UK Government were warned that hundreds of North Wales jobs were at risk under plans to ban wet wipes containing plastic in the UK. This week it was announced that Kimberly-Clark can’t meet the 2026 deadline to adapt the wet wipe plant in Flint and are now consulting on closing the site.
This has placed 200 jobs at risk in the region – dealing a major economic blow to the area. Back in March a Welsh Government minister wrote to the Conservative Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Barclay.
Julie James, who was then Minister for Climate Change, voiced concerns that the UK Government had pushed forward with its own plans to ban wet wipes containing plastics after initially working on a joint approach with devolved governments.
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The minister warned that there were three large wet wipes manufacturing companies in North Wales and that the economic consequences of the 2026 timeline had not been thought through. She said the industry had indicated it would need at least 24 to 36 months following the introduction of any legislation to undertake the necessary transition.
She said the consequences for Wales were not reflected in the Economic Assessment by DEFRA.
UK Government announced the ban in April this year. They gave companies 18 months to adapt to the change – far less time than the industry stated it needed. They said that wet wipes made from the material can block drains and sewers, as well as harming the natural environment. At the time UK Labour said the legislation does not go far enough and called for “a full ban on the sale, supply and manufacture of plastic wet wipes”.
Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Labour Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs at the Welsh Government, didn’t highlight the timeline concerns in a statement to the Senedd following the announcement in April. He said they had listened to stakeholders and the scope in which was ban was being introduced was intended to mitigate the economic impact of the ban and reduce the possibility of job losses in the industry.
But North Wales Live has seen the March letter from minister Ms James where she raised the job risks with UK Government.
She wrote: “You will be aware of three large wet wipes manufacturing companies in North Wales which supply businesses throughout the UK and beyond. These are key employers in the area. I want to move at pace to reduce use of unnecessary plastic.
“However, we must jointly consider any adverse impacts on affected businesses, of which we have both been made aware, and the subsequent economic harm which could befall local communities. Industry has indicated it would need at least 24 to 36 months following the introduction of any legislation to undertake the necessary transition.
“I note that neither the economic consequences in Wales nor the international implications are reflected in Defra’s Economic Assessment published as an annex to the UK- Consultation. It would appear such an omission does not reflect Treasury Green Book requirements for economic appraisal which requires consideration of the single UK market.”
She added: “Given your knowledge of the adverse impacts, I find it extraordinary you have abandoned the good progress we have made in agreeing a common UK-policy and disregarded the governance principles set out in the Common Framework for managing intra-UK divergence. I understand the need for urgent action in this space, but departure from these established principles has posed very real risks to jobs and the wider North Wales economy with knock-on consequences for international trade.
“Given your unilateral decisions will have important effects across the UK, I would like your agreement to funding any additional costs to businesses resulting from insufficient transition time and an England-only approach.”
A Conservative Spokesperson said: “We’re keen to work with all manufacturers to support them as they transition to the new style of wet wipe. The legislation, when passed, will allow 18 months for that to take place.
“We’re committed to boosting manufacturing across North Wales with thousands of jobs being created from the Freeport on Ynys Môn.”
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