Single Use Plastics in 2025: What Hospitality, Healthcare & Facilities Teams Must Know

Single-use plastics are items made to be used once and thrown away. They’re commonly found in cutlery, straws, plastic packaging, cleaning containers, and takeaway food boxes. These items may seem small, but they have a massive environmental footprint.

According to the UK government, plastic cutlery and plates were among the most littered items found on UK beaches in 2024. A recent report from Keep Britain Tidy revealed that plastic waste increased by nearly 10% year-on-year, despite rising awareness and regulation.

So, why are single-use plastics so bad? And more importantly, how can industries like hospitality, healthcare, and commercial cleaning reduce their use without compromising hygiene, cost-effectiveness, or convenience?

This is where IG Group is stepping in with reliable, compliant, and sustainable alternatives.

What Are Single-Use Plastics and Why Are They Harmful?

Single-use plastics (SUPs) include any plastic product meant for one-time use. This includes:

• Plastic straws and stirrers
• Cutlery, plates, and food trays
• Plastic-lined coffee cups
• Bin liners and cleaning product bottles
• Plastic film packaging

The problem? These items often don’t biodegrade. A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Instead, they break down into microplastics, polluting oceans, harming wildlife, and even entering our food chain.

In fact, the UK alone generates around 5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and only 46% is recycled.

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Sector Breakdown: Who Needs to Act, and Why

Hospitality & Catering

Disposable items like cutlery, cups, food containers, and straws are still vital in hospitality. However, diners and guests increasingly expect eco-friendly options.

This means hospitality businesses need to deliver on both function and environmental promise. Compostable cutlery, paper straws, and biodegradable takeaway containers are key trends for 2025.

IG Group supplies:

• Compostable and recyclable food containers
• Eco-friendly straws and biodegradable napkins
• Disposable tableware made from sustainable materials like bagasse and kraft

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Healthcare & Clinical Environments

Due to infection control requirements, the healthcare sector uses large volumes of disposable plastic, including gloves, PPE, wipes, and packaging. The NHS alone produces over 133,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, and only 5% is recycled.

While hygiene is non-negotiable, there are now certified alternatives that maintain safety while reducing environmental impact.

IG Group supports NHS trusts and private healthcare with:

• Recyclable paper disposables
• Compostable bin liners
• Sustainable cleaning products
• Partnerships with sustainable suppliers to source new low-impact innovations

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Facilities & Commercial Cleaning

Plastic packaging, bottles, disposable wipes, and liners make up the bulk of waste in the cleaning industry. Fortunately, this is also an area ripe for innovation.

Switching to concentrated formulas and cleaning sachets is a simple way to cut down plastic use. These products offer less packaging, reduced transport emissions, and more storage efficiency.

IG Group’s top sustainable cleaning solutions include:

• Concentrated cleaning formulas for kitchens and washrooms
• Cleaning sachets that dissolve in water, cutting plastic waste
• Bulk cleaning chemicals in recyclable or refillable packaging

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How to Reduce Single-Use Plastic: 5 Practical Steps

Switching away from single-use plastic may sound daunting. But with the right supplier and approach, it’s very achievable. Here’s how:

1. Audit Your Current Usage

Start by listing the plastic items you currently use. Focus on high-volume or high-cost items first.

2. Start with the Simple Swaps

Replace plastic stirrers with bamboo, foam food trays with compostable options, and bottled cleaning liquids with sachets.

3. Train Your Team

Make sure your team knows how to handle, store, and dispose of new sustainable alternatives correctly.

4. Choose a Trusted Supplier

Work with a supplier like IG Group, which can offer expert advice, reliable stock, and products that meet UK compliance standards.

5. Track Your Progress

Measure reductions in waste or cost. Use this data for ESG reports and internal reviews.

Why Choose IG Group for Sustainable Supplies?

We offer more than just products. We offer sector-specific expertise, with a full range of non-consumables including:

• Sustainable disposables (plates, cups, trays)
• Recyclable products and refill systems
• Concentrated cleaning sachets and formulas
• Compliant, industry-specific cleaning materials

At IG Group, we understand the pressures you face: hygiene, efficiency, budget, and now sustainability. That’s why we’re trusted by restaurants, hospitals, schools, care homes, and facilities teams nationwide.