Good news! John Lewis and Waitrose will no longer fill their Christmas crackers with plastic toys, the UK retailers have announced.
In a move towards more sustainable practices, the toys found in John Lewis and Waitrose crackers will be replaced with metal or recycled trinkets instead.
With recent studies highlighting that 154,000,000 pieces of rubbish will end up in landfill from Christmas crackers used in the UK alone, this is a step in the right direction — and will hopefully soon see other retailers follow suit.
"Reducing the amount of single-use plastic in products and packaging is really important to us and our customers," Dan Cooper, the head Christmas buyer at John Lewis & Partners said to The Metro.
The new plastic-free crackers won't be implemented until next year, so you'll still find plastic toys in their 2019 products. "One of the challenges I face as a buyer is that we plan 18 months ahead, so it takes time for changes to become a reality. I’m always searching for new, more sustainable products which will make Christmas sparkle but won’t end up spoiling our environment," Dan continues.
Looking for an eco-friendly alternative in the meantime? Why not get your hands on a fill-your-own cracker, made either from cloth or recycled card. The biggest environmental concern with Christmas crackers is that they are used once and then thrown away. One of the best things you can do to help the planet this season is to invest in reusable items, including crackers, advent calendars and napkins.
Take a look at some of our favourite styles below...
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10 eco-friendly Christmas crackers for your festive table
Kate Sproston Design Woodland Reusable Christmas Crackers
Made from natural linen and embroidered with satin thread, each reusable cracker is also finished with a pretty green ribbon. Fill them with special gifts, or use them as a place marker at your Christmas dinner table.
You can choose an individual cracker, or opt for a stylish set of two, four or six.
The Little Green Cracker Company Eco Christmas Crackers
Along with all the sustainability credentials, these crackers come with gifts your guests will actually use — including a mini soap bar, organic teas and flower seeds. We love the frosty foliage design over this green base, too.
William Morris At Home Festive Fabric Cracker Gift Set
Inspired by two William Morris Gallery archive designs, this wonderful reusable fabric cracker comes complete with a fragrance-free lip balm and clementine and clove scented hand cream, making it a great stocking filler idea or gift.
We simply adore how well the rich turquoise velvet bows pair with the extravagant print.
At £19.50 each, these reusable candy cane striped crackers are a little pricey, but they'll add an elegant touch to your Christmas table and will work with a range of Christmas themes over the years.
Made from linen, they come ready to fill with your own gifts.
Encased in these beautiful Christmas crackers sit an assortment of sweet wooden gifts. Plus, Tom Smith is supporting the Trussell Trust, a charity focused on putting an end to hunger and poverty throughout the UK, so you’ll not only be helping the environment but this fantastic cause, too.
LatterLux Personalised Eco Christmas Crackers
These handmade crackers can be personalised with a name or message in a choice of twelve different colours. These are fill-your-own, so you can add in something you know your loved ones will appreciate.
With a traditionally merry tartan design complemented with gold ribbons and snowflake detailing, these reusable crackers would work well on so many different dining tables.
You'll also be supporting a small business as you shop.
Looking to embrace a Scandi-inspired decor theme these year or prefer a more minimal table setting, then these cotton and linen crackers are perfect.
Available individually or in sets of two, four and six, each one features ribbon bows and an embroidered festive red motif.
Fortnum's has long been our go-to for luxury Christmas crackers and this year's selection hasn’t disappointed. In the brand’s signature Eau de Nil colouring, this set will bring a touch of elegance to any dinner table.
The gifts are sweet too: each cracker contains a recipe from Fortnum’s debut cookbook, along with a mini kitchen utensil to help you whip up a feast.
Inspired by the classic carol, these 12 Days of Christmas crackers depict everything from turtle doves to french hens. We're wooed by the whole set, thanks to the quaint illustrations and thoughtful metal gifts (including nail clippers and a yoyo).
John Lewis, which has committed to plastic-free crackers since 2020, has lots more charming designs on offer.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
