Consultation outcome

Summary of responses and government response

Updated 22 April 2024

Ministerial foreword 

Across the UK, we are committed to protecting our natural environment and leaving the environment in a better state than we found it. As part of this, our shared goal is to tackle plastic pollution and its impact on our environment, economy and health. We aim to maximise resource efficiency and minimise plastic waste by following the principles of the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle. This includes moving away from a take, make, waste model and towards a circular economy for plastic. 

Action has been taken to reduce plastic waste through several measures, including bans and restrictions on certain single use plastic products and making producers more responsible for the plastic they produce. 

In October 2023, we jointly ran a public consultation on proposals to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. We received overwhelming public support for the proposed ban – with 95% of respondents in favour of it.  

Building on the strong public support received, we are pleased to announce that we are introducing a ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. This ban builds on positive action taken across the UK to reduce plastic pollution. It will help to reduce the volume of plastic litter as well as microplastics entering our waterways, making our land and oceans cleaner and healthier.  

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change & Rural Affairs

Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity  

Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs 

Executive summary

The UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are all committed to tackling plastic pollution and its impact on our environment, economy and health. Across the UK, we have introduced bans on a range of unnecessary single-use plastic items:

1. The UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have already banned the manufacture, supply and sale of microbeads in rinse-off personal care products^{[footnote 1]}.  

2. In Scotland, in June 2022, it became an offence to manufacture and supply single-use plastic cutlery, drink stirrers, plates, and polystyrene cups and food containers, and an offence to supply single-use plastic straws and balloon sticks^{[footnote 2]}.   

3. In England, a ban on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers was introduced in October 2023^{[footnote 3]}.

4. In Wales, in October 2023, it became a criminal offence to supply or offer to supply plastic plates, cutlery, polystyrene cups and takeaway food containers, drink stirrers, balloon sticks and drinking straws^{[footnote 4]}.

In October 2023, the UK Government launched a joint consultation with Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive on a proposed ban on the manufacture, supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. The consultation lasted 6 weeks, from 14 October until 25 November 2023.

We received 1,561 responses to the consultation through the survey hosted on Citizens Space and by email (Annex A). Overall, 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed ban on wet wipes containing plastic. Responses from members of the public and non-governmental organisations demonstrated overwhelming support for our proposals, with over 96% either agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposed ban.

Many respondents emphasised the need to reduce pollution and protect the environment and infrastructure, citing wet wipes containing plastic as an unnecessary source of plastic pollution, particularly in our waterways.

Responses from businesses varied, with 60% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with the proposed ban. Some businesses were supportive but highlighted areas for further consideration to make sure that the proposed ban did not have unintended consequences.

Building on the strong public support and given that wet wipes containing plastic are a source of plastic pollution and are often found in the environment, we will legislate to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. Each administration will introduce regulations separately via their respective legislative mechanisms.

Plastic-free wet wipes are already on the market - some major retailers have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic in their stores. Consumers will be able to continue to purchase plastic-free wet wipes.

Further details of the ban are available in the ‘policy decisions’ section of this response.

Summary of responses

Questions on manufacture

In the consultation, respondents were asked if they would support a ban on the manufacture of wet wipes containing plastic. 95% of respondents were in favour of (agreed or strongly agreed with) a ban on the manufacture of wet wipes containing plastic.

Consultation responses have demonstrated that there is a significant presence of wet wipe manufacturers in the UK. Of the manufacturers who responded to the consultation, 12 had manufacturing facilities in England, 3 in Wales and 3 in Scotland. We did not receive a response from a company who manufacture wet wipes in Northern Ireland. However, we did receive a response from a company based in Northern Ireland who manufacture plastic-free wet wipes in Great Britain.

On average, manufacturers stated that half of the wet wipes they produce contain plastic. Of manufacturers that provided the proportion of wet wipes they produce for export, responses generally ranged between 20% to 50%.

70% of manufacturers who responded either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal to ban manufacture (12% neither agreed or disagreed and 15% strongly agreed), citing unnecessary loss in revenue and jobs. Some manufacturers raised concerns about the investment that will be required to switch production to non-plastic wet wipes only. Their projected cost for transitioning ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Manufacturers who support the ban listed reasons such as mitigating the long-term effects of plastic and microplastic pollution in waterways and the impacts of this on ecosystems and risks for human health.

Only 12% of manufacturers said they solely produced non-plastic containing wipes. When asked about moving to plastic free production if a ban was not introduced, 28% said they would transition in 3 to 5 years and 12% said this would not happen in the next 10 years. A further 24% said they did not know if they would transition to producing plastic-free wipes if a ban was not introduced. These responses indicate over half of manufacturers were not seeking to transition in short to medium term.

Questions on supply and sale

Respondents were asked if they would support a ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. Overall, over 93% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with this.

Responses from wet wipes manufacturers were more split. 42% responded either disagreeing or strongly disagreeing, whilst 33% neither agreed or disagreed and only 15% strongly agreed.

