There has been national coverage of a consultation launched on Saturday (14th October) on banning wet wipes containing plastic.
Part of plans to tackle plastic pollution and clean up waterways, the consultation seeks views on the manufacture, supply and sale of plastic-containing wet wipes across the UK.
This weekend, there was coverage of the announcement in multiple outlets including the Daily Mail, The Times, Independent, Bloomberg and The Telegraph.
The launch of the consultation recognises public calls for action to tackle plastic pollution in waterways, and widespread public support for the proposed ban: a 2021 Call for Evidence in England found that 96% of respondents supported a ban on wet wipes containing plastic.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:
Wet wipes containing plastic are unnecessary and are polluting our environment.
Today's plan shows we will continue to tackle plastic pollution in our waterways, building on banning microbeads in personal care products to taking billions of plastic bags out of circulation.
The consultation delivers on Defra's commitments set out in the Plan for Water this year, and forms part of the Government's wider world-leading action to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution and eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.