Waitrose is continuing its drive to reduce single-use plastic within its business by halting the sale of children’s magazines that contain disposable toys.
The retailer said its decision was inspired by Skye, a 10-year-old from Gwynedd, who launched a campaign to persuade publishers to stop giving away the plastic toys in magazines. Waitrose highlighted that they have a short lifespan and cannot easily be recycled.
Over the next eight weeks, it will be removing magazines containing free plastic toys from its shelves. Waitrose is calling for magazine publishers to come up with more sustainable alternatives.
Educational or reusable craft items, such as colouring pencils and pens, or collectable models which are intended to be used multiple times, will not be affected by the ban.
Marija Rompani, Partner & Director of Ethics & Sustainability at Waitrose said: “While we know these magazines are popular with children, some of the unnecessary plastic attached to them has become really excessive.
“Many in the younger generation really care about the planet and are the ones inheriting the problem of plastic pollution. We urge publishers to find alternatives, and other retailers to follow our lead in ending the pointless plastic that comes with children’s magazines.”
Waitrose is currently working towards making all its own-label packaging widely recyclable, reusable, or home compostable by 2023.
NAM Implications:
- How long before this extends to Magazines and Newspapers, period?
- (Why not check the newspaper-fixture in any branch for evidence of commitment to merchandising…)
