Maybe It’s Time to Stop Using Glitter
This week, the European Union banned the use of disposable plastic straws once and for all, joining hotel chains, restaurants , Disneyland theme parks and grocery chains across the United States.
Given that the plastic straw will become a distant relic of the past, and prohibitions on the use of styrofoam and disposable plastic bags cause a green wave across the country, some everyday objects will soon become our next enemy of the environment?
As it turns out, sequins – yes, glittery sequins – may well be a reason to look out for.
What’s wrong with decorating a party other than it can crawl into every crevice in the carpet? Most glitter products are made from plastic, aluminum and PET , or PET, a type of polyester common in plastic packaging, which is no longer a good sign.
Because of its small size, glitter is considered a microplastic . This type of pollutant enters our oceans through washout, becomes less through degradation, enters the aquatic life through consumption, and ultimately enters our food chain. (Yes, we eat it.)
While there isn’t a lot of research specifically focused on the effects of gloss on the environment (only microplastics research in general), according to the Independent , PET can be broken down into chemicals that have been linked to hormone disruption in both humans and animals. about a complete ban on sparkles. ( Some are calling for a ban, calling it as harmful to the environment as microbeads , a dangerous microplastic found in some brands of soap. Others say research just is n’t enough .)
What if you are thinking of a particularly brilliant purchase?
Well, of course you ca n’t buy it. Also consider your own shopping habits. Glitter isn’t just about party décor, it’s found in many beauty products : Glossier , Sephora and Kylie Cosmetics – all glitter retail beauty products. (Glossier notes that you shouldn’t flush the product with water to avoid contaminating waterways, but how can you be sure it doesn’t end up in them?)
And if you can’t give up gloss just yet, biodegradable gloss is actually a thing, although it is more expensive than your regular gloss. (A can costs about $ 17.)
Body soap company Lush has already moved away from glitter in favor of biodegradable synthetic mica, a material that shimmers like glitter in an environmentally friendly way. Mica, however, is an incredibly controversial ingredient, with many cosmetic companies using it accused of using child labor to extract the material. So for now, if cost is an issue, using less glitter is probably your best answer to staying green.