Schools banning glitter

[SimultaneousEquation]

AIBU to think that schools banning glitter for environmental reasons are sensible and responsible and not killjoys?

I hadn’t realised that glitter was micro plastic until relatively recently and I now wish I’d never bought it for my own kids. AIBU to think schools should ditch the glitter?

[BarbaraofSevillle]

The amount of plastic waste both visible and invisible polluting our oceans is truely depressing. It's just so unnecessary and things need to change.

Manufacturers need to reduce unnecessary packaging and use of plastics, waste needs to be properly recycled, not sent overseas to poor countries without an established recycling regime, we all need to do our bit by reducing our consumption of things like bottled water, single use cups, use of straws, balloons, glitter etc and sustainable, bio degradable alternatives need to be used.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

I love glitter and I care about the environment. I've avoided anything with microbeads in for years but I had no idea until last week that glitter was a baddie. To be fair, I've not bought any for years as my kids now only use it at Christmas and we have plenty left from their infant years.

I think schools changing to environmentally friendly glitter are doing exactly the right thing.

[DarkPeakScouter]

Good move. We should also not use drinking straws and polystyrene - so bad for the environment

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

@DarkPeakScouter we shouldn't use plastic, single use, drinking straws. There are plenty of kids - and adults - with coordination issues who use straws regularly.

[DarkPeakScouter]

Recyclable or glass straws for that purpose are fine — is the single use ones that are causing majority of issues :)

[fartyghost]

YANBU, it's better that it's no longer used - though schools probably can't justify the cost of the new environmentally friendlier glitter as it's probably a lot more expensive so there might be no more glitter in schools once the current supplies run out.

[berliozwooler]

It's a good move. I always thought glitter was just bits of paper.

[MarthaArthur]

This os a stupid question but cant they just use the edible glitter? Thats not plastic and shouldnt harm the environment.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

It is my understanding that there is a synthetic mica that tends to get used by anti child labor companies , is that not correct?

[MarthaArthur]

needs i think its mica the mineral sparkle in make up thats a problem though not banned.

[morningconstitutional2017]

I used to clean in a school and nursery. Bloody hell, the glitter - it took many back and forth pushes of the vacuum cleaner to get rid of the wretched stuff. Weeks and even months later a piece of it would glint at you in the light. Loathed it.

[Turquoise123]

Totally agree - why would I want to harm the planet for the sake of glitter ? Have to say I never really thought about it which was lazy of me .

[GhostsToMonsoon]

I hate glitter - it gets everywhere - kids saw Blue Planet yesterday so now I have another excuse not to buy it.

I wish our school would use reusable cups at lunch and coffee mornings. The amount of waste each day produced is shocking.

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

This os a stupid question but cant they just use the edible glitter? Thats not plastic and shouldnt harm the environment.

@MarthaArthur iirc most edible glitter isn't actually food but plastic, it's labelled as non-toxic as it's not absorbed by your body and passes out the other end...so still ends up in the oceans...

[MarthaArthur]

Wow really?! Im sure the edible cake glitter i once had was sugar pieces dyed with colouring. Thats shocking if they are letting people consume plastic

[Ttbb]

YANBU but it's still sad. What is the point of Christmas crafts without glitter? Maybe they could start using edible glitter instead?

[SimultaneousEquation]

Ttbb “what is the point of Christmas without glitter?”

LMAO. What indeed

[WinnieTheW0rm]

"YANBU but it's still sad. What is the point of Christmas crafts without glitter? Maybe they could start using edible glitter instead?"

They are still using glitter. Just choosing the non-polluting, non-exploitative version.

[SoupDragon]

I have lots of glitter from when the DC were small. Surely whatever I do with it now it ends up in the encpvoronment somehow?

[SoupDragon]

Environment.

Lord knows what autocorrect was up to there.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

I would have thought putting it in your non-recyclable waste Soup would be the best thing to do as it will be contained - landfill sites are sealed to avoid spreading contaminants. Or as in my city, it would be incinerated.

The problem with glitter, even the edible kind, is that which gets into water courses (either by being passed through people undigested or into the water course from water drained after mopping a floor for example) is that it can end up in the sea and I think it chokes filter feeders or something.

But in any case, the fact that plastics have been found at the unimaginable remoteness that is the bottom of very deep oceans and inside the creatures that live there is shocking and frightening. I cried at the scenes of dead sea life tangled in plastic on the Blue Planet on Sunday.

[sanitygirl]

Environmentally friendly glitter can be bought from these folks ecostardust.com/

[berliozwooler]

There are two types of "edible" glitter.

Food contact type for removable decorations - non-toxic but you wouldn't exactly want to eat loads of it.

Proper edible glitter on icing etc which is intended to be eaten.

www.foodheavenmag.com/a-guide-to-edible-glitter-is-it-safe-to-eat-or-not/

I remember someone using the wrong type on Bake Off or something one time!

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

This is truly biodegrable glitter: www.bio-glitter.com/

A lot of 'biodegradable' glitter and almost all glittery makeup is made from mica, which is a main industry of child labour in India:
broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/3k8d5n/glitter-makeup-india-mica-mines-child-labor