Piecemeal plastic bans are not enough, say campaigners

The green campaign group argues that while the proposed ban is useful, only a broad scale and firmer ban on plastics will have a serious effect.

Camilla Zerr, a plastics campaigner with the organisation, said: “While these high-profile bans certainly help, they also give the impression that the plastic pollution battle is being won when it’s actually getting worse.

“A product-by-product approach to the plastic waste crisis is far too slow and needs to change.

“If ministers want to make a real, long-lasting difference to the scourge of plastic pollution choking our oceans and green spaces, then they need to set legally-binding targets to reduce the use of all non-essential single-use plastics, and make reuse and refill the centrepiece of a new waste strategy.”

A survey for Friends of the Earth and fellow campaign group City to Sea, carried out by One Poll in May, found that 81% of Brits want the government to make refillable products easier to buy as a main priority for reducing plastic pollution.