Have you missed polystyrene cups, plastic cutlery and plastic cotton bud sticks? These items are among several problem packaging items that have been banned in the UK. Yet, with more sustainable replacements available, most consumers haven’t been affected by the change. Yet, more items have been identified for removal by the end of this year. Would these impact your product packaging?
Why Ban Plastic Packaging?
Since 2018, the organisation WRAP has worked with businesses as part of The UK Plastics Pact. Collectively, they have identified the most unnecessary and unrecyclable plastic packaging. These are single-use items, which can viably be replaced by more sustainable alternatives.
A plastic stirrer or fork might be used for no more than a few seconds, yet, it doesn’t decompose. Therefore will be around for multiple generations. Meanwhile, a replacement bamboo or wooden option is both biodegradable and recyclable.
In addition to outright bans, UK Plastic Pact partners have taken steps to remove, reduce and replace single-use packaging from a wide range of goods. According to last year’s annual report*, action over 5 years resulted in 33 billion problem plastic items being removed from circulation.
However, there are plenty of other opportunities to cut problem packaging. The organisation has now recommended six further items that they urge the UK Government to ban.
Which Items Are On the List for a 2025 Plastic Ban?
Wrap is keen for a ban on the following items to be enforced before the end of the year.
Non-detectable Black Plastic Packaging
Black plastic is used in convenience food meal trays, plastic pots, bottles and bin bags. The specific problem with this packaging is the carbon black pigment used to dye the plastic absorbs near-infrared light. This light is widely used to sort plastics in recycling centres, but the black plastic gets missed and mixes with other recyclables.
Wet Wipes with Plastic Content
Many wipes are now plastic-free, but not all. The plastic-free options work effectively and can biodegrade. Therefore, it makes sense to only produce these. If you use wipes, please dispose of them in a bin and not down the toilet, as they are a common cause of blocked drains.
Silicone Components in Packaging
Silicon has proven highly effective for airtight seals that enable packaging to be resealed. As such, they help to keep food fresher for longer and reduce food waste. However, the complex molecular structure of silicone is difficult to separate, especially when combined with other packaging materials. As such, it prevents packaging from being recycled.
Disposable Vapes
Our local litter-picking volunteers, Aylesbury Wombles cleared 4000 disposable vapes in the first three months of 2025. Thanks to the support of a local business, this haul has been recycled. However, it’s a job that they and other community clean-up teams across the UK would happily see come to an end. We’re happy to see this on the list.
Clear PET Trays with PE Liners
When mixed with plastic bottles, PET trays can be recycled. It is also possible to recycle PE Liners. However, when packaging combines both materials, they are not easy to separate and they become non-recyclable.
Flexible Multi-material Plastic Packaging
Crisp packets, sweet and biscuit wrappers, and pasta or rice packets are often made from multi-material plastics. However, it is possible to package these items in mono-material polyolefins. So, WRAP would like the Government to force a shift in material use. If enforced, this change would also impact plastic pouches, which are widely used for nuts and seeds, grated cheese and pet food.
Alternative Packaging Materials
To make these and future plastic bans possible, the packaging industry needs fresh and sustainable innovations. Three examples have been shortlisted in the 2025 Kraft Heinz Global Innovation Challenge. Kalpana Systems, Pack2Earth and Aptar & ProAmpac have all developed solutions that have the potential to make a positive impact on the future of packaging. The winner will be announced at next week’s Rethink Materials Summit.
There are also widely used materials including corn starch films, aluminium cans and corrugated cardboard inserts that provide viable alternatives to plastic packaging. Check out our advice on replacing plastic packaging.
*https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/uk-plastics-pact-annual-report-2023-24
