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A greener glitter and respinning NMR tunes
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This news article discusses the development of a bio-inspired, plastic-free glitter made from cellulose nanocrystals at the University of Cambridge. Unlike conventional glitter made from PET plastic, the new material produces color through light interference rather than dyes and is biodegradable.
All that glitters isn’t microplastic Glitter is sparkly, fun, and the scourge of the earth—ask anyone who’s ever cleaned up after a crafting party for 6-year-olds. But because most glitter is made from the plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), it can be a scourge to the environment, too. “You don’t necessarily want single-use plastic and microplastic particles in the environment,” says Benjamin Droguet , a graduate student studying bioinspired photonics at the University of Cambridge. In addition to the plastic pollution, traditional glitter can also have traces of heavy metals and polymer initiators left over from the synthesis process. Glitter also can’t be recycled, so what’s someone who’s ecoconscious but also fabulous to do? Enter biodegradable glitter. Led by materials chemist Silvia Vignolini , Droguet and coworkers figured out how to make biodegradable glitter in 1/3 m 2 sheets using nanocrystalline cellulose ( Nat. Mater. 2021, DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-01135-8 ). Cellulose nanocrystals
More Papers Like This
All that glitters is litter? Ecological impacts of conventional versus biodegradable glitter in a freshwater habitat.
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A mesocosm experiment compared the effects of conventional PET glitter versus biodegradable alternatives (including modified cellulose and mica) on freshwater ecosystems, finding no significant effect on biodiversity but a reduction in algae photosynthesis from conventional glitter. The results suggest biodegradable glitter alternatives may be less harmful, though the effects of both types at higher concentrations or over longer periods remain unclear.
Large-scale fabrication of structurally coloured cellulose nanocrystal films and effect pigments
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Researchers used roll-to-roll deposition to produce large-area photonic films from cellulose nanocrystals — renewable, plant-based particles that self-assemble into structurally colored materials — demonstrating that the resulting effect pigments and glitters offer a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative to conventional microplastic-based glitters.
Tiny, shiny, and colorful microplastics: Are regular glitters a significant source of microplastics?
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Researchers examined whether conventional glitter products made from polyethylene terephthalate represent a significant source of microplastic pollution, finding that their widespread use in cosmetics, crafts, and textiles makes them a notable but underexamined contributor to environmental microplastic contamination.
Taking the sparkle off the sparkling time
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This review examines glitter—tiny metallic-coated plastic particles used in cosmetics, crafts, and food decoration—as a largely overlooked source of microplastic pollution. Glitter particles are difficult to filter from wastewater and persist in aquatic environments, posing ecological risks similar to other microplastics.
Is this your glitter? An overlooked but potentially environmentally-valuable microplastic
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Glitter—a type of microplastic made of thin metallic plastic films—has been largely overlooked in microplastic research despite its widespread use in cosmetics, crafts, and decorations. This paper argues glitter deserves more study as an environmental pollutant and potentially as a tool for tracking pollution sources.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.