Guide to Biodegradable Glitter: Eco-Friendly Trends, Authenticity Verification, Industry Benchmark——Bioglitter®

In relevant EU documents, microplastics are defined as synthetic polymers measuring less than 5 millimeters in size that are organic, insoluble in water, and resistant to degradation.

Currently, microplastics have been detected in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Due to their non-biodegradable nature, they can enter the human body through the food chain. In fact, studies have already found the presence of microplastics in human blood, lungs, and brain.
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Regarding biodegradable glitter, a crucial point to understand is that “Biodegradable” does not equal “Degradable in natural environments.”

Take PLA (polylactic acid) as an example: its degradation rate depends on three factors—high temperature, high humidity, and microbial activity. In industrial composting conditions, PLA degrades relatively quickly. However, in natural environments such as oceans, forests, or lakes, its degradation rate is extremely slow, and its impact can be indistinguishable from that of conventional plastics.

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For glitter made from such materials, if it enters the natural environment after use but cannot degrade safely and effectively, it does not represent true environmental friendliness.

Under the influence of factors such as degradation time, degradation environment, and degradation rate, the concept of “biodegradable” has become a complex and specialized subject. Some manufacturers may intentionally or unintentionally exploit consumers’ lack of knowledge in this area to promote their products with misleading claims.

Therefore, for biodegradable glitter, one of the core attributes should be its degradation performance in natural environments—especially in freshwater, soil, and seawater scenarios.

It is precisely on this point that the EU’s Microplastics Restriction provides five sets of testing methods simulating different natural environments (freshwater, sludge, soil, sewage, and seawater). Glitter that passes any one of these tests can obtain biodegradable certification.

For consumers or brands seeking to purchase eco-friendly biodegradable glitter, verifying the product’s certifications is a convenient method of assessment. Relevant certifications include:
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• Compliance with the EU Microplastics Regulation (allowing production and sale in the EU market)

• TÜV Austria OK Biodegradable WATER (biodegradable in freshwater environments)

• TÜV Austria OK Compost INDUSTRIAL (biodegradable in industrial composting environments)

• EN 13432 (biodegradable in industrial composting environments)

The World’s Leading Naturally Biodegradable Glitter Brand – Bioglitter®

Although the concept of biodegradable glitter has only gained popularity in recent years, Germany’s SiLi GmbH began researching biodegradable glitter as early as 2010, subsequently launching the biodegradable glitter brand Bioglitter®.

Bioglitter® offers the following features:

The brand’s PURE series received TÜV Austria’s “OK biodegradable WATER” certification in 2019, making it the first glitter product capable of degrading in freshwater environments.

It has passed testing under ISO 14851, ISO 14852, and OECD 301 standards and complies with the EU Microplastics Regulation, permitting its sale in the EU market.

Made from plant-based ingredients and manufactured using proprietary patented technology, it consists of up to 99% biodegradable content.

At the same time, SiLi is not content with solely biodegradable properties. Building on this foundation, the company has developed three distinct product lines tailored to different needs in cosmetic and makeup applications:

All three series are biodegradable glitter and share additional characteristics such as low heavy metal content (antimony ≤ 0.5 ppm), absence of allergens, and compliance with cosmetic standards in multiple countries. For different product formulations—water-based, oil-based, or anhydrous—Bioglitter® offers various series to ensure stability during use and storage.

Bioglitter®