Every year in the UK we buy around an astonishing 911 million greeting cards, but a high proportion of those cards, including birthday cards and special occasion cards, have glitter on them.  

Most shops and supermarkets are guilty of this - a recent trip to Sainsburys proved difficult to find a suitable card that didn't have glitter on it.

The problem with glitter is that glitter is a non-biodegradable plastic that can contaminate our soil and waterways.  More worryingly, microplastics have been found in the food that we eat​, the water we drink, and in our bodies. 

Cards decorated with glitter are non-recyclable and have to be put in landfill, unlike cards that don't have glitter on them, which are fully recyclable.  Plain cards which are recyclable can quickly be made into other products, but cards with glitter on them will be around forever, polluting our environment long after we've celebrated our birthdays or anniversaries.  

Scientists agree that glitter made from plastic should be banned, but so far the Government has made no move to ban it from quick and easy wins such as greetings cards. 

Therefore I am encouraging you to put pressure on the Government and Theresa Villiers -  Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - to advocate the ban of the sale and manufacture of all non-recyclable greetings cards in the UK by the end of 2021.

Please sign this petition and share with your friends and family to show that we care about this important issue, and leave a cleaner and greener environment for future generations.