All That Glitters ...
Glitter! It sparkles; you can use it on your face for special occasions, on your birthday cards, and on all sorts of other craft projects. But, like so many other microplastics, it ultimately ends up in the ocean.
Glitter is made of plastic called PET and aluminum. PET can break down and release hormone disrupting chemicals in our bodies and in the bodies of wildlife. Glitter is tiny so easily passes through water filtration systems and is washed down the drain to our rivers and oceans. So that pretty sparkle on your shoulders for your birthday is washed off in the shower and down the drain. In the ocean, all sorts of sea life consume the microplastics we thought we disposed of and they end up starving to death. The micro beads in your facial scrub are a problem, too, along with glittery nail polish and glittery eye shadow.
Scientists have estimated the total of microplastics in the oceans to be up to 51 trillion fragments.
We don’t need to totally give up the sparkles; there are alternatives. With a little research, you can find plant based glitter eye shadow and makeup. Safe, biodegradable, non-GMO and not-tested-on-animals craft glitter is available, too.
Here are a couple of sources:
EcoStardust creates glitter for your face and your crafts. https://ecostardust.com/
Glitter Revolution creates glitter that is biodegradable, vegan, and cruelty free.
https://glitterevolution.com/
And yes, you can even find it on Amazon.
Let’s keep the sparkle but keep it safe for us and our wildlife.
Tri County Wildlife Care, a local nonprofit started in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our native wildlife and helping our community live in balance with wildlife. They envision a world where wildlife and people thrive together. For more information call (209) 283-3245, or visit pawspartners.org.
Glitter is made of plastic called PET and aluminum. PET can break down and release hormone disrupting chemicals in our bodies and in the bodies of wildlife. Glitter is tiny so easily passes through water filtration systems and is washed down the drain to our rivers and oceans. So that pretty sparkle on your shoulders for your birthday is washed off in the shower and down the drain. In the ocean, all sorts of sea life consume the microplastics we thought we disposed of and they end up starving to death. The micro beads in your facial scrub are a problem, too, along with glittery nail polish and glittery eye shadow.
Scientists have estimated the total of microplastics in the oceans to be up to 51 trillion fragments.
We don’t need to totally give up the sparkles; there are alternatives. With a little research, you can find plant based glitter eye shadow and makeup. Safe, biodegradable, non-GMO and not-tested-on-animals craft glitter is available, too.
Here are a couple of sources:
EcoStardust creates glitter for your face and your crafts. https://ecostardust.com/
Glitter Revolution creates glitter that is biodegradable, vegan, and cruelty free.
https://glitterevolution.com/
And yes, you can even find it on Amazon.
Let’s keep the sparkle but keep it safe for us and our wildlife.
Tri County Wildlife Care, a local nonprofit started in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our native wildlife and helping our community live in balance with wildlife. They envision a world where wildlife and people thrive together. For more information call (209) 283-3245, or visit pawspartners.org.