The Royal British Legion ditches single-use plastic in its Remembrance Poppy as the charity unveils a new recyclable paper design that is made from offcuts of discarded coffee cups

• First change to the poppy in 28 years will reduce carbon emissions by 40%
• Made entirely from paper, removing the plastic green stem and black centre

The Royal British Legion has ditched single-use plastic for its Remembrance Poppy – and will use recycled paper made from offcuts of discarded coffee cups instead.

The first change to the iconic poppy in 28 years, tests have shown it will reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent.

It will be made entirely from paper, removing the plastic green stem and black centre.

The red and green paper used to create the historic symbol uses renewable fibres from responsible sources – with half recovered from the waste in the production of coffee cups. 

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 first change to the iconic poppy in 28 years, tests have shown it will reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent

The red and green paper used to create the historic symbol uses renewable fibres from historical sources – with half recovered from the waste in the production of coffee cups.

‘After years of work and collaboration with our partners designing a new poppy, creating new paper and machinery and road-testing it for durability and colour-fastness, we have been able to eliminate single-use plastic and create a poppy that is an enduring symbol of respect and remembrance as well as being more planet-friendly.

‘We’d like to encourage everyone to get a poppy this year when they become available. 

‘The money raised will allow us to provide expert advice and guidance to support the Armed Forces community across a wide range of issues including mobility, homelessness, life challenges such as family breakdowns, and mental health.’

In a bid that will also see the remembrance flower be more economical, the poppy will now be able to be recycled in ordinary household collections.

The new design has the traditional poppy shape and leaf, complete with an ebossed black centre showing the words ‘Poppy Appeal’. 

Wearers will be able to put it in their buttonhole, fasten it to shirts with a pin or use a stick on version.

It will be on sale from October alongside remaining stocks of the current poppy, to stop wasting any that have already been produced.

The new plastic-free poppy will be the biggest change to its design since 1995 – when poppies with leaves were made available for the first time. 

The new poppy will be made entirely from paper, removing the plastic green stem and black centre

It was created in collaborations with designers Matter and bespoke paper supplier James Cropper. 

University College London’s Department of Chemical Engineering conducted a Life Cycle Assessment on the new poppy to understand the environmental impacts of the change in materials – finding it would cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent.

Professor Paola Lettieri said: ‘We appreciate the significance of the poppy and were delighted to be invited to assess the plastic-free poppy’s environmental impact and to suggest how it could be made more sustainable.

‘We looked at its carbon footprint and factors like how much water and resources go into making it, in what’s called a Life Cycle Assessment.

‘By replacing the single-use plastic with a paper-based design, and increasing the amount of recycled paper used, UCL found that the new poppy design has a 40% smaller carbon footprint and a similar reduction in its overall impact on the environment.’

The Royal British Legion supports tens of thousands of armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families every year on issues including homelessness, financial support and mental health.

The Poppy appeal – which was first held in 1921 – takes place from October 26 to Sunday November 12.

Inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, they sold out instantly in their first year raising £106,000.

Last year they supported 2,500 families through financial difficulties.

All parts of the previous poppy were also recyclable, with wearers dropping them off at Sainsbury’s supermarkets. 

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