Britain’s Iconic Red Poppy Goes Plastic-Free In Eco Redesign

Design studio Matter has come up with a new plastic-free version of the iconic Royal British Legion poppy in an eco-friendly improvement to the symbol, which will now be made of red and green bespoke paper comprising 50% recycled coffee cup fibers.

Millions of poppies are worn in the United Kingdom in October and November annually in support of ex-servicepersons and their families. This is the first time in 28 years that a new red poppy has been developed, though its design remains the same.

According to Design Week, the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), which uses the symbol of the white poppy, had previously undergone a similar endeavor when it unveiled an environmentally-friendly iteration created by print and design firm Calverts.

The new red poppy, which will be available from October 2023, can be recycled in ordinary paper recycling collections once not in use. Throughout the design process, hundreds of different iterations were tested, eventually with paper chosen over expensive bio-based plastics.

Experts at University College London surveyed the new poppy—including carbon emissions and how much water and resources go into making one. Incredibly, the redesign paid off, with the improved version boasting a 40% smaller carbon footprint than its predecessor.

“We are very proud to introduce the plastic-free poppy that will not only enable people to support our Armed Forces community but also continues the RBL’s commitment to sustainability,” quipped Andy Taylor-White, Director of the Poppy Appeal.

“The development of our new poppy has been years in the making as we’ve worked alongside experts to ensure its production is truly less impactful on the environment, and we are thrilled to now share that we have successfully removed the single-use plastic from our poppy.”

[via Design Week and Peterborough Matters, images via Royal British Legion]