ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP): Researchers from the University of Cambridge have created sustainable, non-toxic, vegan and biodegradable glitter that still have all the fun of the original and the added benefit of hues that won’t fade.
According to a research published in Nature Materials, the eco-friendly sparkles are made from cellulose nanocrystals, which can bend light in such a way to create vivid colors through a process called structural color. The same phenomenon produces some of the brightest colors in nature such as those of butterfly wings and peacock feathers and results in hues which do not fade, even after a century.
Glitter is widely used in schools, arts and crafts, and cosmetics. But beyond its general annoyance factor, it’s also made of toxic and unsustainable materials, and contributes to plastic pollution. The vegan glitter is as sparkly as regular glitter and due to its natural plant-based origins can be used to jazz up food and drink.
Senior author, Professor Silvia Vignolini, from Cambridge University’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry said: “Conventional pigments, like your everyday glitter, are not produced sustainably.”
“They get into the soil, the ocean and contribute to an overall level of pollution.” Professor Vignolini added.
For many years, Vignolini’s research group has been extracting cellulose from wood pulp and transforming it into shiny, colorful materials, which could be used to replace toxic pigments in numerous consumer products, such as paints and cosmetics.
The films of cellulose nanocrystals prepared by the team can be made at scale using roll-to-roll processes like those used to make paper from wood pulp. This is the first time these materials have been fabricated at industrial scale.
After producing the large-scale cellulose films, the researchers ground them into glitter size particles. According to the study, the process is far less energy-intensive than conventional methods.
“Consumers are starting to realize that while glitters are fun, they also have real environmental harms.” said Vignolini adding that “We believe this product could revolutionize the cosmetics industry by providing a fully sustainable, biodegradable and vegan pigment and glitter,”
“It will be just as annoying but it won’t harm the planet and is safe for your little ones.” she informed
Although optimization of the process is still needed, the researchers said they hope to make the product commercially available in the future.