// Morrisons removes glitter completely across all its own-brand ranges in latest step in its war on plastic
// This means Christmas crackers will now be 100% plastic-free as traditional disposable toys have been removed
// All cards, wrapping paper and cracker shells and packaging are fully recyclable at kerbside
Morrisons has removed glitter entirely from its own-brand ranges of greetings cards, gift wrap, seasonal items and horticulture in stores.
This means all Morrisons-branded cards, crackers, wrapping paper, present bags, flowers, plants and wreaths are now 100 per cent glitter-free, and marks the latest initiative in the Big 4 retailer’s war on plastic.
Glitter is made from tiny particles of plastic and is an ecological hazard if it becomes dispersed on land, rivers and oceans – where it takes hundreds of years to degrade.
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Morrisons said its glitter ban extends to non-seasonal as well as seasonal lines, meaning shoppers can shop more sustainably all year round.
Instead of glitter, soluble inks, foil and paper reliefs will instead be used to decorate Morrisons’ FSC-certified paper cards, wrap and bags for the Christmas season.
Morrisons confirmed it also removed all plastic toys from its Christmas crackers, making them completely plastic-free this year.
All contents in its Christmas crackers – such as games and gifts – will now be made out of paper, metal or wood and are designed to be kept and reused.
The retailer added that the cracker shells would be made from FSC-accredited cardboard and decorated with a metallic basked ink – which means they can be recycled.
The amount of plastic packaging on cards and decorations has also been reduced, and Morrisons said the majority of its will come boxed in recyclable cardboard while 100 per cent of packaging on cards and decorations can be easily recycled by local authorities.
In addition, Morrisons said it would introduce a wide range of “no plastic” felt, hessian and wooden Christmas decorations.
Morrisons said its glitter ban and reduction in plastic in its own-brand Christmas ranges would lead to the removal of more than 50 tonnes of plastic from its shelves during the festive period, and more across non-seasonal lines all year round.
“Every time a cracker is pulled, or a card is opened, plastics have been used…but just the once,” Morrisons home director Christine Bryce said.
“So, we’ve taken glitter and plastic out of our festive range this year – so that our customers can enjoy their festivities without worrying about the environmental impact.
“This means that we’re now 100 per cent glitter free across all our own brand ranges which is an important step in the fight against plastic pollution.”
It comes after Morrisons said in May that it increased its target to reduce own-brand plastic packaging from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2025.
However, the grocery giant is not the first retailer to ban glitter among its ranges.
Marks & Spencer and Waitrose have already implemented similar measures on its Christmas items, while Selfridges pledged to ban all plastic-based cosmetic glitter by 2021.
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