Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned across UK to reduce marine litter

Wet wipes containing plastic will soon be banned across the UK, in a move aimed at reducing marine litter.

Following an overwhelmingly positive public consultation, during which 95% of respondents were in agreement, the regulation banning the supply and sale of such items has been finalised.

Joint measures announced today by the four UK nations include a transition period to allow businesses to adjust accordingly. The Scottish Government expressed pride in continuing its legacy of minimising plastic waste.

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Previous initiatives include the introduction of a charge for carrier bags in 2014, a ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds in 2019, and a prohibition on single-use plastic food items in 2022.

By the end of 2024, new regulations are anticipated to be in place, with the ban taking effect 18 months later. Despite this timeline, several shops have already discontinued the sale of wet wipes that contain plastic.

These products take an extended time to biodegrade, causing harm to both wildlife and the wider environment as they persist over the years. They are also listed as a source of microplastic pollution.

Data gathered from Defra Beach Litter Monitoring indicates that from 2015 to 2020, approximately 20 wet wipes were found for every 100m stretch of beach surveyed across the UK. Lorna Slater, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, voiced her approval of the ban: "I am delighted to confirm today that the Scottish Government will ban 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."

"These policies are all proof of the progress Scotland is making toward protecting our environment, and all contribute to our journey toward a circular economy."