Single-use plastic and the never ending campaign against it.
“Our seas can’t wait. We need real proven solutions, like reuse, that can reduce single-use plastic and marine plastic pollution at scale right now.”, as stated by Peter Dennis from Circular.
This is the message we are trying to convey to everyone. Reducing single-use plastic by shifting to an eco-friendly alternative. There is a broad market in the UK for this covering the dental care, home and kitchen, bathroom, cosmetics, lifestyle and many more industries. The trend towards eco-friendly products has been growing, with consumers increasingly prioritising sustainability. This shift in consumer behaviour is reflected across various demographics, including a strong emphasis among younger generations like Gen Z.
Last October 1, 2023, the English Government implemented the banning of single-use plastics includes the following:
- cutlery
- balloon sticks
- plates, bowls, trays, straws
- cotton buds
- polystyrene cups and food containers
There are specific restrictions and exemptions for certain items such as:
- Plates, Bowls, and Trays: Businesses can supply these if they are either supplied to another business or if the items are packaging, pre-filled or filled at the point of sale.
- Straws: Exemptions include registered pharmacies, catering establishments (with conditions), medical devices and uses, packaging, and certain institutions like care homes and schools.
- Cotton Buds: Exemptions are for medical or scientific reasons, including medical devices, forensic purposes, and scientific research.
- Polystyrene Containers: The ban applies to containers for food and drink ready to be consumed (like takeaways), but not to containers used to transport unprocessed or unprepared food.
The ban in England is similar to those already introduced in Scotland and Wales. The EU had introduced a ban on single-use plastic items in 2021. The English ban does not restrict the production, import, or export of single-use plastic items, allowing them to be manufactured and shipped abroad.
The single-use plastics ban is part of the UK Government's action to tackle plastic pollution and eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. This includes the ban on microbeads, restrictions on plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds, and the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax.
How are these bans going to impact the plastic pollution issues?
If you search about it, it takes about 500 years to decompose at least a single plastic toothbrush. That’s why we started Bristle – to help the UK kick our plastic addiction, one small step at a time. Because every plastic toothbrush you’ve ever used is probably still somewhere on this planet, clogging up landfills or polluting the oceans.
Although, banning should be done long ago, we at Bristle are happy to see that the Government is doing efforts although it does not address the larger issue of plastic pollution comprehensively.
Take the Pledge for a Plastic-Free Planet with Bristle
Our oceans are crying out for change, and it's time for us to respond – not tomorrow, but today. Switch to Bristle's eco-friendly dental care products and join the movement to save our planet, one brush at a time. Every plastic-free choice you make is a step towards a cleaner, healthier world. Don't let your toothbrush be part of the problem.
Be part of the Bristle fam. Happier smile, Happier planet!