Waitrose and John Lewis Partnership are to stop offering plastic toys and puzzles in its Christmas crackers from 2020.
The plan is intended to reduce the amount of single-use plastics being produced.
The plastic toys will be dropped in favour of alternatives made from metal and paper.
John Lewis has already reduced the amount of glitter used on its holiday products. Glitter will be removed from all produces by Christmas 2020, replaced with embossed decorations or an ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative.
Glitter is made from etched aluminium bonded to PET. Environmental campaigners have asked that the product be banned.
Other plastic-reducing initiatives include Christmas cards without the plastic wrapper. The retailer estimates this will reduce plastic usage by eight tonnes.
Dan Cooper, head Christmas buyer at John Lewis, said: “Reducing the amount of single-use plastic in products and packaging is important for us and our customers.”
This year the retailer is offering ‘fill your own’ crackers. These are reported to be the most popular range, accounting for one of every three packets of Christmas crackers sold.