Topline
The European Union has officially banned the sale of loose plastic glitter and some other products that contain microbeads, part of a push to cut environmentally harmful microplastic pollution in member nations by 30% by 2030.
Glitter, the substance, loved by youngsters for making Christmas cards and baubles, is being ... [+]
Key Facts
Loose glitter and products that contain certain microbeads, tiny synthetic polymer particles and some other microplastics are no longer allowed on shelves in the EU as of Tuesday because they accumulate in the environment, pollute the water supply and contribute to overall microplastic pollution.
Not all glitter is banned—loose plastic glitter is the main target of the new restrictions, and biodegradable glitter is still allowed—but its use in cosmetics, nail products and other personal care items will also be restricted in the coming years.
German consumers reportedly rushed to stock up on glitter before the ban took effect, with one contestant from the country’s celebrity version of Big Brother telling a local tabloid he bought 82 packets before they were pulled from the shelves: "In my world, everything has to glitter.”
As the ban went into effect, the European Commission on Monday also proposed measures that would prevent the spillage of plastic pellets—tiny pieces of plastic the size of a lentil that are later melted down and shaped into a final product—into the environment, Reuters reported.
The new proposal would outline best practices for handling the pellets to prevent spills and require the companies that use them be certified in spill prevention, as well as outline best practices for the containment of spills and cleanup when they do happen.
The EU is aiming to reduce the pollution of plastic pellets in Europe by 74% by 2030.
What To Watch For
Glitter won’t disappear immediately. Banned products that were on store shelves or in warehouses before Tuesday can continue to be sold in the European Union until supplies run out. The commission said it will have "a detailed Q&A document to help with the implementation of the new rules" available by the end of 2023.
Key Background
Scientists have been pushing for a decade to ban glitter, which is usually made of a combination of aluminum and plastic and is one source of microplastic pollution. Microplastics, loosely defined as small plastic pieces less than five millimeters in length, exist in products ranging from cosmetics to facial cleansers and toothpastes. The tiny pieces of plastic easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, lakes and rivers, harming marine life, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration says. The European Commission estimates that between 52,000 and 184,000 tons of plastic pellets are released into the environment in the EU’s 27 member countries each year, and an estimated 50 trillion to 75 trillion pieces of microplastics are in the ocean today. The accidental consumption of such particles by marine life can cause birds and fish to suffocate and also lead to changes in behavior and genetics, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme. For humans, the consumption of microplastics can cause various cancers and reproductive-system disorders. The loose glitter ban—first introduced in September—is part of the European Union's REACH regulations that will continue to broaden over time. Ultimately, the granular plastics used in turf sports fields will be banned, as will cosmetics that use microplastics as exfoliants and those used in detergents, fertilizers and toys, the Guardian reported.
Tangent
Several companies and researchers have emerged in the last decade that claim to produce eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic glitters. A team at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada last year developed a biodegradable glitter alternative using natural resources that allow light to reflect off the glitter's surface and give the appearance of various colors. Shrine, a U.K. based company, has been selling a glitter since 2016 that it says biodegrades in water in 27 days, and Hemway sells biodegradable glitter in over 50 colors. In 2020, a study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found that even glitter dubbed eco-friendly "can cause ecological impacts in aquatic ecosystems." Glitter made of inorganic materials like glass and metal, natural alternatives or those that are soluble in water are not included in the EU's ban.
Surprising Fact
The new EU law comes several years after three major British retailers made the choice to ban glitter in their stores. Morrisons, Waitrose and John Lewis all said they'd remove glitter from their Christmas offerings in 2022 to cut down on microplastics, and stores like Boots, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s have made similar moves.
Big Number
61. That's how many U.K. music festivals banned glitter back in 2018, including End of the Road, Field Day, Oxjam and Bestival.
Contra
While some scientists have called for a ban on glitter, others have said glitter barely makes a dent in the grand scheme of microplastic pollution. Robert C. Hale, a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William & Mary, told the New York Times that glitter makes up "far less than 1% of the microplastics that pollute the environment” and said while banning such items could make an impact, "it doesn’t really solve the problem.” Bloomberg reported in 2020 that only 2% of the plastic polluting the ocean comes from the microbeads targeted by policies like the glitter ban, and that the leading source of microplastic pollution, at 35%, is clothing made from synthetic textiles.
Further Reading
EU Commission proposes measures to curb microplastic pollution from pellets (Reuters)
Glitter sales surge in Germany before EU microplastics ban this week (Guardian)
This Is Why Microplastics Are So Hard To Detect In The Ocean (Forbes)
Microplastics Found In Human Hearts For First Time, Showing Impact Of Pollution (Forbes)
