Bristol bans fast fashion and high-carbon ads on council sites

Bristol City Council has voted to ban advertisements for fast fashion, flights, cruise holidays, and non-electric cars on council-owned spaces, making it the first UK council to specifically target fast fashion ads. The decision, framed as a climate and public health measure, was approved by the council's Strategy and Resources Committee with an eight-to-one vote on Monday, September 14, 2026. The new policy will apply to all council-owned advertising spaces, including bus shelters, digital screens, and billboards. It prohibits ads for petrol, diesel, and hybrid-electric vehicles, including electric SUVs, as well as firms associated with fossil fuels. The ban also covers marketing campaigns that encourage excessive consumption of fashion products, such as mass markdowns, time-limited offers, and Black Friday sales. Councillor Heather Mack, the council's deputy leader, described the vote as a "win-win for the people of Bristol." She stated that by banning advertisements for fossil fuels and high-carbon products, the council can encourage the promotion of more sustainable products. "Advertising forces itself upon all of us," Mack said.