Waitrose is to phase out glitter by Christmas 2020 as part of its efforts to become more environmentally friendly.
The upmarket grocer’s own-brand cards, wrapping paper, Christmas crackers, gift tags, flowers and plants will either be glitter-free or use an environmentally friendly alternative within the next two years.
This is because glitter is made up of small pieces of plastic that can end up in water and never break down.
Three-quarters of its own-label cards, wrapping paper, Christmas crackers and gift tags, along with half of its flowers and plants, will be glitter-free by the end of 2018. By next Christmas, all its plants and flowers will follow suit.
This pledge comes as part of Waitrose’s wider initiative to become a more sustainable business. This has already seen it bring its target to make all its own-brand packaging widely recycled, reusable or home compostable forward from 2025 to 2023.
“Reducing the impact of plastics on the environment is something our customers care passionately about,” said Waitrose head of CSR, health and agriculture Tor Harris. “While it’s important to eliminate the use of glitter, we’ll find other ways to make sure our products sparkle at Christmas and throughout the year.”
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