How Eco Glitter Actually Breaks Down

Glitter has always felt a little bit magical.

The way it catches light. The way it lingers on your collarbone days after a party.

But for years, that magic came with a price, one you couldn’t see.

Plastic glitter doesn’t break down. It just… stays.

In oceans. In soil. In fish.

And in us.

So when we created Projekt Glitter, we knew we had to do things differently.

That meant finding glitter that looks beautiful, and disappears when it’s done.

So, how does biodegradable glitter actually break down?

Our glitter is made from regenerated cellulose film (RCF), derived from sustainably farmed eucalyptus trees. Cellulose is the structural component of plant cell walls — it’s abundant, non-toxic, and biodegradable under natural conditions.

The glitter film is coated with cosmetic-grade mineral pigments to give it that shimmer.

It contains:

• No PET or PLA
• No aluminum (common in traditional glitter)
• No synthetic binders or shellacs that inhibit degradation

The science of breakdown

Biodegradation is the biological conversion of organic materials by microorganisms into:

• CO₂ (carbon dioxide)
• H₂O (water)
• Biomass (aka soil nutrients)

In the case of cellulose glitter:

1. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes produce extracellular enzymes (like cellulases) that cleave the β‑1,4‑glycosidic bonds in cellulose.

2. This breaks the polymer chain into oligosaccharides, which are further hydrolyzed into glucose.

3. Microbes then metabolize the glucose through aerobic respiration, releasing CO₂ and water as end-products.

If that sounds too sciency, here’s the short version:

1. Microbes eat the glitter.
2. They digest it into nothing but CO₂, water, and organic residue.
3. No plastic fragments. No toxic residue.

How long does it take?

It depends.

• Soil: Fastest breakdown. Microbial density is high, especially in compost or topsoil.

• Freshwater: Slower, but still active. That’s why the TÜV certification matters — it confirms degradation in natural freshwater environments (where most plastic glitter ends up).

• Seawater: Still effective, but more gradual due to salt content and different microbial activity.

• Dry indoor conditions: Very slow. Like, don’t wait for it to disappear on your carpet.

Under ideal conditions (moist, warm, microbe-rich), glitter starts to break down in a few weeks to a few months.

Which certifications matter

We use glitter that is:

• TÜV OK biodegradable WATER certified
• EN13432 compliant (EU standard for compostability)
• Cosmetic-grade, dermatologically tested

These verify that the product:

• Breaks down fully in natural environments (not just industrial setups)
• Leaves no microplastic or eco-toxic residue
• Is safe for direct skin contact

So, does this solve the plastic crisis?

No. Let’s not pretend it does. But it's a better option. It's a refusal to keep doing things the lazy, harmful way just because we can.

There’s this idea that glitter is frivolous. And yeah, sometimes it is.

But the systems we build around joy, how we celebrate, what we consume, what we leave behind, those aren’t frivolous at all.

They say everything about what kind of future we’re creating.

So no, biodegradable glitter isn’t going to save the planet.

But it’s a start. 

Want to sparkle with science on your side?

Shop our certified biodegradable glitter here