Every year on the 11th day of the 11th month, we set time aside to honour those who fought and made sacrifices in the wars. The tradition of the Remembrance Day poppy began in 1921 and was inspired by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s war poem “In Flanders Fields” to honour and respect those who fought in the war. Since then, there have been numerous redesigns of the poppy, with a new version having just been released.
The first poppy had many designs and used various materials as it allowed people from all backgrounds and ages to show their respect for those who fought in the war. From large poppies made from silk to smaller poppies made from cotton or cardboard for children.
Since then, the poppy has changed depending on the time. During the Second World War, they changed the materials used and the number of designs and poppies created due to the shortages of materials. You can read more about the evolution of the Remembrance Day poppy here.
Recently, it has been announced that a new poppy variant has been created and is available for everyone. Introducing the plastic-free poppy. This is the first change in the design since 1987 and is one of the largest changes the poppy has received, taking three years to design and develop.
In response to the environmental impact of plastic poppies, communities and organizations are embracing plastic-free alternatives. The new design sees the poppy becoming sustainable by swapping out the plastic sections for recyclable paper.
Using recyclable paper rather than plastic, a 40% decrease in carbon emissions is seen. Making the change to recyclable paper allows for the poppy to be recycled into something else – just like how recycled coffee cup paper has been used to create the new poppies.
This eliminates the issue of the poppy being single-use and disposed of incorrectly, now the poppy can be recycled into something else. The shift towards eco-friendly poppies not only reduces plastic waste but also contributes to a more meaningful and sustainable Remembrance Day.
The new plastic-free remembrance poppy can be found in stores being sold by The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal charity to support those who are currently serving and ex-serving men, women and their families.
As we make the swap to the new recyclable poppies, any existing stock of the old version is still available to purchase. If you purchase an old version, instead of disposing of it in a bin, recycle it at your local Sainsbury’s.
Just like we respect those who fought in the war, we should also respect our environment and the planet they fought to protect. Plastic-free remembrance poppies have taken root as a symbol of sustainability and a commitment to an eco-friendly future. By wearing these poppies, we pay tribute to both our heroes and the planet they defended.
This Remembrance Day, let us bloom with meaning as we wear our plastic-free poppies and remember the past while sowing the seeds of a greener future.
