Glitter has been a staple in beauty, crafts and celebrations for decades, adding sparkle to everything it touches. But have you ever stopped to think about what glitter is made from? Understanding the materials behind the shimmer matters, especially when it comes to the environment.
In this blog, we’ll explore what glitter is made of, the differences between conventional PET glitter and Bioglitter®, and why the choice matters.
What Is Glitter?
Glitter is made of tiny pieces of reflective material designed to catch the light. These flakes are used in cosmetics, arts and crafts, and decorations to create a shimmering effect.
Traditionally, glitter is made by layering a reflective material (such as aluminium) onto a plastic film. This gives glitter its shine and durability, but the materials used make a big difference to its environmental footprint.
What Is PET Glitter?
PET glitter, short for polyethylene terephthalate glitter, is the most common type of glitter on the market. It’s made by bonding aluminium to a PET plastic film.
- Composition: PET plastic (a type of polyester) and aluminium.
- Durability: very durable, water-resistant and keeps its shine in harsh conditions.
- Environmental impact: PET glitter is not biodegradable and is a microplastic. When it’s washed down the drain or thrown away, it can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
- Cost: cheap and widely available, which is why it’s so popular with manufacturers.
PET glitter looks stunning, but its environmental impact has led many people to look for alternatives.
What Is Bioglitter®?
Bioglitter®, made in the UK by Ronald Britton, is an alternative to PET glitter. Instead of a plastic film, it uses a plant-based film made from regenerated cellulose, mostly from eucalyptus.
- Composition: a cellulose film in place of plastic, with a reflective finish and coating on top. The exact materials depend on the Bioglitter® grade.
- Biodegradability: Bioglitter® PURE, used in our Shimmer and Electric Sherbet ranges, is described by the manufacturer as plastic-free and is certified “OK biodegradable WATER” by TÜV Austria, meaning it has been independently tested to biodegrade in natural freshwater. Other Bioglitter® grades have a plant-based core but are not 100% plastic-free.
- Cost: Bioglitter® usually costs more than PET glitter because of its materials and production.
Choosing Bioglitter® means far less plastic in your sparkle, and with our PURE ranges, none at all.
Why Does It Matter?
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that pollute oceans, rivers and soil, and plastic glitter is one of them. It’s often washed into waterways when it’s removed from skin or thrown away.
Switching from plastic glitter is a simple way to reduce the plastic you use. Whatever glitter you choose, wiping it off and putting it in your general waste, rather than rinsing it down the drain, helps keep it out of waterways.
Luminosity Glitter: Making the Switch Easy
At Luminosity Glitter, our own-brand cosmetic glitter ranges are made with Bioglitter®, and we’re open about what each range is made from. If plastic-free is important to you, choose our Shimmer or Electric Sherbet ranges.
Not all glitter is created equal. PET glitter has a lasting impact because it’s made of plastic. Bioglitter® gives you the sparkle with far less plastic, or none at all.
Ready to switch? Read The Truth About Biodegradable Glitter to compare our ranges, or shop our plastic-free Shimmer range.
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