2022-04-20 17:20:41

Boots to stop selling plastic wet wipes in sustainability push

2022-04-20 17:20:41

The British health and beauty retailer sold 800 million wet wipes last year
British beauty and pharmacy chain Boots is the latest retailer vowing to stop the sale of wet wipes containing plastic fibres.

The retailer is one of the UK's biggest sellers of wet wipes, stocking more than 140 different lines of the non-biodegradable products across skin care, baby and health care.

Boots sold more than 800 million wet wipes in the last year, approximately 15% of all face wipes sold in the UK.

The move is part of a sustainable push seen across the high street with Tesco, The Body Shop, Holland & Barrett and Selfridges both pledging to ban plastic wet wipes from shelves.

Wet wipes are frequently flushed down the toilet by consumers leading to sewer blockages, also known as 'fatbergs', and other environmental damage.

Boots said it would replace plastic wet wipes with biodegradable plant-based alternatives.

Steve Ager, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer of Boots UK, said: “Our customers are more aware than ever before of their impact on the environment, and they are actively looking to brands and retailers to help them lead more sustainable lives.

"We removed plastics from our own brand and No7 wet wipe ranges in 2021, and now we are calling on other brands and retailers across the UK to follow suit in eliminating all plastic-based wet wipes.

"We all have a responsibility to protect our planet. By joining forces to inspire more positive action, we can collectively make a big difference.”

Boots said that its own-brand wet wipes will be labelled as 'do not flush' and will be developed to meet the WRC Fine to Flush standard.