Major UK Retailers Drop Disposable BBQs to Prevent Fires

Britain's biggest supermarkets just made a choice that could save lives and landscapes this summer.

Co-op and Sainsbury's announced they're stopping sales of disposable barbecues across all UK stores, joining a growing list of retailers choosing wildfire prevention over profits. The decision came after Jon Pearce, MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, wrote to major chains urging immediate action during one of the driest Julys on record.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Firefighters across England and Wales battled 393 wildfires in July alone, making it the busiest month ever recorded for such incidents. England and Wales are on track for their driest July since weather records began.

Pearce's campaign started small but gained momentum quickly. This year, he convinced Co-op, Morrisons, Tesco, and Home Bargains to stop selling disposable BBQs in his High Peak constituency. After sending letters to retailers nationwide last Friday, two major chains committed to stopping sales everywhere.

They're not the first to act. Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, and M&S stopped stocking disposable barbecues back in 2022, proving that retailers can adapt without losing customers.

The MP emphasized this isn't about ruining summer fun. "It's about protecting our countryside, supporting our firefighters and preventing avoidable fires before they start," he explained. One prevented wildfire makes the whole effort worthwhile.

The Ripple Effect

The retail response shows something powerful: when communities face climate change impacts right now, not decades away, businesses can choose to be part of the solution.

Fire chiefs confirm wildfires are becoming a "recurring and growing feature of the risks facing our communities." This year's wildfire numbers already match the combined totals from 2021, 2023, and 2024. Hotter, drier summers are here, and they're reshaping how we protect the places we love.

Pearce continues pushing for a government ban on disposable BBQs in public spaces. Meanwhile, every retailer that removes them from shelves reduces the chance of a spark becoming a disaster.

The campaign proves that protecting nature doesn't require waiting for perfect policies when practical action can happen today.