Glitter is found in hundreds of objects and products. Everything from Christmas decorations to makeup and nail polish is adorned with colorful sparkles. It can be fascinating to see him standing in an episode of Euphoria with neon lights in the background. But there is actually another, sadder story behind it. Not only does it easily adhere to any surface, including our skin and clothes, but unfortunately it reaches everywhere: the environment, rivers and seas, clouds, our lungs.

Glitter is actually a deadly microplastic. And the footprint is much larger than we imagined.

What is glitter actually? Mixture of several things: microplastics, cellulose, mica or glass. It can be easily colored and inexpensively chemically treated to make it shine. Like microplastic beads, which many countries have banned from scrubs and toothpastes (how shiny they looked… and how dangerous) to reduce pollution. Mainly because it contains small and imperceptible plastic particles, but above all it is non-biodegradable. Plastic is wasted and never gets lost.

There are no figures on the amount of glitter used each year in the world, but knowing that a single Christmas parade easily uses up to 70 pounds, we can get an idea of ​​why it’s anything to worry about.

Microplastics, that’s the big problem. Hundreds of studies have highlighted their impact on the environment for years. Someone from 2020 suggested that microplastics could fly and collect in clouds. And literally rain in protected natural areas. In another study, Australia’s national science agency found that between 9.25 and 15.87 million tons of microplastics had accumulated on the seafloor. They have been found in Arctic glaciers and in the belly of whales. Even humans get 5 grams each week.

Glitter vs environment. A recent study published in the Journal of Hazardous Substances concluded that glare harms the ecology of rivers and lakes. Sakarya University Environmental Engineering Professor Meral Yurtsever said, “After one use, thousands of small stains can migrate to water or soil and accumulate in the environment. These glowing stains will remain intact for centuries.” Charm report.

In the ocean, microplastics can be mixed with fish eggs and ingested by marine life. These tiny particles get trapped in the stomach, causing malnutrition and weight loss. Everything is then reflected in decreased feeding rates and lower reproductive rates in some species.

also for health. An audit of more than 100 makeup products revealed that 32% contain microplastics that appear as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) behind them. And what does this mean? We’ve known for years that the chemicals in plastics can have adverse effects on human health, from cancer to reproductive problems such as sperm motility and pregnancy viability.

Answers. Some brands have started to take action in recent years. In 2021, several British stores such as Morrisons, Waitrose and John Lewis have announced that there will no longer be glitter on their Christmas products, snack boxes, bags or gift wrapping. In 2018, 61 music festivals banned attendees from using glitter, and cosmetics brand Lush has replaced its glitter in bath products with biodegradable substitutes. Supermarkets like Aldi have also made the decision to remove it from their products.

Mica, a shimmering mineral, seemed like an alternative to shimmer. But it has recently been discovered that most of them come from illegal Indian mines employing child labor. As a result, Lush found a synthetic mica that the company claims is not harmful to the environment. However, this previously mentioned study highlights that PET, both conventional and non-biodegradable, and the alternative made from cellulose or mica continue to have a negative impact on ecosystems. The easiest solution is what we’ve all been thinking of: say goodbye to glare, even if the world gets a little less bright.

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