UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic to be put into law

The government has declared its intention to outlaw wet wipes that contain plastic, after receiving vast support during the public consultation process. Legislation that will be an international leader in the fight against plastic pollution and the cleansing of waterways is due to be put in place this year. A grace period will be provided for companies to change their production methods.

Today, on April 22nd, 2024, the Environment Secretary has stated that the UK government will be implementing a top-of-the-line law to prohibit the usage of wet wipes containing plastic.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plans to introduce the law in England before the summer break. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will implement the similar law by autumn, following an aligned approach to impose the ban.

Moist towelettes that have plastic components decompose into tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics as they age. Studies have shown that these microplastics can cause harm to people's health and disrupt the natural balance of our ecosystems. In the UK, a recent survey found an average of 20 moist towelettes were discovered per 100 meters of beach surveyed.

When wet wipes containing plastic are present in water, they can attract harmful biological and chemical pollutants, putting both animals and humans at risk if they come into contact with them. This accumulation can cause damage to the environment.

Prohibiting their use would diminish the amount of plastic and microplastic waste, decrease the quantity of microplastics mistakenly disposed of in sewage treatment facilities, and result in a positive effect on our shorelines and bodies of water.

The results of the public survey indicated a huge backing for the suggested restriction, which will be implemented through secondary laws according to the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 95% of individuals who took part in the poll were in favor of the proposition. The government's reaction has been issued today, along with the Welsh Government, Scottish Government, and Northern Ireland Executive.

Celebrating Earth Day 2024, which focuses on the issue of ‘Planet vs. Plastics’, the plan details the upcoming actions to implement the ban, based on the measures already taken throughout the UK to address plastic pollution.

"Steve Barclay On Environmental Protection"

Moist towelettes that have plastic in them are messing up our waterways and causing small particles of plastic to contaminate the environment. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is planning to implement a new law before the summer break to clamp down on this type of pollution that's completely avoidable. It's another success story for Defra, with their previous work on the fee for using disposable carrier bags and the prohibition of microbeads in personal hygiene products.

I've made it very clear that we need to take drastic action to keep our waterways safe from pollution. This prohibition is just one of many measures that we've already implemented to safeguard our waterways and require water companies to take responsibility. These efforts have included increasing investment, using water company penalties to help the environment, and significantly ramping up inspections of water company facilities.

You can easily find wet wipes without plastic, and a number of stores have already stopped offering wet wipes that have plastic in them.

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Last year, Boots took out all of their wet wipes that had plastic from their store and online offerings. This move was in line with their unwavering devotion to sustainability and their efforts to collaborate with suppliers and clients in lessening the use of plastic.

It's great to see that the government is finally stepping up and implementing a ban on all wet wipes that have plastic in them. This ban will have a much greater effect than if only retailers took action. It's important for each and every one of us to take responsibility for protecting the environment and promoting a sustainable planet.

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Eliminating plastic materials from Aldi damp towels has had a beneficial impact on both our patrons and the ecosystem for the previous two years.

Roughly 7,000 tonnes of plastic that were not necessary have been eliminated from the system, which has been embraced by Aldi's customers. Our team endorses the implementation of this updated law and the beneficial effects it will bring for all.

After the legislation to ban single-use plastics is passed, businesses will have 18 months to get ready for the new rules. The ban, which has been modified after discussions with industry, will not apply to the production of such items, similar to other recent bans on single-use plastics.

Nonetheless, the authorities will persist in promoting the transition of manufacturers towards producing wet wipes without plastic components.

The government has made exceptions to make sure that plastic-containing wet wipes remain accessible for medical disinfectant purposes when no other option is available. These exceptions will be reevaluated periodically by the government.

The news today comes after recent actions taken to enhance the quality of our water environment, which include:

The Defra Beach Litter Monitoring Data revealed that from 2015 until 2020, there was an average of 20 wet wipes discovered for every 100 meters of beach that was surveyed all over the United Kingdom.