This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Prohibit the Sale, Purchase, Deployment, and Use of Artificial Grass Products
We call on the government and parliament to prioritise public health and environmental protection by banning artificial grass products from sale, purchase, deployment, and use in all settings. Take action to prevent microplastic pollution, reduce carbon emissions and waste, and promote biodiversity
More details
The government and parliament should ban artificial grass products to prevent harm to public health and the environment. These products release carbon dioxide, cause flooding, pollute water, generate waste, harm biodiversity, and impact pollinators. A ban on these products would promote more sustainable alternatives, reduce harm, and align with climate and sustainability goals. It's time for the government and parliament to take action and ban artificial grass products.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 1 December 2023
We have no plans to ban artificial grass. We are committed to eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 and recognise that artificial grass has no wildlife value.
Our 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Given the scale of the plastics problem, we need to take a targeted and evidence-led approach to tackling the issues of plastic waste. Defra has no plans to ban artificial grass. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary plastic products.
The Government has not assessed the potential costs and opportunities of restricting the use of artificial grass products.
The Government recognises that, in itself, artificial grass has no value for wildlife. Improving biodiversity is a key objective for the Government. The Environment Act 2021 introduced a number of policies that will support the restoration of habitat. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work together to drive action, including to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Related activity
Overdue revised Government response to petition chased by MPs
The Petitions Committee, the group of MPs who consider parliamentary petitions, has written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the overdue Government response to the petition you signed.
The Committee has asked for the response to be provided, and an explanation for the delay, by Thursday 8 November.
Government departments are meant to submit responses to petitions within 21 days. A response to this petition was first requested by the Committee on 11 August 2023, but the Government has not yet responded.
Because the response to this petition is well over a month late, the Committee has written to the Government asking them to explain the delay, and to provide their response to this petition.
We will share the Government's explanation for the delay, and their response, with you when we receive this.
Secretary of State responds to letter chasing overdue response to petition
Last month the Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) wrote to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the overdue Government response to this petition. The Committee has asked for the response to be provided, and an explanation for the delay in providing this.
The Government has now responded to this petition, and the Secretary of State has responded to the Petitions Committee’s letter. The Secretary of State has said that the department continues to review its processes and endeavours to provide on-time responses to e-petitions.