Sussex veteran among first to wear new plastic-free poppy

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal launched today, Thursday, October 26, with a plastic-free poppy available for the first time.

And Worthing-born RAF veteran Stacey Denyer, 37, is one of the first people to wear the new poppy, which is completely recyclable.

Stacey Denyer recently returned from the Invictus Games, where she competed in powerlifting and indoor rowing, despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and osteoarthritis, which severely impact her mobility and strength.

Stacey said: “The Poppy Appeal means everything to me, because it gave me the opportunity to represent Team UK at the Invictus Games as part of my recovery.

“I love the new plastic-free version, but while the poppies have changed, the meaning stays the same. Wearing your poppy shows you care, and that the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community will never be forgotten.”

This year’s plastic-free poppy is the first redesign of the iconic symbol of Remembrance in a generation and is the latest in a series of designs since the poppy was first used to raise funds in 1921.

The plastic-free poppy is made from 100 per cent paper and easily recycled in household collections. It no longer has a plastic stem or centre and can be fastened with a pin in the stem, worn in a buttonhole, and a stick-on version is available.

The Royal British Legion has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the past three years, in collaboration with expert partners, as it works to reduce its use of single-use plastic and be economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment.

It has been created from bespoke red and green paper produced from a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources, 50 per cent of which come from the offcuts created during the production of paper coffee cups.

The launch of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal marks the start of the national period of Remembrance, when the nation wears the poppy and reflects on the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces.

Members of the public will be able to get their poppy – the original version or the new plastic-free version – from thousands of volunteers across the UK, or from major supermarkets.

All funds raised from the Poppy Appeal will be used by Royal British Legion to support serving personnel, veterans, and their families in a range of ways, from help with the cost of living, mental wellbeing and housing, to support with recovery after trauma or illness.

To find out more or to donate to the Poppy Appeal, visit rbl.org.uk

Director of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Andy Taylor-Whyte said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to get a poppy this year and show their gratitude and support to those in the Armed Forces whose service and sacrifice should never be forgotten.

“We’re so proud that, this year, we have our new plastic-free poppy too, so that the public can wear this poignant symbol of Remembrance with less impact on the environment.

“Since the first Poppy Appeal in 1921 to today, public donations have provided a lifeline for service people and their families, and last year, we helped more than 27,000 people in the Armed Forces community.

“As a veteran myself, I am grateful to the public for giving what they can to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal this year. Donations enable us to support the Armed Forces community past and present, all year round, and shows them that wearing a poppy shows you care.”