This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Ban the words "plant", "grass" & "tree" when used to sell plastic substitutes

Ban the use of nouns of "plant", "grass" and "tree" in advertising & selling plastic substitutes. We believe using these words is misleading, confusing and false. EU's Court of Justice ruled in 2017 that plant-based products could not use the words ‘milk’, ‘cream’, etc. The same should apply here.

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A plant is a "living thing that grows in earth, in water, or on other plants, usually has a stem, leaves, roots, and flowers, and produces seeds". Grass is a "a low, green plant that grows naturally." A tree is "a tall plant that has a wooden trunk and branches that grow from its upper part". We believe using these nouns implies plastic products are natural, and is misinformation and misleadingly entices buying. Plastic has no proven natural benefits to the earth system.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

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MPs call for ban on all plastic waste exports

MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for a ban on the export of all plastic waste from the UK by 2027 to reduce the country's contribution to global plastic waste pollution. 

Read a summary of the Committee's report on plastic waste

Report on ending the impact of plastic waste

Earlier this month, the Committee published a report on the impact of plastic waste and ways of reducing it. In their report, MPs called on the Government to restrict the amount of plastic that can be exported from the UK. They also called on the Government to step up the enforcement of existing rules to prevent criminal gangs illegally exporting and dumping UK-produced waste. 

The report follows a series of evidence sessions earlier this year, where the Committee questions representatives from charities, environmental campaigners and commercial trade experts. At these sessions the Committee explored:

  • whether the Government’s current ambitions to reduce plastic waste were enough
  • how alternatives to plastic consumption can be identified and supported
  • how England's current plastic exports impact other countries.

Find out more about the Committee's inquiry into plastic waste and read oral evidence from the Committee's inquiry.

What is the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee? 

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

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