Europe, UK (Commonwealth Union) – Following overwhelming public support during a recent consultation, the UK will implement a ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. A staggering 95 percent of respondents expressed agreement with this proposal.
All four UK nations have jointly responded to this call, outlining measures that include a transition period for businesses to adapt. The response was published on April 22nd.
Scottish Ministers aim to enact regulations by the end of 2024, with the ban scheduled to take effect 18 months thereafter.
A government statement pointed out that wet wipes containing plastic pose significant environmental threats as they do not biodegrade, persisting for years and contributing to harm to wildlife, environmental degradation, and microplastic pollution. They also contribute to unsightly litter.
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, expressed her satisfaction with the decision, confirming the Scottish Government’s commitment to banning wet wipes containing plastic.
“These items are a problematic source of marine litter and are a threat to the health of our environment and wildlife. This ban delivers on an important commitment made in our Marine Litter Strategy and builds on previous actions to ban unnecessary single-use plastic items such as plastic-stemmed cotton buds and plastic straws and cutlery.
The prohibition extends the Scottish Government’s ongoing efforts to address various sources of plastic litter, particularly those with feasible non-plastic alternatives. This builds on past initiatives such as the implementation of the carrier bag charge in 2014, the ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds in 2019, and the prohibition of several single-use plastic food and beverage items in 2022.
Notably, plastic-free wet wipes are already accessible, with numerous retailers ceasing the sale of wet wipes containing plastic.
Upon the passage of legislation, an 18-month transition period will commence to afford businesses adequate time for preparation. Through consultation with industry stakeholders, the ban will exclude the manufacturing of these products, aligning with recent single-use plastic bans.
Nevertheless, the governments across the UK consisting of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have committed to encouraging manufacturers to transition towards producing entirely plastic-free wet wipes.
