Are wet wipes flushable?

What are the problems with wet wipes?

A large proportion of wet wipes used in the UK contain plastic, according to environmental charity the Marine Conservation Society. Plastic is made from fossil fuels and is not biodegradable, meaning that it does not break down in the environment.

Wet wipes and other plastic waste are contributing to the build up of ‘fatbergs’ in sewers. Oils, grease, wipes and food, put down the drains or the toilet, congeal into solid mounds, causing major blockages and even floods.

93% of sewage blockages are caused by wet wipes flushed down toilets, costing around £100m a year to clear up, according to a body of UK water companies, Water UK. In 2017, a 250-metre long fatberg was found in Whitechapel in London, which weighed as much as nineteen elephants!

Plastic wet wipes can also end up in our environment – as litter in rivers, beaches and seas.

Plastic does not disintegrate, but instead breaks into ever smaller pieces, known as microplastics. Microplastic pollution has been found on every corner of the planet. It is eaten by sea creatures and releases toxins which damage their organs and affect their ability to reproduce.

Plastic can even end up in our own diets. In 2019, environmental group WWF found that the average person was ingesting the equivalent of a credit card of plastic every week. 

Can any wet wipes be flushed away?

Wet wipes containing plastic should not be flushed down the toilet.

Unfortunately, in the past, some retailers have labelled their wipes as ‘flushable’ without actually ensuring they’re OK to put down the loo.

In 2019, Water UK, the body representing water companies across the country, therefore introduced a new official water standard – the Fine to Flush logo. The logo identified wet wipes that can be flushed down toilets safely.

But that certification was phased out in March 2024 because consumers were flushing all kinds of wipes down the toilet - those fine to flush and those that weren't. Now the water industry and the government are promoting one simple message to consumers - Bin the Wipe.

The Rivers Trust says the following in its position statement on plastic free wet wipes:

"Plastic-free alternatives are not the simple solution to this problem. They are still designed not to break down easily and, therefore, will still cause blockages in the sewerage system and result in sewage spills into rivers. 

The only positive aspect to plastic-free alternatives in such a case is that they don’t introduce microplastics into the environment. Plastic-free wet wipes need to be accompanied with the clear labelling ..., instructing consumers to bin the wipes."

So, if you do use disposable wipes, always put them in the bin, even if they are plastic-free. 

What kind of disposable wet wipes should I buy?

If you do want to buy wet wipes, you likely want to make sure they are plastic free. This will often be stated on the label. Be wary of 'plant-based fibres' claims which may only be part of the wipe's composition unless it says 100% plant based or plastic free.

Supermarkets

The Marine Conservation Society surveyed UK supermarkets in February 2022 on whether they have committed to going plastic free for all their own-brand wipes. They also checked whether supermarkets’ flushable wipes met the ‘fine to flush’ standard – meaning they were actually OK to go down the loo.

The survey found that five retailers had removed plastic from all of their own brand wet wipes:

• Boots 
• Co-op 
• Sainsbury's 
• Waitrose 
• Wilko 

A further five retailers plan to do this by the end of 2022: Aldi, M&S, Morrisons, Superdrug, Tesco. ASDA and Lidl didn't say when they would go plastic free.

Since then, Aldi and Tesco have made clear statements that their wipes are now plastic free. 

It wasn't clear whether the other supermarkets (M&S, Morrisons, Superdrug) are now plastic-free with their own-brand wet wipes. Nor was it clear for brands like Andrex, Wet Ones, Pampers and Huggies. They all seemed to have some ranges that were labelled as plastic free, but for others it wasn't clear.

Other brands selling plastic free wet wipes

From our nappies and menstrual products guides, the following brands also sold plastic free wet wipes:

• Eco by Naty
• Natracare
• Kit & Kin
• Mama Bamboo
• Beaming Baby
• Motherease
• Cheeky Panda

What can I use instead of disposable wet wipes?

There are several alternatives to wet wipes if you want to avoid them altogether, depending on what you are using them for. 

• For face or body uses, an alternative to single-use wet wipes is a reusable product like a washable flannel. 
• For removing make up, reusable cotton pads or a cloth can be used and then popped in the washing machine.
• For cleaning around the house, using a detergent / cleaning fluid and a reusable cloth is a more sustainable option than a single-use wet wipe, even if it is plastic free. It can also often be a cheaper longer-term option.

Who makes reusable wipes?

Some of the brands in our nappies guide which sell reusable wipes are:

• Kit & Kin
• Motherease
• ImseVimse
• Beaming Baby