High Street retailer, Wilko has turned its attention towards a sustainable Christmas this year, having detailed plans to stock only recycled wrapping paper and remove all glitter from its Christmas cards and single use plastics from its Christmas crackers.
This commitment follows a successful transition to going 100% plastic-free across its entire range of Wilko branded wipes, from antibacterial and cleansing wipes to those used for car care. It’s a move that the retailer claims has wiped out 2,500 tonnes of plastic from the environment.
“We have been focused on meeting our environmental ambitions for some period of time and proud to have been the first high street retailer to offer plastic-free wipes across all of our own brand options, all 22 of them,” said Wilko ceo, Jerome Saint-Marc. “We’re a family-owned retailer and understand the importance of making little changes for the better and, our responsibility to future generations. Our customers tell us that plastic reduction is important to them, that’s why we signed up to the UK Plastics Pact and why we’re proud to help remove 2,500 tonnes of plastic with this little win alone.”
The success of the switch up encouraged the UK retailer to take a closer look at its Christmas ranges this year, seeking new means of introducing more sustainable traditions through the use of recyclable wrapping paper, to removing glitter from cards and single-use plastic prizes from all of its Christmas crackers.
As Jerome explained: “We love our planet and the families that live in it. That’s why we’re taking a good look at the sustainability of our Christmas ranges.”
Wilko recently detailed ambitions to reduce its plastic use. Elements of the Wilko Plastic Plan launched in June last year, include ensuring there is a minimum of 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging by April 2022, eliminating all problematic plastics and reducing unnecessary plastic in all product packaging by 2025, and making 100% of all plastic packaging and products reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Other sustainability initiatives from the retailer have included eliminating micro beads from Wilko products and removing single use carrier bags from its 415 stores nationwide, replacing them with reusable bags for life made from 100% recycled plastic.
Top: Wilko has pledged to up its commitment to sustainability.
