mesh_config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/istio/mesh_config_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 package istio
 
@@ -172,7 +171,8 @@ func TestOSSMControlPlaneWrapper_GetConfigObject(t *testing.T) {
 func TestOSSMControlPlaneWrapper_GetMeshConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	ossmControlPlane := &maistrav2.ServiceMeshControlPlane{}
 	ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview = maistrav1.NewHelmValues(nil)
-	ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", getStubbedMeshConfigStruct().AsMap())
+	err := ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", getStubbedMeshConfigStruct().AsMap())
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
 
 	wrapper := NewOSSMControlPlaneWrapper(ossmControlPlane)
 	meshConfig, _ := wrapper.GetMeshConfig()
@@ -185,12 +185,13 @@ func TestOSSMControlPlaneWrapper_SetMeshConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	ossmControlPlane := &maistrav2.ServiceMeshControlPlane{}
 	ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview = maistrav1.NewHelmValues(nil)
 	emptyConfig := &structpb.Struct{}
-	ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", emptyConfig.AsMap())
+	err := ossmControlPlane.Spec.TechPreview.SetField("meshConfig", emptyConfig.AsMap())
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
 
 	wrapper := NewOSSMControlPlaneWrapper(ossmControlPlane)
 
 	stubbedMeshConfig := getStubbedMeshConfig()
-	err := wrapper.SetMeshConfig(stubbedMeshConfig)
+	err = wrapper.SetMeshConfig(stubbedMeshConfig)
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 
 	meshConfig, _ := wrapper.GetMeshConfig()
diff --git a/pkg/log/log_test.go b/pkg/log/log_test.go
index b9ef8551a..a75171b03 100644
--- a/pkg/log/log_test.go
+++ b/pkg/log/log_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 /*
 Copyright 2021 Red Hat, Inc.
diff --git a/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler.go b/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler.go
index 2bc0de336..6d8d683c4 100644
--- a/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import (
 // MutateFn is a function which mutates the existing object into it's desired state.
 type MutateFn func(existing, desired client.Object) (bool, error)
 
-func CreateOnlyMutator(existing, desired client.Object) (bool, error) {
+func CreateOnlyMutator(_, _ client.Object) (bool, error) {
 	return false, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler_test.go b/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler_test.go
index 375c60856..51d0845cc 100644
--- a/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/reconcilers/base_reconciler_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //go:build unit
-// +build unit
 
 /*
 Copyright 2021 Red Hat, Inc.
@@ -73,11 +72,11 @@ func TestBaseReconcilerCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Objects to track in the fake client.
-	objs := []runtime.Object{}
+	var objs []runtime.Object
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(10000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -143,8 +142,8 @@ func TestBaseReconcilerUpdateNeeded(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingConfigmap}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(10000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -229,8 +228,8 @@ func TestBaseReconcilerDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existing}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(10000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
diff --git a/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler.go b/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler.go
index a7fdcbde6..004371891 100644
--- a/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (r *TargetRefReconciler) FetchAcceptedGatewayHTTPRoutes(ctx context.Context
 }
 
 // TargetedGatewayKeys returns the list of gateways that are being referenced from the target.
-func (r *TargetRefReconciler) TargetedGatewayKeys(ctx context.Context, targetNetworkObject client.Object) []client.ObjectKey {
+func (r *TargetRefReconciler) TargetedGatewayKeys(_ context.Context, targetNetworkObject client.Object) []client.ObjectKey {
 	switch obj := targetNetworkObject.(type) {
 	case *gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRoute:
 		gwKeys := make([]client.ObjectKey, 0)
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func (r *TargetRefReconciler) ReconcileTargetBackReference(ctx context.Context,
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *TargetRefReconciler) DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx context.Context, policyKey client.ObjectKey, targetNetworkObject client.Object, annotationName string) error {
+func (r *TargetRefReconciler) DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx context.Context, targetNetworkObject client.Object, annotationName string) error {
 	logger, _ := logr.FromContext(ctx)
 
 	targetNetworkObjectKey := client.ObjectKeyFromObject(targetNetworkObject)
diff --git a/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler_test.go b/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler_test.go
index 7de8e1066..46cff300e 100644
--- a/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/reconcilers/targetref_reconciler_test.go
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ func TestFetchValidGateway(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingGateway}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ func TestFetchValidHTTPRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingRoute}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@ func TestFetchValidTargetRef(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingRoute}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ func TestFetchValidTargetRef(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestReconcileTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		namespace             = "operator-unittest"
-		routeName             = "my-route"
-		annotationName string = "some-annotation"
+		namespace      = "operator-unittest"
+		routeName      = "my-route"
+		annotationName = "some-annotation"
 	)
 	baseCtx := context.Background()
 	ctx := logr.NewContext(baseCtx, log.Log)
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ func TestReconcileTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingRoute}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -442,8 +442,8 @@ func TestTargetedGatewayKeys(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingRoute}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -466,9 +466,9 @@ func TestTargetedGatewayKeys(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeleteTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		namespace             = "operator-unittest"
-		routeName             = "my-route"
-		annotationName string = "some-annotation"
+		namespace      = "operator-unittest"
+		routeName      = "my-route"
+		annotationName = "some-annotation"
 	)
 	baseCtx := context.Background()
 	ctx := logr.NewContext(baseCtx, log.Log)
@@ -483,8 +483,6 @@ func TestDeleteTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	policyKey := client.ObjectKey{Name: "someName", Namespace: "someNamespace"}
-
 	existingRoute := &gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRoute{
 		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
 			APIVersion: "gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1beta1",
@@ -529,8 +527,8 @@ func TestDeleteTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 	objs := []runtime.Object{existingRoute}
 
