Green boost with Remembrance red poppies now plastic free

This year’s Remembrance red poppies have had a green makeover and are now plastic free

“It is a very good move,” said Midlands energy expert Ron Fox, “so people can now wear this poignant symbol which will have less impact on the environment.”

After three years of planning the Royal British Legion’s annual poppy has been replaced by one made from 100 per cent paper and renewable fibres with half of the material supplied by offcuts from the production of coffee cups.

The charity reckons the new poppy will reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent compared to the old one.

It replaces the familiar design of red paper petals and a green paper leaf which was pinned between a green plastic stem and a black plastic stigma.

Now it uses red and green dyes made from a secret recipe of dyes unique to the RBL It has a centre embossed with “poppy appeal” and a leaf with a crease.

But the means of wearing the poppy is much the same with a metal pin to attach it to clothing, although a stick-on version is also available this year.

This is the first time the design has been changed in 28 years. However, there have been ten redesigns since the appeal began in 1921.

The first poppy was adorned with red silk or cotton with a green stalk and a small banner that read “British Legion Remembrance Day” on one side and “Made by the women and children from the devastated areas of France” on the other.

A British-made version created by Legion founder Earl Haig was also available with the words “Haig Fund” stamped in the middle.

During the Second World War an austerity poppy made from carboard was introduced.  Then in the 1950s the leaf disappeared, while in the late 1960s and 1970s multiple petals were replaced by a one-piece petal and a plastic stem.

In 1987, the poppy regained its leaf after public demand and in 1994, the Haig Fund logo was replaced with “poppy appeal”.

However, some plastic poppies will still be available as the Royal British Legion has old stock to shift. It produces 170,000 poppies a day to meet a demand which last year was 44.2 million.

Proceeds from the appeal go to support military veterans, serving personnel and their families and includes help with the cost of living and housing.

“For those who want to recycle their old plastic poppies they can be taken to branches of Sainsbury’s supermarkets,” added Ron, of Noreus Ltd, which is based at Keele University’s Science and Innovation Park.

Celebrities including actress Dame Joanna Lumley, singer Mica Paris and broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth have been among those promoting the new poppy campaign will finish this weekend on Remembrance Sunday.

Ron concluded: “It is such a worthwhile cause with last year’s appeal helping more than 27,000 people connected with the armed forces.”

For more advice on green energy and making your home environmentally green contact Ron Fox on 01782 756995.

 

Caption: This year’s new plastic free Remembrance Poppy.