Global Plastic Policy Reviews

The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 prohibit the supply of single use plastic straws, plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers in England. Limited exemptions apply, including for medical and scientific uses and to maintain access to plastic straws for people who need them for reasons related to disability or care. The regulations form part of the Government’s wider commitment under the 25 Year Environment Plan to reduce avoidable plastic waste.The policy has contributed to reductions in the littering of the products it covers. Defra’s first post implementation review, published in 2025, found that none of the regulated items appeared among the most commonly littered items recorded in 2024. Plastic stemmed cotton buds had also fallen to their lowest recorded level on UK beaches in 28 years (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2025). The review also found relatively high public concern about plastic pollution, with 83% of respondents to an Ipsos survey expressing concern about the environmental impacts associated with plastic use and waste (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2025). However, the overall contribution of the regulations to reducing plastic pollution is limited by their narrow scope. Straws, stirrers and cotton buds represent only a small proportion of plastic pollution, while major sources such as single use plastic packaging fall outside the regulations (Parriaux, 2022; March et al., 2023). Substitution has also produced mixed outcomes. Many businesses moved to paper, wooden or other non plastic alternatives, but in some cases plastic straws were replaced by designs containing greater quantities of plastic, such as plastic drinking lids (GreenMatch, 2023).

Implementation and enforcement have also constrained the policy’s effectiveness. Local authorities received no additional funding for enforcement and largely relied on reactive approaches. Defra’s review found continued availability of restricted items, including instances where plastic straws were supplied automatically rather than only where permitted or requested (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2025). The availability and relatively low cost of alternative products supported widespread compliance among many businesses.

The regulations have been effective in reducing the use and littering of the specific products covered and have supported a shift towards alternative materials. Their impact on plastic pollution as a whole remains limited because they address a small group of products, while weaknesses in enforcement have allowed some continued non compliance. The evaluation also highlights the value of ensuring that product restrictions are supported by accessible alternatives, adequate enforcement resources and sufficiently wide coverage to achieve meaningful reductions in plastic pollution.

(Reviewed in Aug 2026, uploaded in Sept 2026)