The Problem with Glitter: Microplastics in Disguise

 


The Problem with Glitter: Microplastics in Disguise

Because Aunt Sally probably doesn’t need a sparkle-covered environmental hazard.

🎄 It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… Plastic?

It’s that time of year again.
Twinkling lights, foil wrapping paper, and glitter everywhere.
From Christmas cards to gift bags, baubles to children’s crafts, it seems like the festive season comes sprinkled with microplastic.

But here’s the sparkly truth:
Glitter is basically plastic confetti.
Tiny, shiny, almost impossible to clean up — and absolutely terrible for the environment.

✨ What Is Glitter Made Of?

Most glitter is made from:

  • PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or PVC

  • Bonded with aluminium for sparkle

  • Cut into micro-sized particles (less than 5mm)

That makes it a microplastic by design — not accident.

🌊 Where Does Glitter Go?

Glitter doesn’t biodegrade. Instead, it:

  • Washes off hands, cards, faces, and clothes

  • Ends up in sinks, drains, and waterways

  • Passes through wastewater filters

  • Accumulates in rivers and oceans

  • Enters the food chain — from plankton to fish to us

One festive craft session = hundreds of plastic shards everywhere.

📉 Why It’s a Big Deal

  • Microplastics affect marine life digestion, reproduction, and growth

  • Some glitter types contain toxins or hormone disruptors

  • It’s nearly impossible to recycle items contaminated with glitter (cards, wrapping paper, etc.)

🎁 What Can You Do Instead?

✅ Go Glitter-Free

  • Many high-street shops now sell non-glittered or plastic-free Christmas cards and wrap

  • Choose embossed, printed, or painted designs instead

✅ Try Biodegradable Glitter (if you must)

  • Look for glitter made from plant cellulose (often eucalyptus)

  • Fully compostable in home or industrial composters

✅ Ditch the Sparkly Extras

  • Avoid glittery ribbon, wrapping paper, and tinsel

  • Go for natural decoration: pinecones, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks

✅ Make It a Talking Point

  • Tell people why you’re sending plastic-free cards

  • Encourage kids to craft with safer materials like paper, fabric scraps, or salt dough

💌 Will Aunt Sally Mind?

Probably not.
She might love the idea that her card didn’t come wrapped in an environmental crime scene.
And if she doesn’t notice? Even better — you’ve just made a silent eco-statement.

Final Thought

Glitter might sparkle for a second, but its consequences last for centuries.
So this Christmas, skip the shine — and send something that sparkles ethically.

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