In relation to the impact on consumers, 69% of respondents believed that the proposed ban would not have an impact. However, 13% of respondents expressed concern with the potential impacts of the ban on certain groups. The main groups highlighted by respondents included families with infant children due to their specific childcare needs, individuals reliant on wet wipes containing plastic for medical uses and industrial users of wet wipes containing plastic.

Timing of the ban

Responses from the public and from campaign groups have expressed a strong preference for the ban to come into force as soon as possible. This would reduce the environmental impact of unnecessary wet wipes containing plastic in our waterways and marine environment.

Responses from manufacturers (as well as feedback from ongoing stakeholder engagement) have indicated industry require time to adapt to any ban. Manufacturer responses differed on the length of time needed to make the transition to producing only plastic free wipes. This ranged from 1 to 5 years. An industry body representing wet wipes manufacturers stated that a 2 to 3 year transition period would be preferred. One retailer that responded to the consultation stated that it took them one year to make the transition to selling only plastic-free wipes.

Manufacturers responded that non-plastic materials are more expensive than plastic ones. Manufacturers claimed that on average, input costs are 47% higher when manufacturing non-plastic wet wipes versus plastic ones. Over 68% of manufacturers expressed that the machinery for producing non-plastic wipes is, for the most part, the same for those containing plastic. However, manufacturers provided further detail to explain that the materials, chemistries and processing speeds will be different for producing plastic-free alternatives, thus impacting on transition times and costs.

Questions on the definitions

For the purposes of the consultation, we defined a wet wipe containing plastic as ‘a non-woven piece of fabric that contains plastic which has been soaked and stored in a liquid’. 65% of respondents agreed with the definition we consulted on.

However, industry responses were more mixed, with 55% disagreeing with the consultation definition. It was frequently identified that this definition did not go far enough, with concerns its lack of specifics could cause potential confusion as to what would constitute a wet wipe. For example, some respondents noted there is no mention of the single-use nature of wet wipes, nor does it specify the use for personal care and hygiene.

For England, Scotland and Northern Ireland^{[footnote 5]}, the consultation proposed to define plastic using the UK REACH definition of plastic: “a material consisting of polymer to which additives or other substances may have been added, and which can function as a main structural component of final products, with the exception of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified.”

For Wales, the definition of plastic intends to capture the same types of material as the English, Scottish and Northern Ireland definition, however it is worded differently in the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023:

a. “Plastic” means a material consisting of a polymer, other than an adhesive, paint or ink, and includes a material consisting of a polymer that has other substances added to it.

b. “Polymer” means a polymer that can function as the main structural component of a product and does not include a natural polymer that has not been chemically modified.”

The majority of respondents (65%) agreed with the UK REACH definition of plastic we proposed. Common themes in those that agreed included understanding the need for a universal definition and an interest in the definition being consistent across the UK and the EU.

A small proportion of respondents (27%) commented that they did not fully understand the definition, with members of the public describing the technical language as difficult to understand. Responses from the manufacturing industry also expressed concerns that the layperson might struggle to understand.

A minority of respondents (8%) did not agree with the definition, citing concerns around potential loopholes that may be used by producers to get around the ban and general concerns around the properties of natural polymers.

We also asked respondents for their views on the inclusion or exclusion of wet wipes marketed as ‘natural’, ‘biodegradable’ or ‘plastic free’, noting that these may be made from polymers which have undergone chemical extraction, processing and refinement processes. The polymers consulted on were viscose, lyocell and cotton. Respondents were asked if these materials should be excluded from the ban.

Table 1: Responses to whether certain materials (polymers) should be excluded from the ban

Material exclusion	Yes	No	Do not know
Viscose	34%	27%	39%
Cotton	42%	2%	35%
Lyocell	6%	37%	44%

Questions on exemptions

We asked if any exemptions should be made to the proposed regulations, particularly to account for medical or industrial purposes.

Responses to inclusion of exemptions varied, with 39% agreeing or strongly agreeing in relation to medical purposes and 37% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. 16% neither agreed nor disagreed with the medical exemption. In relation to industrial purposes, opposition to an exemption was higher with 53% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing compared to 24% in favour.

Of those supportive of an exemption, responses demonstrated that wet wipes containing plastic are necessary for a wide range of medical and industrial purposes, including disinfection in clinical and factory settings as well as industrial cleaning. Evidence submitted in consultation responses also indicates these wipes have properties not possessed by plastic-free counterparts. These range from tensile strength to the ability to hold and apply certain disinfectants.

Responses also indicated there are not yet viable plastic-free wet wipes for use in medical settings. Existing alternatives are significantly more expensive, and therefore not viable for many businesses. Additionally, some responses cited a need for wet wipes containing plastic for medical care in household or care settings (such as for stoma cleaning).

Policy decisions

Ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic

The UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have all taken the decision to proceed with legislation to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic across the UK.

From the point each separate piece of the legislation is passed, there will be an 18-month transition period to allow manufacturers adequate time to transition to producing plastic-free wet wipes. The transition period should mitigate economic impacts of the ban, including job losses, and prevent excess stocks of wet wipes containing plastic from being incinerated or landfilled.

