Waitrose & Partners has pledged that by Christmas 2020, all its own-label cards, wrap and crackers will either be glitter-free or will use what the retailer says is ‘an environmentally-friendly alternative’.
News that the grocer is planning to lose ‘some of its shimmer’ was reported by the media, with The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Telegraph and Sky News all covering the news.
Tor Harris, Waitrose’s head of CSR commented: “Reducing the impact of plastics on the environment is something our customers care passionately about. 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.”
This year three quarters of the retailer’s own label cards, wraps, crackers and tags, along with half of its flowers and plants will be glitter-free. This will increase by next Christmas when all flowers and plants will be glitter-free, with all own label products in these ranges to be glitter-free or use a environmentally-friendly alternative by 2020.
In 2016, Waitrose became the first supermarket to cut plastics in its beauty products, using biodegradable paper for its cotton buds. The retailer has also brought forward its target to make all its own-brand packaging widely recycled, reusable or home compostable by two years, from 2025 to 2023.
