U.K.-based retailer Boots  has become the latest major retailer pledging to stop selling all wet wipes that contain plastic fibers, as part of efforts to cut non-biodegradable waste. The retailer said it was committing to stop selling all wet wipes containing plastic by the end of the year and would replace them with plant-based alternatives.

Boots said it is one of the biggest sellers of wet wipes in the U.K., having sold more than 800 million packs over the last year online and in its 2200 stores, from 140 product lines across its skincare, baby, tissue and health care ranges. It said its sales represented about 15% of all beauty face wipes sold in the U.K.

In 2021, Boots reformulated its own-brand ranges of wipes to be plastic-free. It has written to its suppliers in the UK and Ireland to ask them to follow suit.

“Our customers are more aware than ever before of their impact on the environment, and they are actively looking to brands and retailers to help them lead more sustainable lives,” says Steve Ager, chief customer and commercial officer. “We removed plastics from our own brand and No7 wet wipe ranges in 2021, and now we are calling on other brands and retailers across the UK to follow suit in eliminating all plastic-based wet wipes. We all have a responsibility to protect our planet. By joining forces to inspire more positiveaction, we can collectively make a big difference.”
 
The company, which is owned by the U.S. health group Walgreens Boots Alliance, is  joining other retailiers including Tesco and the health food chain Holland & Barrett in banning the sale of plastic-based wipes. The Body Shop beauty chain has also phased out all face wipes from its shops.

Boots has also expanded its ranges of reusable and refillable alternatives in the last two years, including offering reusable make-up remover pads, cleansing pads, baby reusable wipes and refillable cleansing products. ​