Page 51 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

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

REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019 50