Eco-Friendly Glitter: Bio-Glitter

Eco-Friendly Glitter: Bio-Glitter Since prehistoric times, glitter has been made from many different materials including stones such as malachite and mica, as well as insects and glass. Glitter uses include clothing, art, crafts, cosmetics and body paint.

Coloured Glitter Effects

Glitter effects can be grouped into 3 main categories: metallic, colour-shifting and holographic. Each uses different types of light physics in their formation. [caption id="attachment_153592" align="aligncenter"] 1. Metallic Effect Glitter – 'Specular/Perpendicular Reflection'[/caption] Metallic effect glitter comes in colours such as silver, gold, red, green, blue and is created by reflecting light. Each particle acts like a small mirror reflecting light. The glitter structure contains an extremely thin aluminium layer 2,500 times thinner than human hair. The sole purpose of this layer is to reflect light. To produce coloured metallic effects, a transparent coloured coating is applied to both sides of the glitter particle. Metallic glitter is opaque, meaning the aluminium layer reflects light and hides everything beneath the glitter.     BioglitterTM Sparkle products are metallic effect glitter and are visually indistinguishable from metallic effect plastic glitter. [caption id="attachment_153594" align="aligncenter"] 2. Colour-Shifting Effect Glitter – 'Refraction & Reflection'[/caption] Colour-shifting glitter exhibits effects where the colour is only visible when viewed from a specific angle. This effect is known as a colour-travel effect where the observed colour changes depending on the angle at which the glitter is viewed. To achieve this effect, it manipulates light through refraction and reflection. In colour-shifting glitter, light is refracted and returns upon itself. It is created by micro-layering more than a hundred alternative layers from two different plastic types with complementary refractive indices. The micro-layer film is created using advanced technology plastic extrusion techniques from two colourless synthetic plastic polymers. Unlike metallic and holographic glitter which have a reflective aluminium layer and are opaque, it is transparent. Refractive index is a value given in relation to a material's ability to bend light as it enters. Reflection is the effect seen when light is bent as it passes from one medium to another – for example from air to water. These types of plastic glitter contain no pigment or aluminium layer and are completely transparent. The intensity of the colour-shifting effect is increased by using these types of glitter on a dark or black background. [caption id="attachment_153595" align="aligncenter"] Plastic Colour-Shifting Effect Glitter Structure[/caption] BioglitterTM PURE products are recreated colour-shifting effect glitter from colour-shifting effect plastic glitter. Due to the physical properties and chemistry of the natural and plant-derived raw materials used in Bioglitter, it is not possible to recreate the structure of a plastic colour-shifting effect glitter using natural-derived raw materials. For this reason, a completely different approach was adopted and the effect was recreated in a new way. Bioglitter PURE is a new type of glitter unique to its manufacturer. Like plastic colour-shifting glitter, it contains no aluminium. Being transparent and with colour effect becoming stronger against a dark background, they work the same way as plastic colour-shifting glitter. However, because the structure of BioglitterTM PURE is completely different, it displays a completely new and striking appearance unique to itself. The BioglitterTM PURE product family consists of three colour ranges that increase effect intensity. The first generation, launched in 2019, is an interesting "Natural" colour range. In 2020, the striking "Opal" colour range was launched and these glitters created a pearlescent or colour-shifting effect. Also in 2020, the "Vibrant/Bright" colour range was introduced, which is a strong, aluminium-free metallic effect glitter with an almost opaque appearance. Because they contain no aluminium, they offer the additional benefit of providing extra resistance in water-based applications containing acid, alkali or high levels of lubricant. The aluminium layer in metallic or holographic effect glitter is attacked in these environments and loses its reflective properties. Examples of such environments include soaps and detergents. Without the ability to create a micro-layer structure, recreating colour-shifting intensity is a challenging task. However, with further development, it is planned to present next-generation BioglitterTM PURE that comes even closer to the effects achieved with plastic colour-shifting glitter.   Holographic effect glitter displays a spectacular rainbow effect created by light being split into its separate component parts. Each glitter particle serves as a small prism splitting light. The structure of a holographic glitter is similar to metallic glitter in that it has a very thin aluminium layer to reflect light, with the addition of a microscopic structural pattern to refract light. These products are excellent at creating a dazzling, eye-catching kaleidoscope in dazzling colour in direct undiffused light such as direct sunlight or LED lights. Holographic glitter is opaque because, like metallic glitter, it contains an aluminium layer 2,500 times thinner than human hair, and scatters and reflects the light falling on it. BioglitterTM HOLO products are holographic effect glitter that are visually indistinguishable from plastic holographic effect glitter.

Why is Bioglitter Necessary?

• The world faces a major problem with plastic pollution and glitter, while only a small part of it, is a contributing factor. "Plastic" glitter, classified as microplastic, takes hundreds of years to decompose in natural environments. • Due to its small size and use in a wide variety of single-use applications (cosmetics, cards, clothing, crafts, etc.), it is unlikely that a compost and recycling facility will be the final destination for glitter. • Glitter can enter bath water and wastewater from activities such as washing art materials or laundry, and after water treatment these wastes can enter lakes and rivers. After entering the natural environment, plastic glitter, like other microplastics, can cause physical harm to small organisms and eventually enter the food chain. • Glitter cannot become organic compost, so sending glitter to recycling facilities does not solve the problem. What needs to be done is the removal of the polymeric material in plastic glitter that does not rapidly and safely biodegrade in natural freshwater environments. • Being the first example of the Bioglitter type, it sets the standard in eco-friendly glitter. It is designed to rapidly and safely biodegrade in natural freshwater environments. Ronald Britton uses TÜV certification for 'biodegradable in water'. Bioglitter: The World's Only Certified Freshwater Biodegradable Glitter Brand Bioglitter uses sustainable and ethically sourced natural and plant-derived materials instead of plastic as its foundation. All Bioglitter products have been proven to biodegrade through independent ISO 14851 and ISO 14852 freshwater testing of both core and coating. • TÜV Austria's freshwater certification is the ultimate goal for all Bioglitter products. • Certification eliminates confusing messages and low-quality product claims. • Certification is recognised as the best level of its kind in the world. • Ronald Britton's TÜV Certification/Serial Number is S0933 and can be easily verified on the TÜV Austria website. Author Stephen Cotton Commercial Director Ronald Britton Ltd. Translation and Compilation Zeynep Semiz Commercial Manager Color & More Translation and Compilation Züleyha Dursun Internal Sales Specialist Color & More