The poppy used during Remembrance has been given a make-over and will now be plastic-free, the Royal British Legion has announced.
The new poppy will be made completely from paper, and will no longer have a single-use plastic stem or centre.
The Royal British Legion has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the last three years, in collaboration with expert partners, in efforts to reduce its use of single-use plastic.
The new design has been created from bespoke red and green paper, which has been produced from a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources, 50 per cent of which have been recovered from the waste used in the production of coffee cups.
The charity worked with scientists at University College London to assess the environmental impact of the new poppy and ensure its sustainability.
Andy Taylor-Whyte, Poppy Appeal Director at the Royal British Legion, said: “We’re so proud to unveil our plastic-free poppy, which is completely recyclable, and hope that this will encourage more people than ever to take part in this year’s Poppy Appeal and show support to our armed forces community.”
The new poppy will be available to the public, alongside remaining stocks of the current poppy, from Thursday 26 October until Remembrance Sunday on 12 November 2023. People can find out more at rbl.org.uk/plasticfreepoppy