Make Eco-Friendly Glitter
At EcoSplat we like to discover eco friendly alternatives to toys and crafts - because fun shouldn't be separate from sustainability! Today we will show you how to make eco-friendly glitter from salt.
Traditional glitter is made of plastic and aluminium bonded with polyethylene terephtalate (PET) and ends up everywhere! Including sticking to your hands and in your hair so the only solution is to wash it directly down the drain where it ends up in the ocean as yet another microplastic.
The realisation that glitter is a problem is starting to become more widespread. In 2019 British supermarket chain M&S banned glitter from Christmas cards, wrapping paper, calendars and crackers.
But we don't want to be the fun police so here is an easy way to make 'glitter' from salt. It's not quite as sparkly as the glitter you're used to, but baking the salt does make it shiny and it won't end up in the sea as micro-plastics.
At EcoSplat we are aware that in some cultures using food items for play is not acceptable. If you want to use this recipe in a ECE or other group environment, we recommend talking with your community first.
Making Eco-friendly Glitter from Salt
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
- Mix salt with food colouring until you get the colour you like.
- Spread onto a baking tray.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes.
- Cool.
- Put in a shaker
- Make your art!
There are heaps of other ways to decorate artwork. Why not try:
The little circles from your holepunch
Akeake or flax seeds
Pine needles
Dried leaves
Coloured rice
References
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/93977089/glitter-just-as-bad-as-microbeads-experts-say
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/30/ms-bans-glitter-from-christmas-cards