Bristol bans fast fashion ads in UK first
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Bristol city council in England voted to ban advertisements for fast fashion within the city limits.
The council extended restrictions to also include ads for SUVs, airlines, cruises, and fossil fuels on spaces it owns, like billboards and bus shelters. Deputy leader Heather Mack explained the council does not want to promote polluting industries while working to improve health and the environment.
The decision updates a 2021 policy that initially banned junk food ads, making Bristol the first council outside of London to take such action. This move aligns with growing political support for the Green party in Bristol, which gained a majority in the council in 2024 and elected Carla Denyer as a Member of Parliament. A recent council survey found that 83% of Bristol residents express concern about climate change.
Bristol now joins over 20 other UK councils with some restrictions on ads for harmful products. Adfree Cities, a network of campaign groups that advocated for the ban, hopes to see these local restrictions expanded into national policies, citing the success of tobacco advertising bans as a model. The group is also lobbying London to restrict ads for polluting industries on its transportation network.