We anticipate legislation to be in place across the UK by the end of 2024. The intention to ban wet wipes containing plastic, subject to consultation, has been expressed in various government strategies. Most manufacturers have commenced the transition to producing plastic-free wet wipes already.

We have listened to stakeholders and recognise the size of the wet wipes manufacturing industry in the UK. With this in mind, and in line with other recent single-use plastic bans^{[footnote 6]}, we have decided not to include manufacture as part of the ban.

We will continue to encourage manufacturers to move to a position where all their wet wipes are plastic free. However, we recognise manufacturers do not solely supply to the UK and for them to continue operation, they will need to comply with regulatory requirements of other countries. Our decision is intended to reduce the economic impacts of the ban, including the possibility of job losses in the industry.

Manufacturers in the UK will be able to continue to export wet wipes containing plastic to other countries who do not have the same restrictions but will not be able to supply and sell these in the UK (unless for exempted purposes).

Enforcement of the ban

In England, the ban will be enforced principally through civil sanctions set out in regulations using powers the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. This is consistent with the approach to enforcement taken in the Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 and the Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023. It is expected that enforcement authorities will apply civil sanctions in the first instance. However, a failure to comply with a civil sanction, or repeated breaches, may result in authorities prosecuting for a criminal offence subject to a fine.

In Wales, it is intended that the regulations will be enforced through either criminal sanctions or civil sanctions (or both) depending on the nature of the offence, as set out in The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Civil Sanctions) (Wales) Regulations 2023. In Scotland, Scottish Ministers will introduce secondary legislation under section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which was previously used to draft the Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Scotland) Regulations 2018. It is anticipated enforcement will be undertaken by Trading Standards and Local Authorities. Due to the recent return of the Northern Ireland Assembly, enforcement plans are still being worked up to be agreed by the DAERA Minister.

Definition of a ‘wet wipe containing plastic’

For the purposes of the ban, a wet wipe will be defined as the following:

“A wet wipe is a non-woven piece of fabric which has been soaked and stored in liquid and which is not designed or intended to be re-used, including but not limited to baby wipes, cosmetic wipes, moist toilet tissues, personal hygiene wipes and wipe-based cleaning products.”

For the purposes of this ban, in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland ‘plastic’ will be defined using the UK REACH definition. This is consistent with the definition used in legislation for other single-use plastic bans^{[footnote 7]}.

In Wales, the legislation will use the existing definition included in the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023, which is based on the UK REACH definition.

Under the UK REACH definition of plastic, along with the supporting guidance on monomers and polymers, viscose, lyocell and cotton are not plastic.

The UK REACH definition of plastic includes plastics that are bio-based, biodegradable or compostable. This includes materials such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA). There is currently a lack of evidence these materials consistently break down in real world environments.

Exemptions for industrial and medical purposes

We acknowledge that for some uses, plastic free alternatives are either unsuitable or unavailable. On this basis we will be providing an exemption for the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic for industrial and medical purposes.

The industrial exemption allows for businesses (such as hospitals or food production sites) to buy them from other businesses, such as wholesalers, or directly from the manufacturer. Once purchased, these wet wipes cannot be sold onto consumers (with the exception of community pharmacies – read below).

To account for those who receive or require medical care in their own home, the exemption will allow for supply and sale by registered pharmacies. Wet wipes containing plastic will not be permitted for sale on the shelves, and customers who require these products for medical purposes will need to specifically ask the pharmacist for these. This is a similar model to the plastic straws ban.

The full details of these exemptions will be included in regulations and set out in more detail in guidance. We will continue to engage with the relevant organisations to ensure that they are implemented effectively.

Next steps

UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive will proceed with legislating for the proposed ban as soon as practical.

Each administration will be introducing regulations via their respective legislative mechanisms. Where required, an economic impact assessment will be published alongside this. More detailed guidance for businesses and enforcement officers will be published in due course.

A full review of the ban (including on the scope, range of exemptions and materials included) will be undertaken periodically.

Annex A: Breakdown of respondents to the consultation

A breakdown of respondents to the consultation by email and the survey on GOV.UK is as follows:

Table 2: Breakdown of respondents to consultation

Respondents	Number and percentage of respondents
Member of public	1,328 (85%)
Business or organisation that directly supplies, sells, or uses wet wipes containing plastic	44 (3%)
Business or organisation that does not directly supply, sell or use wet wipes containing plastic (including advocacy groups)	73 (5%)
Member of the public responding on behalf of a campaign or petition	45 (3%)
Other	71 (5%)

1. Legislation: The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (England) Regulations 2017, The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019, The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Wales) Regulations 2018 and The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Scotland) Regulations 2018. ↩

2. The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 ↩

3. The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 ↩

4. The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023 ↩

5. Under the Windsor Framework, the EU Reach definition applies in Northern Ireland Reg (EC) 1907/2066. It currently aligns with UK REACH. ↩

6. Other recent single use plastic bans include The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 and The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020. ↩

7. Such as The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 ↩