The pharmacy chain, which sold more than 800 million wet wipes in the last year, will replace wipes that contain plastic fibres with plant-based biodegradable alternatives by the end of 2022. The move follows Boots' 2001 decision to remove plastic from its own-brand wipe ranges.
Boots is one of the biggest sellers of wet wipes in the UK, with more than 140 different lines stocked across skincare, baby, tissue and health care categories.
A large proportion of the 11 billion wet wipes used in the UK every year still contain some form of plastic, according to the Marine Conservation Society, and evidence suggests they are the cause of more than nine in 10 blockages in UK sewers.
Steve Ager, chief customer and commercial officer at Boots UK, said: “Our customers are more aware than ever before of their impact on the environment and they are actively looking to brands and retailers to help them lead more sustainable lives.
“We are calling on other brands...