Holland & Barrett to ban sales of wet wipes in Irish stores

The health store retailer will be the first chain store in Ireland to stop selling the wipes, which are commonly used to remove make-up, as hand sanitisers or to clean surfaces. 

Millions of wet wipes are sold in Ireland and the UK every year, with increasing numbers causing problems in sewers and waterways.

“There is a growing awareness of how much our current throwaway culture is damaging our oceans, beaches and rivers,” said Joanne Cooke, head of beauty at Holland & Barrett.

“We want to encourage our customers to think about what they currently throw away and encourage them to swap to more sustainable alternatives. The quickest way for us all to make a positive impact on the world we live in is to choose to spend our money on more sustainable products.

“There are a variety of eco-friendly alternatives to wet wipes that are just as easy, efficient and safe to skin, and we're excited to be leading the way on these, alongside our exciting suppliers, who are already making huge strides in moving towards a more sustainable future.”

Holland & Barrett is also set to ban the sales of wet wipes in its UK stores.