The UK Single-Use Plastic Ban: What Food Businesses Need to Know

Since October 2023, England has banned the supply of certain single-use plastic items to customers. If you run a takeaway, café or catering business, here's what changed and how to stay compliant.

What's banned

The ban covers single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drink containers (the classic foam boxes and cups). It applies to supplying these items to customers, whether sold or given away free.

Compliant alternatives

• Swap foam containers for bagasse or board containers.
• Replace plastic cutlery with wooden or compostable cutlery.
• Use paper or kraft plates and bowls instead of plastic.

What's not affected (yet)

Some plastic items used purely for packaging pre-filled or pre-packaged food at point of sale are treated differently, and rules continue to evolve — plus the separate Plastic Packaging Tax applies to certain packaging. When in doubt, move to fibre-based alternatives early.

Get compliant packaging

Our catalogue is full of ban-compliant, fibre-based options so you can switch without disrupting service.

This article is general guidance, not legal advice — check the latest government rules for your specific products.