Royal British Legion plans to scrap plastic stem on Poppies for new biodegradable material

Remembrance Day poppies are going to become eco-friendly as the Royal British Legion plans to scrap the plastic stem for a new biodegradable material.

Meanwhile the plastic sheets on 130,000 poppy wreaths which are placed on cenotaphs and war memorials have been replaced by fibreboard.

The RBL receives produces more than 30 million poppies from its Aylesford factory in Kent every year and raises millions of pounds. 

The radical change is set to come in next year and will not affect this year’s appeal, the Sun reported.

Remembrance Day poppies are going to become eco-friendly as the Royal British Legion plans to scrap the plastic stem for a new biodegradable material (file image)

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The RBL also sells virtual poppies to reduce plastic waste. 

The charity will allow people to recycle used poppies so they can be worn the following November.  

A Legion spokesman said: ‘We have been working with suppliers and the relevant experts to produce a new poppy that has minimal impact on the environment.

‘The RBL is committed to reducing the amount of single-use plastic.’