Johnson & Johnson to stop making cotton buds with plastic stems

Johnson & Johnson has confirmed plastic stems will no longer be used in the manufacture of cotton buds.

The company has opted to switch from plastic to paper amid concerns that plastic cotton buds account for a large proportion of debris found in rivers and beaches.

Niamh Finan, group marketing manager at Johnson & Johnson, commented: "‘We recognise that our products have an environmental footprint and that’s why we’re working hard to continually improve and champion best practice in sustainability, in line with our company’s founding principles.’

The move has been welcomed by the Marine Conservation Society, which said it is "delighted" Johnson & Johnson has listened to people's concerns and acted upon them.

"This will certainly decrease the amount of plastic reaching our seas," said Dr Sue Kinsey, senior pollution policy officer at the group.

She added that the amount of cotton bud sticks found by its volunteer beach cleaners in the UK has doubled in the last five years, from an average of 11 to 24 for every 100 metres of beach cleaned.

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