New Scottish poppy gets rid of plastic

The Poppy Scotland appeal this year will have a new addition - a paper poppy.

The organisation has decided it wants to play its part to tackle the problem of single-use plastic. The older-style poppy, which will still be available this year, is to be phased out as it uses plastic.

A new machine creates the paper alternative at the Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. The veterans who work there used to assemble the poppies by hand, but have now been moved on to other tasks such as the production of wreaths.

By 2026, Poppy Scotland hopes every poppy in its annual appeal - which remembers those who have died in conflicts and supports veterans - will be made from paper.

Video by Graham Fraser