Plastic Free July: It’s time for Action

Plastic Free July highlights how everyone can be part of the solution to the plastic crises. Our Plastic Free Communities leading the UK Plastic Free Movement know that local action drives sustainable long-term plastic reduction, and together they are firing up their communities to break free from single-use plastic and stop it’s production for good.

Plastic pollution sits at the interface of climate change, nature decline, chemical pollution, habitat loss and the waste problem. Whilst as Plastic Free Communities and individuals we all play our part, we also need governments and the biggest polluting brands to catch up. So where are we right now with plastic policy, and what needs to change?

Policy need to catch up

Despite recognition of the growing severity and wider issues surrounding plastic pollution, Governments have repeatedly failed to act. Policy has been delayed again and again, leaving the UK to fall drastically behind in the fight against plastic.

As a result, big brands and supermarkets have been left unchecked, free to keep pumping out endless single-use plastic packaging, whilst pushing the burden onto consumers.

As individuals, we are systematically denied the right to reduce plastic consumption – due to the dominance of plastic packaging forced on us everyday, the lack of alternative options, and complete un-willingness from brands to take responsibility. But as communities uniting together, and putting pressure on the polluters, we’re powerful.

This July you can help put pressure on and take action against the biggest polluters 👇

Email the Brands with #ReturnToOffender

Dirty Dozen Brand Lobbying continues…

The worst offenders identified in our 2025 Dirty Dozen included Coca-Cola and McDonalds. These brands, along with others, recently attempted to reopen EU Packaging Law and pushed for more delays to progress yet again.

An alliance of over 160+ Break Free From Plastic members and allies responded, including SAS Plastic Free Communities, warning that if corporate lobbying succeeds in reopening agreed legislation, it risks weakening environmental protections and sets a precedent for corporate influence over environmental law.

This lobbying highlights the ongoing contradiction between the voluntary sustainability commitments made by major brands and their behind-the-scenes policy positions. It’s also creating collateral damage for businesses that are genuinely committed to the success of the regulation, and who are already investing in the transition.

The Global Plastics Treaty: negotiations set to resume

Global talks are expected to resume in March 2027, after reaching deadlock in INC 5.2 in Geneva.

Increasingly, scientists, environmental organisations and many governments argue that recycling alone cannot keep pace with ever-rising levels of plastic manufacture. Without measures to reduce production, pollution will continue to grow. 

The UK Government has an opportunity to position themselves as leaders on a global stage, pushing for an ambitious treaty. But if they don’t tackle domestic policy at home first, they’ll have no legs to stand on.

DRS: A long-awaited step forwards

DRS, stands for ‘Deposit Return Scheme’ – but you’d be forgiven for mistaking it as ‘Delayed Repeatedly Scheme’ as you’ve probably heard us banging on about it for years.

Finally, we’re seeing significant developments to the UK’s DRS, which now seems to be on track to launch in 2027. After years of delays, we absolutely welcome this progress (it’s been a long time coming!). But it’s important to remember that DRS is only part of the solution – reducing the production of unnecessary plastic in the first place remains vital. And that’s where the Circular Economy Roadmap must come in.

The Missing Piece: A Circular Economy Roadmap

The UK Government has identified the circular economy as a key priority and established a Circular Economy Taskforce to help develop England’s first strategy. But, yet again, all we’ve seen is more delay… delayed from last year to this spring and now? We’re still waiting.

The UK can’t wait any longer. Every second of delay, more pours into the environment. Microplastics are infiltrating our food, water and air we breathe. The UK Government must stop the delays, step up and act now – for the future of people and the planet.

When will we finally see the promised roadmap that turns ambition into action? We need real action, not more empty promises.

What can we do about it?

1. Support your local Plastic Free Community driving local change and putting the pressure on! Join a clean, share their work or even get involved in their meetings.
2. Share brand pollution with #ReturnToOffender on social media or email the brands directly.
3. Email your MP and demand a stop to policy delays.