Bristol bans ads for fast fashion, flights, and non-electric cars

Bristol City Council has become the first council in the United Kingdom to ban ads promoting the buying of fast fashion.

The ban will cover ads at all bus stops throughout the port city.

It will also cover free-standing digital displays and billboards owned by the council.

Under the newly approved proposals, ads for flights, cruise holidays, travel agents, and non-electric cars will also be banned at council-owned spaces across the city.

Members of the Strategy and Resources Committee voted eight to one to support updating the council’s advertising and sponsorship policy this week.

The decision follows a broader review of the council’s policy, which examined the possibility of placing limits on promoting high-carbon goods and services.

Existing rules in the city already restrict advertising for items including gambling, payday lending, and food or drink high in fat, salt and sugar.

Bristol joins more than 20 councils throughout the UK that already have restrictions on ads for polluting products and services.

However, none have previously banned ads for fast fashion products.

Councillor Heather Mack, deputy leader of Bristol City Council, said: “This vote is a win-win for the people of Bristol.

“By banning the advertisement of fossil fuels and products which produce high-carbon emissions on council-owned billboards, bus shelters and digital screens, we can encourage the promotion of more sustainable products which are better for individuals and better for the environment.

“Advertising forces itself upon all of us. Whilst scrolling, whilst walking, whilst waiting for the bus, it has negative impacts on our health and wellbeing as well as the climate, environment and local economy.

“And it is unsurprisingly the most extractive and damaging industries that are able to spend the most.

“In Bristol we are committed to pushing back on this, so I am delighted that as a council we have today banned the advertising of high-carbon products.

“As the first council to introduce restrictions on the advertising of fast fashion, we will continue to look at how we can keep improving our advertising policy so that our outdoor spaces reflect the positive values of Bristol and the local economy.”