Our Achievements

Our targeted, collaborative and pragmatic approach to projects delivers positive environmental change.

The cotton bud project (2013 -2020)

Project Aim: To remove unnecessary use of plastic in cotton buds
How we achieved our goal: Evidence + Engagement + Understanding
Project impact: Legislation to ban the manufacturing, supply and use of plastic-stemmed cotton buds in Scotland and UK wide.
Continued impact: Scottish government are the first UK nation to ban most problematic single-use plastic items from June 2022.
UK government unveiled plans to ban other single-use plastics in November 2021.

Project Aim: To remove the unnecessary use of stain resistant chemicals, PFAS (Per- or poly- fluorinated alkyl substances) from school uniforms.
How we achieved our goal: By working closely with the innovation consortium (POPFREE) and conducting our own research (survey link) we were able to demonstrate to major retailers that the use of PFAS-based stain resistance was unnecessary and environmentally damaging.
Project impact: Retailers including Tesco, M&S and H&M have phased out PFAS-based stain resistance from uniforms and all clothing (See here for a list of retailers that have removed PFAS from all clothing).
What now: With growing demand for PFAS free products, retailers, brands and legislators and are now taking further action. Our current PFAS free project focus is on food packaging, further details on our pfas free website{add link}.

Project Aim: To remove all bisphenols from use in receipts to ensure safe receipts and recycling.
How we did it: We worked directly with the UK’s major retailers highlighting the benefits to human health, environmental protection and viability of bisphenol free options.
Project impact: Seven of the 10 major supermarkets now offer bisphenol free receipts and many others are stopping automatic printing and offering digital receipts.
What now: Leading retailers are in support of legislation to ban all bisphenols from till receipts (Fidra, 2021). We need introduce legislation banning the use of all bisphenols from receipts

Project Aim: To end plastic pellet pollution
How we did it: Despite causing widespread pollution, plastic pellets or nurdles produced and lost by the plastic industry are small and easily overlooked. To raise awareness and support calls for further action Fidra developed the Great Nurdle Hunt, asking volunteers to hunt for nurdles and log their findings at www.nurdehunt.org.uk. We took our results to industry and government, working with them to identify solutions across the supply chain.
Project impact: Today our map shows over 6000 Nurdle Hunts worldwide. Governments are making commitments on pellet pollutions such as agreements at OSPAR and the British and Irish Council {add links}. Alongside this the plastic industry are developing certification schemes to demonstrate the steps they are taking to stop pellet loss.
What now: Fidra are now working with NGOs around the world to facilitate solutions to pellet pollution from the global plastic supply chain. Find out more at our dedicated Great Global Nurdle Hunt website