Ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic: Equality Impact Assessment

Equality Impact Assessment Not Required Declaration

Policy title

A ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

Which National Outcome(s) does the policy contribute to?

We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment.

Directorate: Division: team

Marine Directorate: Marine Environment: Clean Seas

Policy lead responsible for taking the decision

Anne Saunders

Please record why you are not carrying out an EQIA and what your justification is for making that decision.

The policy is to implement a ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

A joint UK-wide consultation ran from 14 October until 25 November 2023. Over 93% of respondents supported a ban on the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. As part of this process respondents were able to provide comments on whether they believed the proposals could affect equality. As part of the consultation process a partial BRIA was produced.

The ban has a clear purpose of environmental protection. The objective is to reduce wet wipes containing plastic as a source of single-use plastic litter, and reduce the negative impacts posed if these items are incorrectly disposed of and arrive in the environment.

Several retailers and producers have already made voluntary commitments to stop producing or selling wet wipes that contain plastic, and as a result, alternatives to wet wipes containing plastic are readily available. Evidence from commissioned work suggests that there is not a significant retail price difference between wet wipes that contain plastic and those that do not.

Exemptions have been applied to the proposed regulations to mitigate equality concerns, in particular to medical and healthcare requirements, as well as to specialised industrial uses. In addition, an 18-month transition period will be granted in order to reduce manufacturer and retailer transition costs, as well as to allow sufficient time to sell remaining stock of wet wipes containing plastic and to transition to producing plastic-free wet wipes.

The proposal to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic would not result in individuals being denied access to a particular service or function.

It is acknowledged that some consumers may have a genuine need for wet wipes containing plastic for medical care purposes, therefore the intention is to include an exemption which will allow for such wet wipes to be sold in pharmacies, as well as to exempt from the ban their use in medical and healthcare settings.

The proposed ban would not have an impact on employment. Under the regulations as set out in the accompanying Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), manufacturing of wet wipes containing plastic for business-to-business sales within the UK and for export abroad would still be permitted. Through the consultation and via engagement with stakeholders, three businesses which have manufacturing facilities in Scotland were identified. These companies produce healthcare and / or industrial wipes and supply business-to-business only. Their products are exempt from the proposed regulations, and these businesses and their workforces therefore should not be impacted by the ban.

In conclusion, the introduction of this legislation: would not deny access to services or public functions; would have no impact on employment; and would not alter budget or impact on other policies that affect people. It is for these reasons that the decision was made that an EQIA was not required in this instance.

I confirm that the decision to not carry out an EQIA has been authorised by:

Name and job title of Deputy Director (or equivalent)

Date authorisation given

Caro Cowan,

Deputy Director, Marine Environment

23 July 2024