Retailers are ditching the traditional Christmas sparkle to save our oceans.

This Christmas you’ll see a lot less sparkle on the High Street. Retail chains are vowing to be Glitter Free. They’re removing glitter products from shelves as well as ceasing to use the harmful sparkle from own brand goods.

Although everyone loves a bit of sparkle, glitter is just one of the elements that are causing harm to our marine life. Standard glitter is made using tiny micro-plastics, which is incredibly harmful to the sealife. A study earlier this year showed that up to a third of fish caught in the North Sea contained micro-plastic particles.

Recently, in a bid to stop harmful micro-plastics reaching our oceans, retailers such as Marks and Spencers, Waitrose, Tesco and Aldi have announced they are removing glitter from the shelves or using biodegradable alternatives.

Marks & Spencers has announced there won’t be any glitter on its Christmas cards, wrapping paper, calendars or crackers this year. In addition, they’re aiming to be 100% glitter-free by the end of next year.

M&S Christmas Wrapping, Crackers and Gift bags will be Glitter Free

Tesco is now using a plastic-free alternative for its own-brand range of Christmas trees, flowers and festive plants.

Waitrose has also announced that all of its own-label cards, wraps, crackers, flowers and plants will either be glitter-free or use an environmentally friendly alternative by next year.

But it’s not just for Christmas, action is being taken now. Aldi has ditched glitter on its Halloween products, while HobbyCraft has released glitter alternatives to a range of its products.

So what is a plastic free Glitter alternative?

One company that is creating a #GuiltFreeGlitter is Manchester based BioGlitter. It claims to be ‘Creators of The Worlds First Plastic Free, Certified Biodegradable Glitter’. Already, BioGlitter is working with leading festivals, retailers and organisations to ensure we use a greener, friendly glitter to add our sparkle.

Will you still be adding sparkle with glitter this Christmas, or would you like to see glitter banned permanently? One team, 38 degrees, began a petition earlier in the year to do just that in the UK. It wants to get the UK government to ban the sale of glitter permanently.