 	// Create a fake client to mock API calls.
-	cl := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
-	clientAPIReader := fake.NewFakeClient(objs...)
+	cl := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+	clientAPIReader := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	recorder := record.NewFakeRecorder(1000)
 
 	baseReconciler := NewBaseReconciler(cl, s, clientAPIReader, log.Log, recorder)
@@ -538,7 +536,7 @@ func TestDeleteTargetBackReference(t *testing.T) {
 		BaseReconciler: baseReconciler,
 	}
 
-	err = targetRefReconciler.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, policyKey, existingRoute, annotationName)
+	err = targetRefReconciler.DeleteTargetBackReference(ctx, existingRoute, annotationName)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/rate_limit_index.go b/pkg/rlptools/rate_limit_index.go
index 6c41816e4..a14d8cd93 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/rate_limit_index.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/rate_limit_index.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
-	orderedmap "github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap/v2"
+	"github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap/v2"
 	limitadorv1alpha1 "github.com/kuadrant/limitador-operator/api/v1alpha1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/utils.go b/pkg/rlptools/utils.go
index ae0163617..95d282396 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/utils.go
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	LimitadorRateLimitIdentitiferPrefix = "limit."
+	LimitadorRateLimitIdentifierPrefix = "limit."
 )
 
 func LimitNameToLimitadorIdentifier(uniqueLimitName string) string {
-	identifier := LimitadorRateLimitIdentitiferPrefix
+	identifier := LimitadorRateLimitIdentifierPrefix
 
 	// sanitize chars that are not allowed in limitador identifiers
 	for _, c := range uniqueLimitName {
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/utils_test.go b/pkg/rlptools/utils_test.go
index 0b85796fa..79677dba6 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/utils_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func testRLP_1Limit_1Rate(ns, name string) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy {
 						{
 							Limit:    5,
 							Duration: 10,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("second"),
+							Unit:     "second",
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func testRLP_2Limits_1Rate(ns, name string) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy {
 						{
 							Limit:    5,
 							Duration: 10,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("second"),
+							Unit:     "second",
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func testRLP_2Limits_1Rate(ns, name string) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy {
 						{
 							Limit:    3,
 							Duration: 1,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("hour"),
+							Unit:     "hour",
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ func testRLP_1Limit_2Rates(ns, name string) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPolicy {
 						{
 							Limit:    5,
 							Duration: 10,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("second"),
+							Unit:     "second",
 						},
 						{
 							Limit:    3,
 							Duration: 1,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("minute"),
+							Unit:     "minute",
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ func testRLP_1Limit_1Rate_1Counter(ns, name string) *kuadrantv1beta2.RateLimitPo
 			Limits: map[string]kuadrantv1beta2.Limit{
 				"l1": {
 					Counters: []kuadrantv1beta2.ContextSelector{
-						kuadrantv1beta2.ContextSelector("request.path"),
+						"request.path",
 					},
 					Rates: []kuadrantv1beta2.Rate{
 						{
 							Limit:    5,
 							Duration: 10,
-							Unit:     kuadrantv1beta2.TimeUnit("second"),
+							Unit:     "second",
 						},
 					},
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/wasm/types.go b/pkg/rlptools/wasm/types.go
index 2e553ea35..98f184895 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/wasm/types.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/wasm/types.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ type PatternExpression struct {
 
 // Condition defines traffic matching rules
 type Condition struct {
-	// All of the expressions defined must match to match this condition
+	// All the expressions defined must match to match this condition
 	// +optional
 	AllOf []PatternExpression `json:"allOf,omitempty"`
 }
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils.go b/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils.go
index a2d9581f7..0c943700c 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	_struct "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/structpb"
 	istioclientgoextensionv1alpha1 "istio.io/client-go/pkg/apis/extensions/v1alpha1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/env"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	gatewayapiv1beta1 "sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api/apis/v1beta1"
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	WASMFilterImageURL = common.FetchEnv("RELATED_IMAGE_WASMSHIM", "oci://quay.io/kuadrant/wasm-shim:latest")
+	WASMFilterImageURL = env.GetString("RELATED_IMAGE_WASMSHIM", "oci://quay.io/kuadrant/wasm-shim:latest")
 )
 
 // WasmRules computes WASM rules from the policy and the targeted route.
diff --git a/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils_test.go b/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils_test.go
index 9771679d3..89e6a5fbe 100644
--- a/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/rlptools/wasm_utils_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestWasmRules(t *testing.T) {
 								Type:  &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchType{gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix}[0],
 								Value: &[]string{"/toy"}[0],
 							},
-							Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")}[0],
+							Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{"GET"}[0],
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func TestWasmRules(t *testing.T) {
 										Type:  &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchType{gatewayapiv1beta1.PathMatchPathPrefix}[0],
 										Value: &[]string{"/toy"}[0],
 									},
-									Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("GET")}[0],
+									Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{"GET"}[0],
 								},
 							},
 						},
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ func TestWasmRules(t *testing.T) {
 						{
 							Matches: []gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPRouteMatch{
 								{
-									Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod("POST")}[0],
+									Method: &[]gatewayapiv1beta1.HTTPMethod{"POST"}[0],
 								},
 							},
 						},