#ehtics

To myself: I will not fall into the idol ideology of this time. Humanism does not require transformation, does not require genetic modification and artificial intelligence, it is the request of power-hungry anti-humanists who are freed from all ethics. When we reflect on what is deeply human, love, frugality and humility, we remain unique beings with a soul, created by something far greater than…

Finding And Following Your Own Truth

Lately the readings that stick to me, the interviews that get me thinking, the issues that stand out most seem to point to the same thing: finding and following your own truth is essential for leading a meaningful life. It starts with getting clarity on what is important to you. My journey through the years has revealed what’s truly important to me, often in retrospect. Each choice I made along…

Millions of pounds of glitter are produced annually, and it is used in many items including face and body products, furniture, toys, clothing and accessories. Unfortunately glitter is made from micro-plastic which is damaging the world’s oceans and marine wildlife and studies show that micro-plastic has been found in the air, drinking water and food which could be damaging human health.

Glitter is a micro-plastic made from a polymer known as Mylar. Researchers estimated that in 2014 ‘5.25 trillion pieces of plastic weighing approximately 270,000 tons’ (Dorn, 2017) were floating in the world’s oceans. Micro-plastics such as glitter accounted for over ‘ninety-two percent’ (ibid) of the floating plastic waste and their size makes them look like food particles to fish and other marine life. ‘One in three fish’ (ibid) caught in Great Britain had ingested micro-plastics, according to a Plymouth University study in 2012. Many sea creatures have been found to eat plastics, with some species being attracted to them more than their typical food.

There are environmentally friendly, biodegradable versions of glitter available on the market including BioGlitz and Glitter Revolution, which are made from eucalyptus extract. Biodegradable glitter is also less sticky compared to typical glitter which contains metalloids that cause static and friction. Biodegradable glitter is made by transforming ‘cellulose derived from eucalyptus trees into rolls of plant-based plastic, which is then coated in .1 percent aluminium and cosmetic pigments’ (Donnelly, 2017). The thirty-six inch rolls are sent through a precision cutter and the pieces are caught in a net as they are sliced. Biodegradable glitter is also non-toxic which makes it great for children and the environment.

Bibliography:

Dorn, A. (2017) Glitter Doesn’t Have to Be Bad for the Planet. Available at:   https://www.racked.com/2017/8/1/16003528/glitter-environment-bioglitz (Accessed 9/12/2017)