Key facts
- Bristol is the first UK city to ban fast-fashion adverts.
- The ban also covers advertisements for SUVs, airlines, cruises, and fossil fuels.
- The policy applies to all council-owned advertising space, including billboards, bus stop shelters, print, and online.
- Bristol council's deputy leader, Heather Mack, stated the city does not want to be a billboard for polluters.
- The Green party's Carla Denyer, MP for Bristol, supported the move, stating it aligns with community values.
- A recent council survey found 83% of Bristol residents are concerned about climate change.
Bristol has become the first city in the United Kingdom to ban advertisements for fast fashion, as part of broader measures to restrict promotions for polluting industries. The new policy, approved by Bristol City Council, extends to advertisements for SUVs, airlines, cruises, and fossil fuels on all council-owned advertising spaces, including billboards, bus shelters, and digital platforms. This initiative reflects the city's commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action, with 83% of residents expressing concern about climate change in a recent survey. The policy was passed by an eight-to-one vote by the council's strategy and resources committee, updating a previous policy from 2021 that banned junk food ads. Local MP Carla Denyer and Adfree Cities, a group advocating for such bans, have welcomed the move, emphasizing its alignment with community values and its potential to drive broader change.