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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to extend the single use plastic ban to include plastic in sanitary products.

Plastic has an important role to play in many products due to its strength and sterility. We must therefore think carefully about how we solve the problems arising from plastic waste in order to avoid unintended consequences. We regularly meet with producers, including of sanitary products, to discuss the sustainability of their products, and will continue to do so to innovate and find sustainable and practical solutions to the impact of sanitary products on the environment.

We are seeking new powers in our landmark Environment Bill to drive the market towards more sustainable products, which for some products may be more appropriate than a ban. This includes powers to introduce ecodesign requirements and to require retailers to charge for single-use plastic items. These measures alongside others within the Bill, form a package of powers that will help incentivise and shift the market towards more reusable alternatives.