It's as synonymous with Mardi Gras as drag queens and shirtless dancing men, but can the world famous pride parade shine without glitter?

We are about to find out, as this year the event organisers have committed to phasing out the sparkly stuff for environmental reasons, as well as banning balloons and single-use plastic water bottles from its major events.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Terese Casu at the Alexandria workshop. Credit:James Alcock

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Terese Casu​ said the plan was to make the event completely carbon neutral within five years.

"We used to bring in about three tonnes of glitter from China," Ms Casu said. "That goes in the gutter, it ends up in our oceans, our fish eat it, you find it in crab shells and oysters. We must be responsible and make really urgent changes."