WIPE OUT

Boots makes big change to 2,247 stores pulling essential products from shelves – have you spotted it?

BOOTS has pulled essential products from its shelves across thousands of stores.

The pharmacy giant no longer sells wet wipes that contain plastic.

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Boots shoppers can no longer purchase wet wipes containing plasticCredit: Alamy

Instead Boots has replaced them with eco-friendly versions at all its 2,247 locations.

It comes after the high street shop announced last year it planned to stop stocking wipes that contain plastic fibres.

Now Boots has revealed it has achieved that goal - and now only sells bio-degradable, plant-based alternatives.

The shop sells around 800million wipes each year, including disposable make up wipes.

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It already removed plastic from its own brand and No7 wet wipe products in 2021.

Natalie Gourlay, head of environmental, social, and corporate governance at Boots said: "Boots believes that healthy communities need a healthy planet, we have a rich legacy of operating responsibly because we recognise it is the right thing to do.

"Together with our customers, we want to inspire positive action and encourage the little switches that make a big difference."

Around 11billion wet wipes are used in the UK each year and most of those still contain plastic.

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Although you're not supposed to flush them, research has found that they are the cause of nine in 10 sewer blockages across the country.

Boots isn't the only brand pulling plastic-based wet wipes.

Supermarkets are also stepping up to make their stock more environmentally friendly.

Tesco stopped selling baby wipes containing plastic back in March 2022.

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It came after the retailer made its own-brand wipes plastic-free back in 2020.

Tesco's new environmentally-friendly wet wipes contain plant-based viscose that breaks down quicker in landfill.

Aldi removed the plastic from its own-brand baby wipes - although not all customers were impressed with the change.

Waitrose and Sainsbury’s say their own wipes are 100% plastic-free.

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Similarly, Morrisons committed to selling only wet wipes containing plant-based viscose.

It's not just health and beauty products that are changing - the clamp down on plastics also extends to food.

Plastic plates, cutlery and food containers will be axed from October.

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But the move will only apply to takeaways and not those used in shelf-ready pre-packaged food.

Single-use balloon sticks, bowls and trays will also be outlawed.

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