Back in my carefree 20s, Friday nights were all about donning an extravagant layer of glittery makeup and lotions, spritzing on some delightful perfume, and dancing the night away with my friends. We sparkled and shined, blissfully unaware of stretch marks or any real-life responsibilities.
Fast forward to now, and everything has changed—including my relationship with glitter. Enter my children, who adore art projects that inevitably involve this craft world’s most notorious nuisance. Glitter has officially become my sworn enemy.
Let’s be real: glitter is the bane of the crafting world. It embodies the trifecta of craft-related nightmares: it sticks to everything, is impossible to clean up, and if you have a child who loves to bedazzle, it will infiltrate every corner of your home. Ever received an envelope stuffed with glitter? It’s a sure sign that someone out there really dislikes you.
Glitter clings to you like an unwelcome guest—it never truly goes away. We’ve all been that person, strolling around with a random shiny speck on our cheek months after our last glitter encounter. Where does it come from? It must reproduce in a dark corner of the universe alongside Legos and those pesky rubber bands from Rainbow Looms.
But there’s a more significant issue at hand: most glitter is classified as a microplastic, and we all know what that means—environmental catastrophe. According to the National Ocean Service, microplastics are small plastic fragments less than five millimeters long that pose a threat to marine life. They can even exacerbate harmful bacteria in ecosystems, acting like a “lifeboat” for dangerous microorganisms, as detailed in research published in Environmental Science and Technology.
So yes, glitter is essentially a sparkly disaster.
Back when my friends and I returned from our nights out, those iridescent flecks would wash right down the drain, likely making their way to the ocean. Sorry, Ocean.
If you also share my disdain for glitter, feel free to tell your kids, “Sorry, kiddos, glitter harms the environment! Say goodbye to the sparkle because we care about the whales.”
But if you’re someone who just can’t resist the allure of glitter—maybe you’re a Pinterest fanatic or a social media influencer—there’s good news. Biodegradable glitter exists! A company called EcoGlitter produces glitter made from plant cellulose. While it might still find its way onto your face uninvited, at least it won’t wreak havoc on the environment. Yay for small victories?
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In summary, glitter may seem harmless and fun, but it’s an environmental threat that clings to everything and never truly goes away. While biodegradable options provide a glimmer of hope, it’s best to think twice before diving into the glittery abyss.