The Royal British Legion has developed a new poppy design that is entirely free of plastic. Starting from October of this year, the innovative plastic-free poppy will be made available, crafted from a unique blend of renewable fibers sourced responsibly.
Over the past three years, the Royal British Legion has collaborated with expert partners to create this plastic-free poppy, aiming to reduce the organization’s reliance on single-use plastic while prioritizing economic viability, sustainability, and environmental preservation.
Throughout the design process, countless options were explored, meticulously examining aspects such as form, finish, and practicality. Ultimately, paper was chosen over costly and intricate bio-based plastics, resulting in a single-material solution that can be effortlessly recycled.
The newly introduced plastic-free poppy is skillfully crafted using custom red and green paper, with 50 per cent of the paper sourced from waste generated during coffee cup production.
To assess the environmental impact of the redesigned poppy and ensure its sustainability, the Royal British Legion collaborated with experts from University College London.
Professor Paola Lettieri (FREng) from UCL’s Department of Chemical Engineering stated, “We evaluated its carbon footprint and various factors including water consumption and resource utilization during production. By replacing single-use plastic with a paper-based design and incorporating a higher percentage of recycled paper, UCL discovered that the new poppy design has a 40 percent smaller carbon footprint and a similar reduction in overall environmental impact.”
While retaining the iconic design and leaf shape, this marks the first development of a new poppy design in 28 years. This change underscores the Royal British Legion’s commitment to sustainability and minimizing its ecological footprint, while ensuring that the poppy remains a symbol of national remembrance for the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community.
Andy Taylor-Whyte, Director of the Poppy Appeal, expressed, “We are immensely proud to introduce the plastic-free poppy, which not only enables individuals to support our Armed Forces community but also aligns with the RBL’s sustainability commitment. The development of this new poppy has been a lengthy process, working closely with experts to ensure its production has minimal impact on the environment. We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully eliminated single-use plastic from our poppy. We hope that our new plastic-free poppy will inspire people to support the Poppy Appeal this year and contribute to the RBL’s vital work.”
To minimize waste from previously produced poppies, the plastic-free version will be made available alongside the remaining stock of the current design. It can be securely fastened using a pin or inserted into a buttonhole. Poppies containing single-use plastic can be returned to Sainsbury’s stores for recycling purposes after use.