Major UK retailers Waitrose and John Lewis (both part of JLP retail group) have announced that they will be no longer be selling Christmas crackers which contain plastic toys and puzzles, from 2020.
The move – which will see both retailers switch to crackers made of cardboard wrappers, filled with recyclable materials such as metal and paper – is part of the John Lewis Partnership’s ongoing aim to reduce single-use plastics.
“Reducing the amount of single-use plastic in products and packaging is really important to us and our customers,” commented John Lewis’ head Christmas buyer Dan Cooper. “One of the challenges I face as a buyer is that we plan 18 months ahead, so it takes time for changes to become a reality.
He continued: “I’m always searching for new, more sustainable products which will make Christmas sparkle but won’t end up spoiling our environment.”
Waitrose pledged to ban glitter from all own-brand products last December, while John Lewis also said earlier this year that it would reduce the amount of glitter used to decorate its own-brand range of Christmas wrapping paper, gift bags and tags, advent calendars and crackers by two-thirds.
