WRAP adds eight items to plastic elimination list

The additional list is phased with WRAP calling for the first six items on to be eliminated by the end of 2025. These are:  

1. Non-NIR detectable plastics e.g. non detectable black plastic 
2. Silicone components 
3. Flexible non-compatible multi-material plastic packaging should be moved to mono-material polyolefins for: 
   1. Crisp packets 
   2. Pet food 
   3. Chocolate, sweets, snack bars, cakes and biscuit wrappers 
   4. Pouches for cereals, nuts and seeds   
   5. Liquid dishwasher and laundry tabs 
   6. Grated cheese 
   7. Dry pasta, rice and grain 
4. Natural and clear PET trays with PE liners 
5. Wet wipes with plastic content 
6. Disposable vapes 

WRAP has called for the final two items on the list to be phased out by 2027 as far as possible, these are: 

1. Flexible non-compatible multi-material plastic packaging should be moved to mono-material polyolefins for: 
   1. Block cheese 
   2. Cooked meat 
   3. Long life and bake at home bread 
   4. Tea and coffee 
   5. Microwaveable pouches for baby food, pasta, rice and grains 
2. Packaging with glass or metal components 

Original elimination list

These items join the original elimination list which was proposed in 2018 and currently includes 14 items. 

WRAP said that the initial list helped members get ahead of regulatory bans and led to the removal of billions of problematic plastic items from sale or distribution. 

They were:  

1. Disposable plastic cutlery 
2. Disposable plastic plates and bowls 
3. Plastic straws 
4. Cotton buds with plastic stems 
5. Plastic stirrers 
6. Household Polystyrene Packaging 
7. Oxo-degradable plastic products 
8. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging 
9. Plastic wrapping for multi-sales of tins, bottles, and cartons 
10. PVC cling film 
11. Non-compostable fruit / veg stickers 
12. Non-compostable tea and coffee bags 
13. Single use, single serving plastic sachets / jiggers in restaurant settings 
14. Plastic packaging for uncut fresh fruit & vegetables, unless it is demonstrated to reduce food waste 

UK Plastics Pact  

The members of WRAP’s UK Plastics Pact represent two-thirds of all consumer plastic packaging used in the UK. 

They have committed to eliminating unnecessary or problematic plastics as far as possible. 

At present, 33 billion problem plastic items have been removed by those signed onto the UK Plastics Pact.