Date when plastic in wet wipes will finally be banned is confirmed
The government has confirmed that the ban on wet wipes containing plastic fibers will be in place from Spring 2027.
The policy was introduced as a private member’s bill by MP Fleur Anderson in November 2021 as a way to remove plastic from wipes, making them more biodegradable and reducing long-term pollution.
Wet wipes thrown into water are currently causing serious environmental damage by creating oil mountains that clog sewage systems and clog rivers and seas.
Speaking on Prime Minister’s Questions this week, Ms Anderson said: “Four years ago I bought a private members’ bill to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic. The last government dragged their feet.”
He added: “This government promised to introduce this ban and now they are doing it. Will the Prime Minister join me in celebrating the promise of work and share the message that we should always throw away baby wipes and other wipes rather than flush them down the toilet?”
Sir Keir Starmer praised him for being “a long-standing campaigner on this important issue”. He said: “The public is right to be angry about how the last government allowed sewage to flow into our lakes, rivers and seas.
“As well as strong new powers to tackle pollution, this ban will also put an end to plastic wipes littering our beaches, clogging our drains and harming wildlife.”
An estimated 11 billion wipes are used in the UK each year, many of which contain hidden non-biodegradable plastics such as polyester and polypropylene.
Major retailers such as Boots and Tesco have already committed to plastic-free wipes and the ban will require all other companies to meet the same environmental standards.
Ms Anderson said: “This is a huge step forward for our environment and communities. Wet wipes may seem small, but their impact is huge.
“I’ve seen first-hand the damage in Beckton and Mogden and in the River Thames, where a 180-tonne ‘Wet Wipe Island’ the size of two tennis courts has literally diverted the river. I’ve introduced bills to Parliament and campaigned with schools, residents and retailers, and with this ban we can finally turn the tide.”
A spokesman for Thames Water, which is also helping to clean up the “Wet Wipe Island”, said: “We welcome the confirmation that wet wipes containing plastic will be banned, as blockages caused by wet wipes are a leading cause of pollution on our network. Thames Water removes an estimated 3.8 billion wipes from our network each year, costing more than £18 million.”
“Flushing all types of wipes, period products, cotton pads and other similar items will not make them disappear. Banning wipes containing plastic is a vital step forward, but it’s still important that people only flush the three Ps (pee, poo and paper) to help protect our rivers and drains.”
The Environmental Protection Regulations 2025 were published and passed the House of Commons on 3 November and the House of Lords on 10 November.
