To glitter or not to glitter?

With increasing knowledge about the harms caused by micro plastic contaminants that are entering our water systems Scientists from all over the globe are urging an end to a wide range of plastics that are used only once including glitter.

To achieve this, Tops Day Nursery, an British early child education and care center, has been banned from using glitter in crafting activities. In a blog entry from November of last year, the center’s Director Cheryl Hadland said:

“These tiny, glittering tiny flecks of microplastic are almost impossible to get rid of from the surroundings once they’re there. Once we’ve exhausted using glitter made of plastic for fun for decorating cards or by putting it in play dough, glue or making art using it it is disposed of into a bin or the sink. It’s not recyclable since it’s not practical to recycle it, and because it’s tiny enough to be difficult to sort.”

The nursery said that when glitter is introduced into the earth through landfills, because of the air that is moved around, it adheres to hands of people, and flows into the water system. It gets stuck to clothing or mops, and then goes through the washer, and then out to the system of water.

Ms Hadland stated: “We hope that our future generations will be more aware of their environmental impact. We are grateful for the support of parents and families. We believe that this is a culture shift that will benefit not just us but our children more.”

Craft glitter is an essential part of the crafting cupboards of a lot of preschools and it’s tough to imagine a complete ban but limiting its usage to specific occasions may be a good idea and you can also think about adding alternatives, such as:

A biodegradable version of sparkle without the harmful elements! Biodegradable sparkle is relatively new to Australia and costs more than other plastic-based alternatives, which is why giving it away on special occasions is sensible. Biodegradable glitter is created from the extract of eucalyptus trees and aluminium and dissolves in water.

Sand glitter: Colored sand isn’t as shiny and lacks the shimmer and shine of glitter, but it can be utilized in a variety of ways. It is also cheap and simple to create.

Tiny flowers and blooms You can take a basket with you for a scavenger hunt, and gather a variety of tiny, brightly colored flora to replace plastic glitter. If you make use of tiny bottles to store your glitter, it’ll look just as attractive like the stuff you buy in stores.

Salt glitter: Combine food coloring and salt to make an ideal alternative to plastic.

Coloured rice: Fast and simple to make, colored rice has a bigger grain than the glitter that is available in stores, but is an easy and affordable alternative.