M&S opts for glitter-free Christmas cards & wrap

Marks & Spencer has said it has removed glitter from its entire Christmas celebration range this year, in a bid to improve recyclability and reduce the impact of microplastics on the environment.

The move will apply to all of the bellwether retailer’s greeting cards, wrapping paper, tags, gift bags, calendars, crackers, flowers and plants for the festive season.

It said that all designs which previously featured glitter are now widely recyclable and have been replaced with innovative paper patterns or minimal foils to maintain the festive sparkle.

The move represents the first step towards M&S’s commitment of ensuring its entire year-round range of cards and gift-wrapping products will be 100 per cent glitter-free by the end of 2020.

As part of its plastic reduction plan, M&S has already removed 1000 tonnes of plastic packaging from across its business and is working to ensure all its packaging is widely recyclable by 2022.

Retail Gazette