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Boots UK’s Position on Cotton Buds

02 December 2016
Feature Healthcare

As a responsible retailer, Boots UK is committed to bringing our customers great health and beauty brands that they can trust. All our products are subject to strict European safety regulations and our team of formulation experts carefully assess sustainability issues and test all Boots own brands and Boots exclusive products before they go on sale. 

There are increasing levels of concern about the amount of plastic waste entering rivers and oceans, with Plastic Cotton bud sticks identified as a source of marine litter and one of materials causing sewer blockages.

Boots UK can confirm that by the end of 2017 it will cease to manufacture cotton buds with plastic sticks and replace them with sticks made from rolled paper. Rolled paper sticks do not affect the performance of the cotton bud but will decompose in water over time. To prevent blockages in waste water systems all of our cotton buds will be labelled as “Do Not Flush”.

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and 2,100 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 30 November 2023