UK-based glitter manufacturer, Ronald Britton has designed a revolutionary product to tackle the problem of plastic pollution caused by glitter. The new eco-friendly Bioglitter is said to degrade naturally in the environment.
Bioglitter is the company’s first step on its journey to reduce to zero the amount of plastic waste caused by glitter. Plastic pollution is a major issue worldwide: research suggests around 12 million tonnes1 of plastic enters the world’s oceans every year and there are now almost 8.3 billion tonnes2 of plastic waste on the planet, much of which is in landfill3.
Plastic glitter, a form of microplastic, has received particularly bad press in recent months, with concerns about its physical and potentially toxic impact on marine life. In the UK, microplastics, including plastic glitter, have been banned in cosmetics and personal care formulations since January 2018. The government took this decision to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in marine environments.
A world first
Stephen Cotton, commercial director of the new Bioglitter brand, comments: ‘The issue of plastic waste and microplastics in glitter is something we’ve been thinking about and working towards tackling over most of the last decade. We’ve spent several years in research and development and the new Bioglitter product represents the first naturally degradable glitter on the market.’
Bioglitter replaces the use of plastics in the core of glitter with cellulose, a plant based product. This special form of cellulose, which is unique to Bioglitter, is stable and won’t degrade on shelf. However, once it enters soil, compost or waste water environments where microorganisms are present, the glitter will naturally decompose.
At in-cosmetics Global in Amsterdam, Bioglitter launched a ground-breaking new product, which is set to revolutionise the cosmetics glitter market and is said to be a complete first for the industry.
Committed to minimising glitter’s impact
Cotton adds: ‘Traditionally, glitter doesn’t end up in recycling bins after its use, because of its size and diverse number of uses. There is a higher probability of it going into landfill from general waste or waste water from bathing. To reach our goal, not only do we feel it’s necessary to make glitter decompose in manmade environments, like industrial composting, but it’s also critical that it can biodegrade in the natural environment. We are committed to minimising the impact of glitter on the environment and Bioglitter is our first step on that journey. We are convinced that it will revolutionise the market and demonstrate an alternative way forward. It represents a large step towards our goal, containing around 92 percent less plastic than any counterpart and naturally degradable, so significantly reducing its effect on nature.’
Completely plastic-free glitter on the cards
Ronald Britton has also pledged to go a step further by investing in a major research and development project to create a glitter that is 100 percent plastic free. ‘Bioglitter is a leap forward in the industry, but we are determined to go further,’ says Cotton. ‘We have a range of products for the cosmetics industry and will soon have complementary ranges for all other industries. We are also in the final stages of a development project to create a glitter that is completely plastic free and compliant with the UK’s new microplastic legislation, which is the most demanding microplastic legislation in the world.’
According to Cotton, this journey has already been very interesting and challenging. ‘As a business we feel privileged to be in a position where we can make a difference and are extremely excited about the future.’
References:
- Figures from Greenpeace
- Figures from National Geographic 2017
- Figures from National Geographic 2017
