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Sophie Benson
They're incredibly convenient, which is why the UK uses around 11 billion every year, equalling 200 per person. But with the majority containing plastic, wet wipes are an environmental disaster, resulting in a proposed ban in the country.
As a single-use product, wet wipes sit at the heart of a wider reliance on a linear economy which takes a huge toll on the environment - requiring the constant extraction and production of new resources at one end, and producing a constant stream of waste at the other. Compounding the problem is the composition of wet wipes, which are often produced using nonwoven plastics like polyester or polypropylene.
The presence of plastic in wet wipes causes major issues when they enter a marine environment, a scenario which is more likely than you might expect. There are two primary reasons for this - firstly, that 22% of people admit to flushing wet wipes (despite 88% saying they know they harm the environment), and secondly the increasing presence of wipes which are deemed flushable, despite only two out of ten main UK retailers saying they have ensured that all their own-brand flushable wet wipes actually meet the ‘Fine to Flush’ specification.
When plastic-based wet wipes end up in our waterways, they break down into microplastics which can then be ingested by marine and riverine animals. Kirsten Downer, campaigns officer for Thames21, told the Guardian that more than 70% of Thames flounder surveyed in 2018 were found to have plastic in their guts, while there were also concerns that Thames oysters contained microplastics. When ingested, microplastics can block the digestive system, leading to starvation.
From the micro to the macro, wet wipes are also the main contributor to so-called fatbergs, huge masses of non-biodegradable waste matter in the sewer system, largely made up of wet wipes, fat, oil, and grease. A Water UK study showed that wet wipes make up around 93% of the material causing sewer blockages, which cost approximately GBP 100 million (USD 125 million) every year to clear up. When sewers flood as a result of blockages, there are further impacts on the environment as contaminated water pollutes rivers and natural habitats. During a sewer flood in Staffordshire, UK in 2016, over 15,000 fish were killed.
The UK population uses 11 billion wet wipes every year
of the material causing sewer blockages is wet wipes
The annual cost of clearing sewage blockages is GBP 100 million
In November 2021, UK MP Fleur Anderson brought a bill to parliament proposing the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. It was supported by a number of organisations including the Marine Conservation Society, Worldwide Fund for Nature, and Water UK. While the government didn't take immediate action, it generated momentum, and the following year retailers Boots and Tesco committed to banning all plastic-based wet wipes. Boots sells approximately 800 million wet wipes each year while Tesco sells more than 75 million packs, amounting to 4.8 billion individual wipes.
Following their lead, the UK government now proposes to mandate the action across the board as part of its 2023 Plan for Water policy, which includes broader measures to deliver cleaner water such as banning PFAS, increasing investment in infrastructure, improving flood planning, and establishing a new Water Restoration Fund to channel environmental fines into improving the water environment. Subject to consultation, the ban - which has been a headline topic from the policy - could come into force as soon as 2024. Alongside the ban, the government plans to “work with industry to ensure plastic-free alternatives are available” and “write to the relevant producers and authorities regarding the labelling of wet wipes as ‘flushable’”.
In 2021, it was estimated that around 90% of wet wipe products contain “some form of plastic”, however that figure has recently been questioned by manufacturers as they’ve seen growth in plastic-free production. Nice-Pak, which produces around 500 million packets of wet wipes every year in Europe alone, says it has seen its UK plastic-free production grow from 9% to 90% in five years across baby, household, skincare, and moist toilet tissue wipes. That looks like good news for cutting plastic out entirely, given the relatively short timeline on the cards.
Due to the fast-moving changes happening in the sector, it’s difficult to ascertain the exact percentage of wet wipes which contain plastic - but considering the damage they cause, the number should be zero, and a ban to achieve that is a welcome move.
There are already a broad range of plastic-free wet wipes on the market due to the widescale uptake by major retailers. Brands including Pura, Nivea, and The Cheeky Panda are among those producing and selling them in the recognisable disposable plastic packages, but some are innovating to move the needle further.
US-based Biom has developed what it calls the "world’s first refillable and home compostable wipes system". The wipes - available in all-purpose, hand sanitising, and flushable formats - are made from Viscose and formulated with 99% water and a skin-grade, vegetable-based soap. The company claims they are biodegradable in home compost, soil, and marine environments, although it doesn’t state how long they will take to break down. While the dispenser is designed to be reusable, the refill packaging is still plastic, so the entire product is not quite plastic free.
Cheeky Wipes combines reusable Bamboo wipes with a 'wipe soaking solution'. After pre-moistening the wipes, the user places them in the reusable dispenser which mimics the function of the single-use pouches that standard wet wipes are packaged in. A drawstring bag provides a mess-free home for used wipes when out and about so they can be transported home for washing and reuse.
UK company Wype has changed the format entirely with its natural gel designed to be dispensed onto toilet paper. The plastic dispenser cap is designed to be kept and reused, while the gel refill bottles are made from Aluminium, which is infinitely recyclable and widely recycled at high volumes. Fellow UK company Bazoo's gel is almost identical in design, using a pump dispenser rather than a button release.
By moving away from the wipe and concentrating on the moisture and hygiene factor - which is ultimately the draw of wet wipes - Wype and Bazoo have upended the single-use nature of the market standard product. This is exactly the sort of system change needed to tackle the problem in a meaningful way, and a great model to follow for producers and retailers looking to get ahead of the upcoming ban.