Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with businesses on steps to reduce the (a) manufacture and (b) distribution of single-use plastic products other than wet wipes.

The Secretary of State has not held discussions on reducing the manufacture and distribution of single-use plastic products with businesses.

However, officials have met with industry stakeholders through the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN), this includes producers, brands and retailers. Discussions involved reducing plastic production, including single-use plastics, and working towards a circular economy for plastics, including encouraging design for reuse and recycling.

Furthermore, legislation that will ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes was laid in parliament on 23 October. Officials have consulted and are having ongoing discussions with various industrial stakeholders regarding the ban, which is due to come into force in England on 1 June 2025. The Devolved Governments are also introducing bans, and we anticipate a shared UK wide implementation date.