The Truth About Biodegradable Glitter

More of us than ever want to ditch plastic glitter, and that’s brilliant. But it also means the word “biodegradable” gets used a lot, and not always clearly. Making environmental claims that are vague, exaggerated or can’t be backed up is known as greenwashing. Here’s how to see through it, and exactly where our own glitter stands.

What does “biodegradable” actually mean?

Something is biodegradable if microbes can break it down into natural substances like water, carbon dioxide and biomass. The catch is that how fast that happens, and where, varies hugely. A material might break down in a hot industrial compost heap but barely change in a cold river. So a claim of “biodegradable” on its own doesn’t tell you very much.

Three questions to ask about any eco glitter

1. Has it been independently certified? Look for a named certification from an independent body. For example, “OK biodegradable WATER” from TÜV Austria means a material has been tested to biodegrade in natural freshwater.
2. Is it plastic-free, or just lower in plastic? Some eco glitters have a plant-based core but still contain a small amount of plastic in their coating. That’s still a big step up from fully plastic glitter, but it isn’t the same as plastic-free.
3. Will the brand show you the evidence? A trustworthy brand should be happy to tell you which material it uses and what it has been tested or certified for.

Where our glitter stands

We believe you should know exactly what you’re buying, so here’s an honest breakdown of our ranges:

• Shimmer and Electric Sherbet ranges: made with Bioglitter® PURE, which the manufacturer, Ronald Britton, describes as plastic-free. It is certified “OK biodegradable WATER” by TÜV Austria. If plastic-free matters most to you, this is the range to choose.
• Sparkle, Holographic and Glisten ranges: made with Bioglitter® grades that have a plant-based cellulose core in place of plastic film. They are brighter, but they are not 100% plastic-free.
• Deco 60 craft glitter: a plant-based craft glitter that its manufacturer describes as plastic-free. It is for crafts only, not for skin.

We are a licensed reseller of Bioglitter®, made in the UK by Ronald Britton. You can read more about their testing and certifications on the Discover Bioglitter® website.

How to dispose of glitter responsibly

Whatever glitter you use, the kindest thing you can do is keep it out of waterways. Wipe it off with an oil or balm cleanser and a cloth or pad, then put the residue in your general waste rather than rinsing it down the drain.

Questions?

If you want to know more about any of our products, just get in touch and we’ll tell you everything we know.