A variety of single-use plastic litter including bottles and cartons are floating in the ocean

Single use plastics

Our seas are facing climate and biodiversity crises, partly fuelled by the single-use plastic problem. The UK governments need to do more to bring in legislation that bans single-use plastic being produced.

Our Beachwatch data shows thousands of single-use plastic items are found on UK beaches each year.

Plastic products themselves aren't the only part of the problem. With the shift away from fossil fuel as an energy source, chemical companies are switching to extracted oil and gas to produce plastic. This switch is producing increased amounts of chemicals which often end up polluting our ocean. Product design needs to take into account the carbon, plastic and chemical footprint - particularly when it comes to the use of ‘forever chemicals’.

We want all UK nations to go further than the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. We campaigned for a ban on plastic wet wipes but we need more bans on items such as cigarette filters. We also want correct labelling of these products - including biodegradability and other 'green claims'.

What's happening in England

Bans in place

In October 2020, England banned single-use plastic cotton buds, stirrers and straws.

In October 2023, the UK Government finally banned single-use items such as plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

Deposit Return Scheme

In January 2023, the UK Government unveiled its plans to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England. This scheme in England will include plastic bottles and lids, and aluminium cans, but excludes glass and is due to start in October 2027.

An underwater photo of 3 plastic bags floating in the ocean.

Plastic bag litter has dropped dramatically since the introduction of the carrier bag charge  |  Image credit: Rich Carey

What's happening in Scotland

Bans in place

Scotland has banned the manufacture and sale of microbeads and single-use plastic cotton buds and in April 2021, increased the plastic carrier bag charge to 10p. From 1st June 2022, Scotland implemented a ban on some of the most problematic single-use plastics. Regulations were also laid in Holyrood in February 2026 to ban plastic in single-use wet wipes following campaigning and the use of Beachwatch data. The Scottish Government has committed to meet, or go further than, the Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive. We’ll be holding them to this.

A close-up of a person using a litter picker tool to place a clear plastic water bottle with a blue cap into a dark green reusable bag. The person is out of shot.

Image credit: Aled Llywelyn

 

Deposit Return Scheme

Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme is now due to be implemented along with the rest of the UK in October 2027 and will include plastic bottles and cans. We'll be calling for additional materials to be added in the future and to ensure the scheme is set up to include refillable options.

Circular economy

We welcomed the passing of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act and the publication of the Circular Economy and Waste Route map in December 2024 and the consultation on a Circular Economy Strategy in 2025.

What's happening in Wales

Bans in place

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill was passed by the Senedd in December 2023 and includes items such as plastic cotton bud sticks, thin plastic carrier bags, and products made of oxo-degradable plastic. Phase Two of the single-use plastic bans which would include banning single-use plastic bags is due in 2026.

Deposit Return Scheme

In February 2026, the Welsh Government received an exclusion via the UK Internal Market Act to include glass in their DRS and will include trials for reuse with industry. This means the Wales DRS will start in October 2027 along with the other UK nations and include plastic, metal and glass.

A female in a white top is reaching down to pick up a plastic bottle from the sand

Image credit: Triocean

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Deposit Return Scheme

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Beach cleans

Join one of our beach clean surveys and help keep Britain's beaches beautiful and our ocean safe for wildlife.