Breaches of single-use plastics ban found in major wholesalers

Products in breach of the single-use plastics ban are still being listed for sale by major wholesalers, putting local shops at risk. 

From 1 October, it became illegal for stores in England and Wales to sell single-use plastic products such as cutlery, cups, lids and food containers, or to use them to package food-to-go items. 

However, checks by Better Retailing following the ban found Bestway had continued to list non-compliant packaging for sale to its site for retailers. While legal to sell to other businesses, sale to the public could land retailers with fines of up to £5,000. 

A Bestway spokesperson said the listings were down to a “timing issue” and would be removed. While many stores told Better Retailing they switched to alternatives before the ban, others said replacements were expensive and less popular with consumers.