Skip To Content
Knowledge & Insights

Single-Use Plastics Ban: Are You Ready?

Posted by
OE brand logo
Outsourced Events
Plastic knife, fork, and spoon with a large red X over them, indicating no plastic cutlery allowed.
Plastic knife, fork, and spoon with a large red X over them, indicating no plastic cutlery allowed.

The upcoming ban applies to England only. It includes:

  • Polystyrene cups and food containers
  • Single-use plastic cutlery
  • Single-use balloon sticks

There will also be a restriction to the supply of single-use plastic trays and bowls to members of the public, although businesses can continue to supply these items if they are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items.

How to prepare for the single-use plastics ban

Businesses will need to use up existing stock and find alternative substitutes or reuse solutions by 1 October 2023. 

This ban complements the existing restrictions on other single-use plastic items including plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers and the carrier bag charge

Why are single-use plastics being banned? 

The events industry has been exploring sustainable and green alternatives for some time now. Single-use plastics have damaging environmental impacts as they are commonly littered and are difficult to recycle. These impacts need to be managed so that we can protect our environment. 

Damaging environmental impacts 

Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and inflicts serious damage on the environment. It is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions, from the production and manufacture of the plastic itself to the way it is disposed of. 

Unnecessary littering

Every year England uses around 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates, but only 10% are recycled.

Enforcement

If the rules are not complied with, a range of enforcement options have been provided, including both civil and criminal sanctions. The bans will be enforced by Trading Standards.

FAQs and full details of restrictions and exemptions can be found on the UK Government website.

Poster explaining the single-use plastics ban

Related Services

Our Latest Knowledge & Insights

Company News 28.07.25

Outsourced Events has been recertified as a Women’s Business Enterprise

Outsourced Events has maintained our Women's Business Enterprise certification with WEConnect International, the leading global network of women-owned businesses around the world.

Read More
Event Insights 17.07.25

Turn your corporate event into must-see video content

The most successful corporate event videos aren't afterthoughts; they're strategically planned content that serves specific business objectives. Read our article to find out how to maximise content creation opportunities at your next event.

Read More
Marketing 17.07.25

The power of video: Transforming corporate events into unforgettable experiences

When planning a corporate event, integrating professional video production can be a game-changer for your entire event. High-quality video elevates audience engagement, extends your event's reach and captures the essence of your brand in a way that static content simply can't.

Read More

Our Expertise

Looking for something else?