The United Kingdom government announced on Earth Day that it will ban the sale of plastic-containing wet wipes as part of its efforts to combat pollution.
The ban, which will be introduced via secondary legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, has received overwhelming public support, with 95% of respondents in a consultation agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposals.
According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 meters of beach surveyed across the UK between 2015 and 2020. Once in the water environment, wet wipes containing plastic can accumulate biological and chemical pollutants, increasing the risk of harm to wildlife and humans.
The ban is expected to reduce plastic and microplastic pollution and reduce the volume of microplastics entering wastewater treatment sites. It will also complement other measures already taken to protect UK waterways, such as accelerating investment, imposing fines on water companies, and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites.
While the ban will not include the manufacture of these products, the government will continue to encourage manufacturers to move to a position where all their wet wipes are plastic-free. Some exemptions will be made for medical disinfectant purposes, but DEFRA will regularly review the need for these exemptions.
Several retailers, including Boots, one of the UK’s largest retailers of wet wipes, have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic. The government hopes that the ban will have a significant impact on reducing plastic pollution and protecting the environment.
