Leading the Change: Acting Ahead of Legislation and Calling for Clearer Disposal Labelling for Wet Wipes

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Nice-Pak International (NPI) welcomes the UK government’s approval of legislation to ban the sale and supply of plastic in consumer wet wipes in England and is calling for mandatory disposal labelling on all wet wipe packaging to further support responsible consumer behaviour.

As the leading sustainable wipes manufacturer in the UK and Europe, NPI has already made significant progress toward eliminating plastic from its products. Last year, 96% * of  wipes sold across the UK were plastic-free, with plans in place to transition all customers away from plastic – well ahead of England’s legislative deadline.

The new legislation provides an 18-month transition period for businesses to adapt, requiring all plastic-containing wipes to be removed from the market by Spring 2027. This follows a similar ruling by the Welsh Government, set to take effect in December 2026. NPI  has been actively involved throughout the development of the draft legislation in England and Wales and is a member of DEFRA’s Sewer Misuse Discussion Forum.

While the removal of plastic from wipes is a major step forward, we believe that this alone will not solve the issue of improper disposal. A plastic-free wipe is not necessarily flushable, and flushing non-flushable wipes can contribute to sewer blockages. We, along with our trade body are therefore advocating for mandatory, clearly visible “Do Not Flush” labelling on all non-flushable wipes to help consumers make informed disposal choices.

As long-standing members of EDANA, we have adhered to the industry’s Code of Practice for responsible disposal labelling for many years. 

Clearer labelling will help consumers understand how to dispose of wipes responsibly and reduce the strain on our wastewater systems.

NPI remains committed to driving sustainability and supporting government efforts to reduce environmental impact through innovation, collaboration, and responsible manufacturing practices.

 

 

 

*Private label wipes sold to the UK market by Nice-Pak  in 2024

Media links: https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/uk-government-to-ban-plastic-wet-wipes-from-entering-market/

See more https://www.nice-pak.co.uk/sustainability/

Nice-Pak feature in The Grocer – Industry response to sustainability & disposal

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We were proud to contribute to The Grocer’s Green Issue, highlighting how the industry is responding to the growing movement against plastic and incorrect disposal of wipes.

In 2024, 92% of the private label wipes Nice-Pak International sold to the UK & European market were plastic-free—a milestone we reached well ahead of incoming legislation. This progress reflects our long-standing commitment to sustainability. Since 2020, we’ve pledged globally to advance plastic-free product development and recyclable packaging, backed by significant investments across our manufacturing sites.

These achievements wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration of our retail partners and suppliers, whose shared vision has helped accelerate industry-wide change.

One important reminder: plastic-free doesn’t mean flushable. Most wipes still need to be disposed of in the bin. Always check the packaging for disposal guidance.

Read the full article here: Are retailers and suppliers doing enough in the war on wet wipes? | Analysis & Features | The Grocer

🎥 Watch the video below to learn more.

Nice-Pak continue to promote responsible disposal of wipes

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Nice-Pak have promoted responsible disposal of our products for many years and actively encourage clear labelling and disposal instructions on pack such as display of the ‘Do Not Flush’ logo on non-flushable wipes.

We strongly advocate raising awareness of correct disposal amongst consumers.

We wish to amplify the message of responsible disposal to our customers and their consumers. We feel the consumer needs to be aware of the two key logos appearing on wipes packaging to determine the correct disposal route.

These logos are the ‘Do Not Flush’ on non- flushable wipes and ‘Fine to Flush’ on flushable products.

 


Ways our customers can communicate this message to consumers:

*Visual representation only

To discuss how we can help you further:

[button link=”mailto:marketing@nice-pak.co.uk”]Get in touch[/button]

Nice-Pak Promote Responsible Wipe Disposal on World Toilet Day

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November 19th marks World Toilet Day and, whilst many may take the toilet for granted, the UN point out that the humble loo can help to save lives by preventing the spread of deadly  diseases.  They highlight that some 4.2 billion people live without safely managed sanitation (i.e. more than half the global population) and that inadequate sanitation is estimated to cause 432,000 diarrheal deaths every year. Source: ( WTD2019_factsheet_2019)

It is therefore important that we both protect our health and look after the loo. As a manufacturer of wet wipe products we proactively promote responsible product disposal as part of a co-ordinated industry approach.  We consistently promote to our customers the prominent display of the ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol on all packs of non-flushable products leaving our factories.

We ask all consumers to look out for on-pack disposal instructions. The vast majority of wipes are designed to be disposed of in a bin these include baby wipes, cosmetic wipes and household cleaning wipes. If in doubt DO NOT FLUSH.

Other common household items that should not be flushed include:

  • Waste cooking oil, fat or grease
  • Sanitary protection – tampons, applicators and pads
  • Condoms
  • Cotton balls and buds
  • Cigarettes
  • Paper towels
  • Dental Floss

 

Acting Responsibly – Do Not Flush Baby Wipes, Cosmetic Wipes or Household Cleaning Wipes

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Wipes are an important component of modern day life, vital in safeguarding consumer health and hygiene.

The vast majority of wipes including baby wipes, cosmetic wipes and household cleaning wipes should be disposed of in a bin.

As a responsible manufacturer, Nice-Pak recognises concerns around the potential environmental impacts of inappropriately disposed wet wipes. We also understand that the consumer wants to act responsibly.  We appeal for adherence to on-pack disposal instructions. If the ‘Do Not Flush’ logo is present please dispose of wipes in a bin. If in doubt, do not flush.

Nice-Pak has been working closely with its customers and trade association, EDANA, on a co-ordinated approach to ensure that all packaging communicates the appropriate disposal pathway for each and every product. In most cases, this involves the clear display of a ‘Do Not Flush’ logo in accordance with industry Code of Practice.

Wipes designed to be and marketed as ‘flushable’ must comply with the strict industry guidelines, ‘GD4’.  Wipes compliant with these guidelines do not contain plastic. GD4 (including the labelling Code of Practice) is the basis for national legislation or standards in Belgium and Spain and is in the process of being adopted by Waste Water authorities in other European countries.  GD4 has a history of over 15 years of rigorous testing and constant review that comprehensively demonstrates the compatibility of flushable wipes with the wastewater infrastructure. It has proven to be effective in both the test environment and in the wastewater network itself, as evidenced by Water UK’s own 2017 study of sewer blockages.

The study concluded that the vast  majority of wipes found in sewer blockages are of the non-flushable type which had been incorrectly disposed of.

Nice-Pak continues to support an industry-wide stakeholder outreach programme and consumer education on this important issue.

 

See the industry education video.

 

 

 

‘Do Not Flush’ Logo On Packs

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The industry-agreed deadline for implementation of the ‘Do Not Flush logo’  is October 30th 2018. Whilst the Code of Practice is not a legal requirement and is voluntary in nature, Nice-Pak fully supports the initiative and is actively encouraging all customers to adopt its recommendations for two good reasons.

Firstly, in simple terms we believe it is the right thing to do for the environment. The vast majority of wipes produced in our factories on your behalf are not designed to be flushed and it is our joint responsibility to make sure that the consumer understands this.

Secondly, it is in the interest of our customers to avoid reputational damage. Nice-Pak expects an increase in scrutiny of non-compliant products after the deadline has passed. We strongly urge all customers who have hesitated on this point to date to review their positions.

See the Code of Practice here.