This product was almost certainly a part of your childhood – maybe when the tooth fairy came and definitely during art and craft activities. It’s set to be banned by the European Commission from this week.
The ban relates to plastic glitter.
Products already on shelves will continue to be sold until stock runs out, and glitter used in products such as cosmetics and detergents can be sold until the end of the transition periods.
Biodegradable or soluble glitter is still legal, as is plastic glitter in glitter glue, paint, jewellery and snow globes. However, plastic glitter that easily falls off decorative objects, such as Christmas decorations or party hats, falls under the ban, as do goods containing microbeads – small plastic beads used in cosmetic products for exfoliation.
“The purpose is not to ban all glitter but replace plastic glitter with more environmentally friendly glitter that does not pollute our oceans,” the European Commission stated.
“It is estimated that 42,000 tonnes of microplastics intentionally added to products are released in the EU every year.
“The new rules will prevent the release to the environment of about half a million tonnes of microplastics.”
Microplastics have been found in everything from drinking water to the tissue of marine animals such as whales and in human breast milk.
It’s estimated the average adult consumes about 2000 microplastics per year through salt alone.
Do you support this ban? Should balloons also be banned?
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