Terrible News: Environmental Scientists Want to Ban Glitter
We're all for recycling, upcycling and repurposing, along with any other measures that help to clean up and protect our beautiful planet, but a new ban may be too much for our craft-obsessed, glitter-loving hearts to bear.
Scientists are pleading for a global ban on glitter in the hopes that less of it will end up our in our oceans, according to CBS Philly. While the teeny bits of sparkly plastic add a festive touch to whatever item they cover, they also pollute our water systems, and cause harm to animals who ingest them.
In fact, the experts want to prohibit the use of all microplastics, which are any plastics that measure less than 5 millimeters in size. This call to action comes just a few months after a study published in the journal Science found evidence of plastic in a third of all fish caught in the U.K. It also follows a recent and similar ban on microbeads in beauty products across the U.S.
Right now, a ban set to take effect in the U.K. in 2018 only prohibits the use of "rinse-off" glitters found in cosmetics and other beauty products, but it could be expanded to include glitter in all its forms and uses, according to the Independent. Similar steps could be taken in the U.S. in the future.
In terms of beauty products, several companies are working to create and use more eco-friendly glitters that break down easily. There's no word on whether this kind of shimmer could be used for craft supplies as well, but we hope it does! Because what's life without a little sparkle, after all?
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