PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Disposable Wipes and Sanitary Products: Labelling (19 October 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy on accurately labelling (a) sanitary and (b) toilet products in respect to whether they are flushable.

Asked by:
Feryal Clark (Labour)

In line with our Resources and Waste Strategy for England, we are considering the best approach to minimising the environmental impact of a range of products, including absorbent hygiene products, taking on board the environmental and social impacts of the options available.

There are a number of policy measures available to us, including standards and consumer information, as well as encouraging voluntary action by business. We are seeking powers through the Environment Bill that will enable us to, where appropriate and subject to consultation, introduce eco-design and consumer information requirements including labelling schemes that provide accurate information to consumers, to drive the market towards more sustainable products. The water industry has developed their ‘Fine to Flush’ standard for wet wipe products and Defra is considering a range of policy options to tackle the issue.

Answered by:
Rebecca Pow (Conservative)
27 October 2021