Page 50 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019
P. 50

Plastic-free glitter created in Rochdale




          The world’s first plastic-free glitter has been created by a   the best part of a decade.  Our first step on the Bioglitter
          Rochdale-based glitter manufacturer.                 journey was the launch of our original Bioglitter product
                                                               back in 2014, now known as Cosmetic Bioglitter Sparkle.
          Ronald Britton, on Regent Street, officially launched
          Bioglitter in early April – the world’s first plastic-free   “Pure takes that one step further and offers the market a
          sparkles to tackle the issue of microplastic pollution.  new glitter effect that is completely plastic free.”

          Based on plant materials, Bioglitter Pure is the first   In addition to its eco-credentials, Bioglitter Pure  has
          glitter to be verified as ‘microplastic free’ by the EU,   recently won two industry awards, including a gold
          following the company’s previous low-plastic         award for innovation at ‘in-cosmetics global’ in 2018 and
          product, Sparkle.                                    this year the ‘Green and Sustainable’ award at one of
                                                               Asia’s most prestigious personal care trade shows, PCHi.
          Traditional glitter is created from plastic, and used in
          a range of applications from cosmetics to clothing to   It is completely durable as a glitter in product, but once it
          crafts. A microplastic as it measures under 5mm, glitter   enters the natural environment, microbes will digest the
          can take hundreds of years to degrade which has led to   glitter turning it into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
          calls from campaigners to ban the material.
                                                               The product passes all current microbead and
          Bioglitter aims to change that as Pure is made from a   microplastic legislation and is certified biodegradable
          special regenerated cellulose sourced mainly from    in natural freshwater environments, boasting the OK
          Eucalyptus and is aluminium-free and extremely low in   Biodegradable WATER Certification from TÜV,
          heavy metals.                                        meaning it is guaranteed to biodegrade in a natural,
                                                               freshwater environment.
          Ronald Britton is now in talks with some of the UK’s
          biggest retailers and international cosmetic brands to   Stephen added: “It is no exaggeration to say this is a huge
          replace plastic glitter with the new Bioglitter product.   change for the industry, setting a new microplastic-free
                                                               glitter standard.  It truly is a ‘guilt-free glitter’, designed
          Stephen Cotton, commercial director of Ronald Britton   to offer consumers the sparkles they love, but not at a
          said: “Cosmetic Bioglitter Pure is completely unique in   cost to the environment.”
          the market; it is the first glitter of its kind in the world to
          use natural materials and no plastic.                The company is also working alongside cosmetic and
                                                               retail brands to include Bioglitter in their products,
          “The issue of plastic waste and microplastics is some-  featuring a Bioglitter logo on consumer packaging.
          thing we’ve been working towards tackling in glitter for

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