Scotland will prohibit the sale and supply of wet wipes that contain plastic from next year, the Scottish Government has announced, in a move aimed at cutting marine litter and reducing the long-term build-up of microplastics.
Officials say wipes made with plastic are routinely found in the environment and can gradually fragment into microplastics, making them a persistent pollution source. The forthcoming plastic wet wipes ban is intended to curb those impacts by removing plastic-containing wipes from general retail and supply channels.
The Government said businesses will be given a transition period to prepare for the change. The policy will include exemptions covering medical and industrial applications, as well as business-to-business supply. Members of the public who rely on specific plastic-containing wipes for healthcare needs will still be able to obtain them by requesting them through a pharmacy.
Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “This ban delivers on an important commitment made in our Marine Litter Strategy and builds on previous actions to ban unnecessary single-use plastic items such as plastic-stemmed cotton buds, plastic straws, cutlery and single-use vapes.”
“These policies are all proof of the progress we are making towards protecting our environment and creating a more circular economy.”
Martin also said she will continue urging the UK Government to crack down on what she described as “misleading claims” on packaging, which she argues can contribute to incorrect disposal of products such as wet wipes.
Scotland’s decision comes as bans are being phased in across all four UK nations following a UK-wide consultation in 2023 that found overwhelming support, with 95% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing. Wales is set to implement its own ban from December 2026, while Northern Ireland and England are due to introduce their bans in 2027.
Some retailers have already begun shifting their product ranges. In 2022, Boots said it would stop selling wet wipes made with plastic fibres and replace them with plant-based, biodegradable options. Scotland’s forthcoming plastic wet wipes ban will further accelerate that market transition.
