Today: 16 October 2025
24 April 2024
2 mins read

Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned from sale

According to DEFRA’s Beach Litter Monitoring Data for 2015-2020, an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed across the U.K…reports Asian Lite News

Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned from being sold in the U.K. following legislation to be tabled in Parliament soon, the British government announced on April 22, as the world marked as Earth Day.

U.K. Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will table the legislation for England before Parliament’s summer recess in July.

The devolved regions of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are expected to follow on with their legislation later in the year to make it a U.K.-wide ban as part of an aligned approach.

“Wet wipes containing plastic are polluting our waterways and causing microplastics to enter the environment,” said Barclay.

“DEFRA will introduce legislation before the summer recess to crack down on this unnecessary source of pollution, following our successful single-use carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in personal care products… Plastic-free wet wipes are readily available, and several retailers have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic,” he said.

The Minister said it was part of a “step change” needed to protect the country’s waterways from pollution.

“The ban builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways and hold water companies accountable — including accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites,” he added.

According to DEFRA’s Beach Litter Monitoring Data for 2015-2020, an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed across the U.K.

Once in the water environment, wet wipes containing plastic can accumulate biological and chemical pollutants, increasing the risk of harm to the animals and humans who encounter them.

Banning them is expected to reduce plastic and microplastic pollution and reduce the volume of microplastics entering wastewater treatment sites when wrongly flushed.

The ban follows a public consultation on the issue, which showed overwhelming support for such a move.

The law will be introduced via secondary legislation under the U.K.’s Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA), with 95% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposals.

An 18-month transition period will start from when legislation is passed to allow businesses time to prepare. Following consultation with industry, the ban will not include the manufacture of these products, in line with other recent single-use plastic bans.

“Boots removed all wet wipes containing plastic from sale in stores and online last year as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability and working with suppliers and customers to reduce the use of plastic,” said Steve Ager, chief customer and commercial officer at Boots, one of the U.K.’s largest retailers of such products.

ALSO READ-Single-Use Plastic Cut by 18 Million in 2 Years

Previous Story

Iran condemns planned EU sanctions as unlawful

Next Story

Girl, 7, among five dead on Channel migrant boat

Latest from UK News

UK to Lead Gaza Rebuild

PM announces an additional £20 million aid package aimed at providing essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to tens of thousands of people Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the signing ceremony of

GAZA: UK TO JOIN TALKS IN CAIRO

Starmer to attend Egypt peace summit as Gaza ceasefire takes hold. According to Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA), the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit will bring together leaders and representatives from

Tommy Robinson to Visit Israel

The invitation comes from Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, who described Robinson as a “courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam…reports Asian Lite News An

UAE condemns Manchester attack

UAE condemns Manchester synagogue attack; UK deploys extra police, PM Starmer vows protection for Jewish communities while emergency services respond to a shocking Yom Kippur tragedy. The United Arab Emirates has strongly

UK reimposes UN sanctions on Iran

London triggers snapback mechanism with France and Germany, restoring strict UN measures targeting Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes…reports Asian Lite News The United Kingdom has reinstated sweeping United Nations sanctions on Iran,
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Tata Steel flags concerns over political slugfest

In a statement on Tuesday, Tata Steel said, over the

‘Britain’s refugee visa rules leave children stranded in war zones’

The UK government has closed its visa application center in