The Glitter Trap: Why Eco-Friendly Glitter is Not the Better Choice
If you've ever used glitter, you know it's pretty irresistible. It's fun to use, and it makes everything look more festive.
But have you ever stopped to think about where that glitter comes from? And what happens to it when it's done being used?
Unfortunately, most glitter is made of plastic, and it can cause serious environmental damage when disposed of improperly.
In this blog post, we'll discuss eco-friendly glitter and why you should choose to use it instead of traditional glitter.
What Makes Regular Glitter Bad For The Environment?
Conventional glitter is made of PET plastic, a type of plastic that is not biodegradable.
This means that when it's thrown away, it will sit in landfills for hundreds of years, leaching chemicals into the ground and polluting our water supply.
PET also takes a lot of energy to produce, creating harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
So not only does glitter cause environmental damage when it's disposed of, but its very production is also damaging to our planet.
Plus, when it's broken down, plastic-based glitter turns into microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic that pollute our oceans and are often ingested by marine life.
These microplastics can cause serious health problems for the animals that consume them, and they can even end up in our food supply.
What Are Alternatives To Traditional and Plastic Glitter?
Fortunately, eco-friendly glitter options are available that are much better for the environment.
One popular choice is biodegradable glitter, made from materials like cellulose or mica.
Cellulose is a type of plant-based fiber that is often used in eco-friendly products, and mica is a mineral that is found in nature.
Both of these materials are biodegradable so that they won't pollute our landfills or oceans like traditional glitter.
They are also much safer for the environment to produce, so you can feel good about using eco-friendly glitter without harming our planet.
Is Biodegradable Glitter Really Eco-Friendly?
According to recent studies, the so-called biodegradable glitter on the market is not actually eco-friendly.
Mica glitter, for instance, is said to cause damage to freshwater habitats. The negative ecological impact that plastic-free glitter is the same as regular glitter, which is terrible news.
The tiny particles of these guilt-free sparkles are also said to disrupt the ecosystem and food chain. An increase in New Zealand mud snails led experts to believe that eco-glitter is still detrimental to the environment.
Even though buying biodegradable glitter may look like an eco-friendly option, it may not do much good for the environment.
Scientists said the best option is to avoid glitter altogether, whether eco-friendly or not.
Glitter Alternatives To Consider
From wrapping paper to confetti and beauty products, glitter companies are constantly developing new ways to incorporate glitter into our lives.
Fortunately, eco-friendly alternative glitters to traditional glitter can be used in all of these applications.
We'll look into a few eco-friendly glitter substitutes below.
1. Salt Glitter
One eco-friendly glitter alternative is salt glitter, which is made from, you guessed it, salt!
Salt glitter is a great eco-friendly option because it's biodegradable and won't pollute our environment.
Plus, it's non-toxic, so it's safe to use around children and pets.
You only need salt and food coloring to make your own salt glitter at home, or you can buy it online.
To make salt glitter, mix equal parts of salt and food coloring.
Then, put the mixture in a coffee grinder or blender and blend until it's the desired consistency.
Sprinkle the salt glitter on whatever you want to add a little sparkle to, and enjoy!
2. Sand Glitter
This safe glitter alternative does not use mica, PET, or other eco-unfriendly materials.
You can either buy sand glitter or make your own at home.
A great tutorial video on how to make eco-friendly sand glitter can be found here.
The video walks you through the process step-by-step, and all you need is sand, food coloring, and a few other household supplies.
Instead of bringing serious ecological impact, eco-friendly sand glitter can help support marine life!
By using eco-friendly glitter, we can help reduce the pollution in our oceans and protect the creatures that live there.
It's a win-win for everyone!
3. Colored Rice
This one is easy to make at home with just a few ingredients.
All you need is dried rice, food coloring, and white vinegar.
Add the dried rice in a zip lock, add a few drops of food coloring, and then add the vinegar.
Close the zip lock and shake until the rice is evenly coated with color.
Then, spread the rice out on a baking sheet to dry. Once it's dry, you can use it in any way you would use glitter!
4. Recycled Paper
The natural environment will always be the best place for eco-friendly glitter.
You can make eco-friendly glitter out of recycled paper by tearing it into small pieces and then coating it with a thin layer of eco-friendly glue.
Once the glue is dry, you can sprinkle the paper with any color you want.
You can also choose to color the paper before you tear it into pieces or use a hole puncher to create different shapes.
This eco-friendly glitter is great for arts and crafts projects, and it's a fun activity to do with kids!
5. Sparkling Sugar
Sugar can be the best compostable glitter you can use.
It's edible, easy to make, and doesn't pollute the environment.
There are several ways to make sugar glitter, but we found this blog post that details how to make eco-friendly sugar glitter step-by-step.
The process requires white granulated sugar or raw sugar, food coloring, small plastic bags, tin foil, a cookie sheet, and a sifter.
Instead of using plastic-based or bio glitter, this is the best one to use that does not harm the environment.
Final Thoughts
While glitter is beautiful and fun, it's essential to be aware of the environmental impact that it can have.
Fortunately, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional glitter are just as fun and sparkly but won't pollute our planet.
Next time you're looking for a little extra sparkle in your life, consider using eco-friendly glitter made from salt, sand, sugar, or recycled paper.
Your wallet and the environment will thank you!
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