Tops Day Nurseries based in Somerset and Dorset have cited that glitter is bad for the environment and as a result has issued a ban across their nineteen nurseries and playgroups.
Traditionally used in excess at this time of year, they will now offer the children to use lentils or rice to decorate their festive makes.
The chain has advised the decision was reached when they realised that each child makes numerous crafts at this time of year and they were going through kilos of the stuff, which ended up everywhere and into the environment contributing to pollution.
Microplastic pollution.
Due to the small parts of glitter, it is classed as a microplastic and cannot be recycled. When it gets in the air it can be harmful to the environment. Microplastic tends to end up clogging up the sea eventually, which leads to further issues. Such as harming sea life and adding to more pollution.
Cheryl Hadland who is head of Tops Day Nurseries has stated that the results of a parent survey saw that 86% were in favour of the ban. The Marine Conservation Society has said it is a ‘proactive approach’ to the environmental issues we face today.
The glitter ban has coincidently come at the same time as Green Peace has released their spoof advert which sees them showing the supposed damage Coca-Cola bottles cause to the environment.
Greenpeace calls out Coca-Cola.
It mirrors the synonymous Christmas advert ‘holidays are coming’, which many recognise as a sign of the start of the Christmas festivities each year.
The mock advert sees the effects of the damage plastic bottles have on the environment and ends with Santa dumping a lorry load of Coca-Cola bottles into the sea. It claims that the drinks giant are responsible for over 110 billion plastic bottles that end up in the sea every year.
Greenpeace has called on Coca-Cola to reduce their plastic footprint.
A spokesperson for Coca-Cola has said that they do have a role to play in the issue and they are acting to reduce this.
It appears this Christmas is being used as a platform to highlight the environmental issues we are currently facing.
The end of glitter use?
Will we be glitter-free by Christmas 2018? Or will yuletide custom prevail once again?
Only time will tell if parents nationwide will be rejoicing next year if other nurseries and schools follow through with the suggested ban. Or if Coca-Cola will take action and reduce their supposed plastic footprint in the upcoming New Year.
