How Sequins Contribute to Plastic Pollution

While sequins may seem aesthetically appealing, they are hazardous to the environment and contribute to the pressing issue of plastic pollution. According to BBC News, these materials consist of plastic with a metallic and reflective coating.

Jane Patton, the campaign manager for petrochemicals and plastics in the Center for International Environmental Law, notes how sequins easily and consistently fall off. This is especially so if the materials are attached to clothes from discount or fast-fashion retailers. These sequins come off when hugging, entering, or alighting from a car or while walking.

Sequins have a similar problem to glitter. Both materials comprise plastic that has a similar coating. They will stay in the environment for decades or centuries when they flow down the drainage. MSN notes how they may become even smaller as time passes.

Sequins: an Environmental Hazard

Because such items are primarily synthetic and contain toxic chemicals, they potentially bring danger wherever they end up in the environment. Jane Patton notes how dealing with microplastics is a continuing and pervasive concern. Because of their minute size and easy movement, they can hardly be cleaned up or contained.

Moreover, while sequins are usually a festive design, several individuals who purchase sequin-covered clothes hardly wear these items for a second time. BBC Notes how 5% mentioned that they would throw their clothes into the bin after wearing them. When such sequins hit the landfill, they stay there indefinitely. BBC also notes how liquid wastes that move out of the fill sites also have microplastics.

BBC notes how a team of researchers mentioned that landfills aren't where plastics finally settle. Rather than that, these fills are probable microplastic sources.

Other than this, even the creation of sequins leads to wastage. These materials get punched out of sheets of plastic. The remnants of the sheets get thrown away. Years back, certain companies used to burn waste within incinerators. This led to the production of toxic smoke. When authorities knew of this, they stopped the companies from doing it.

On top of the actual material used to make sequins, the synthetic materials they get attached to are another concerning issue. Canada Today reports that around 60% of clothing material comprises plastic, including acrylic or polyester. Moreover, when clothes get washed, small microfibers of plastic get shed into the water and, later on, into the food chain.

Biodegradable Sequins

With the pressing plastic issues, companies have started developing biodegradable sequins. However, these eco-friendly counterparts have started hitting the market. However, these items are not yet produced on a mass scale.

Check out more news and information on Plastic Pollution in Science Times.