Biodegradable vs Cosmetic Glitters
Let’s talk about it….
We at Kyndred love the environment and we have spent ALOT of time researching different types of glitter, the pros, the cons, what they are made from, how they are made, and most importantly how they can affect the environment.
In the past we have used both high quality, non-toxic, cosmetic grade as well as biodegradable glitter. But we are so proud to say that we are now a 100% biodegradable glitter business.
We believe being educated is so important and we want to share with you all some stuff we have learnt over the years about these tiny sparkles of happiness!
Cosmetic Glitter
Cosmetic glitter mainly made from PET. PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, or more simply put, polyester. Yes, that means it is mostly… *gets ready for the keyboard warriors to start attacking, Microplastics!! But let’s be real for a second, glitter isn’t the only thing that uses polyester. PET is used in just about everything we use every day including most likely the clothes you are wearing.
One of the UK’s largest Cosmetic companies’ database has over 1,500 cosmetics listed that include polyethylene and over 600 listed that include PET specifically. These include hair styling products, mascaras and lipsticks that get washed down the drain daily.
Microplastics
These bad boys are very small pieces of plastic that pollute the environment, they are so small that they are usually not picked up by water filtration and make it out into rivers and oceans. Fish and other aquatic animals then eat them, and they could die or have health problems.
Here is a woohoo moment for us glitter lovers, National Geographic wrote an article on a study done by Richard Thompson, a marine biologist at the University of Plymouth in western Britain and a leading expert on microplastics.
He wrote, “So while there is evidence of accumulation of microplastics in general and evidence of harm from lab studies, there is a lack of clear evidence specifically on glitter”. “We have microplastic particles in around one third of the 500 fish we examined in the English Channel, but we did not find any glitter.”
Now we are not saying it is now ok to go pour all of your craft glit down the sink and we still want to do our best to look after our precious water ways but tinker bell and I both loved hearing the results of this study.
Bio Glitter
Most bio glitter is made from cellulose from trees and the rate of which is manufactured can be harmful to the planet. All those trees gone. Bio also does still contain a very small amount of aluminium but due to the size it’s made it found under the radar of being able to be classed as bio. And of course, aluminium is not biodegradable.
Bio also needs perfect conditions to break down… air, dirt, water. Which when it is worn and not removed correctly (i.e. washed down the drain), it will not leave it in those needed conditions. If it goes into water ways, it does not break down very quickly as it doesn’t have all the elements it needs to break down.
Most biodegradable glitter does not dissolve in water. It will break down but not dissolve. Microorganisms are needed to digest eco-glitter and transform it into harmless substances, carbon dioxide, biomass, and water. When bio glitter breaks down in the water it does not just disappear, it is still there you just cannot see it. Like salt dissolved in water, it is still there just you cannot see it. For example, when sea water dries on skin, the salt is left behind and reappears on your skin, it does not dissolve and disappear, it is still there.
But guess what! There’s a new kid in town! Our glitter is water certified, 100% plastic free biodegradable glitter, made from eucalyptus tree cellulose. Koalas are raving about it! Safe for you and for the oceans.
Here’s some fun facts that we are proud of
• World’s first 100% plastic free glitter
• Cruelty-free, non-toxic & allergen-free
• Water certified which guarantees biodegradability in any natural environment including water
• Made of ethically sourced eucalyptus cellulose & biodegrades in just 30 days
• It is cosmetic grade & feels 40% softer than normal glitter on your skin
• It does not contain any aluminium or GMOs
Basically it is the most environmentally friendly glitter in the world!
You can help.
How can we all play our part when it comes to glitter?? With the safe and correct removal of all glitter. You should ALWAYS remove your glit before jumping into the shower or the ocean. We recommend two simple ways to do this!
A sticky lint/pet hair removal roller – Rollie, rollie, rollie all the way to the bin.
A dry brush or exfoliating mitt – Gently brush off the dried glitter from your skin before getting wet.
How many of you are still with me? If you are well done, it means you really do care.
So, let’s wrap this up I am not saying that I know everything about this topic, and I am certainly not trying to run down environmentalists. I really admire people who love our earth so passionately. I do encourage you to further educate yourselves as I will continue to do but, in the meantime, just try being a good person, do your best to look after our environment and keep buying pretty things that make you happy.
