Feb 2019: A Glimpse into Glitter
- Kaili Brande
- Feb 18, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 8, 2022
Welcome back to the Sustainable Millennial blog! Although Valentine’s Day has already passed, Mardi Gras celebrations are coming up in early March, a big time of sparkles and glitter. Today’s blog discusses the ramifications of using glitter in our world and our environment. Although a very small object, it can have huge effects on marine environments especially!
Glitter is composed of several shiny pieces of plastic (a form of microplastic), coated in a layer of aluminum and artificial pigments. It is used in shows, festivals, parties, and as of late, fashion runways. It can make things more attractive and fun, but because of its aluminum content, it sticks to surfaces easily. It can then be unintentionally spread into local outdoor areas, waterways, and eventually marine environments, in which the plastic pieces do not readily break down. This, like the plastic straws we discussed in our first blog post, can be unintentionally ingested by marine creatures, and even end up in the bodies of the seafood we eat. Digestion of plastic can’t be healthy for ANY organisms.
Scientists from around the world are agreeing that glitter should be banned. Plastic glitter, that is. There is a new U.S. company, BioGlitz, that is trying to make glitter from a plant-based source (eucalyptus trees), so that if the pieces do reach land or marine environments, they can more readily break down and not persist in food chains over generations. These plant-based pieces are coated in “.1 percent aluminum and cosmetic pigments” to retain its glitter-like quality.
Therefore, if you are a fan of sparkly things or an avid user of glitter, please consider a more eco-friendly alternative! Several options are available, as can be found at this website. Even better of a solution is using a material that does not require aluminum or “cosmetic pigments” at all. One really unique idea for glitter (my personal favorite!) is making “confetti” out of leaves and a hole punch, shown in the video below!
Together, we can be more aware of our everyday choices as consumers, and reduce our environmental impact. By paying more attention to the cosmetics and decorations we choose to use, we can encourage responsible brands to keep selling their products and be colorful while doing it. :) Comment below if you plan to use sustainable glitter (or simply no glitter at all)!
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