Glitter, perhaps the most popular fashion accessory in dance music, is not so hot for the environment. Which is exactly why 60+ UK music festivals have vowed to ban glitter from their events.
This comes as part of an even bigger movement. The UK has announced a ban all plastic straws, q-tips, and other single-use plastics from the country. Period. This is a huge step toward the country’s goal of eliminating avoidable plastic waste. The 35 Year Environmental plan hopes to clean up England’s rivers, beaches, and oceans.
Glitter might look cute on you, but not on the ground. It doesn’t break down, so it can end up being ingested by wildlife or livestock. From your shower, straight into rivers and oceans, glitter has an especially negative affect on marine life.
Common, plastic glitter as we know it has been banned, but there’s already a perfect solution. Biodegradable glitter is just as affordable and becoming more readily available so you can rock a guilt-free glitter look anywhere you go. It looks so good, it might be difficult for festivals to tell the difference. Make sure your packaging says “biodegradable” and lists the ingredients.
The #DrasticOnPlastic pledge, signed by over 60 independent music festivals, requires events to be free of single-use plastics by 2021. The list includes popular fests such as Boomtown and Shambala (not to be confused with Shambhala in British Columbia, which also asks that you don’t wash of your glitter in the river).
Below, you’ll find a full list of the music festivals taking a stand against glitter.
UK Music Festival Glitter Ban
2000trees
Ampthill Festival
ArcTanGent
Barn on the Farm
Beat-Herder Festival
Belladrum Tartan Heart
Bestival
Bloodstock Open Air
Bluedot Festival
Boardmasters
Boomtown Fair
Burning Lantern Festival
Camp Bestival
Chase Park Festival
Common People
Deer Shed Festival
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
El Dorado
Elderflower Fields
Electric Fields
End Of The Road Festival
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention
Festival No.6
Festival of Voice
Field Day
Fire in the Mountain – Tan yn y Mynydd
Garage Nation Outdoor Festival
Green Gathering
Greenbelt Festival
Handmade Festival
Hanwell Hootie Music Festival
Hebridean Celtic Festival
Just So Festival
Kendal Calling
Kew The Music
Larmer Tree Festival
London Remixed Festival
Long Division
Lost Village
Magical
Meltdown Festival
Mint Street Music Festival
Nozstock The Hidden Valley
Oxjam Music Festival
Oxted Beer and Music Festival
Pangaea Festival
Pete the Monkey Festival
Rewind Festival
Shambala Festival
Standon Calling
Starry Skies
Strawberries & Creem Festival
Sunflowerfest
SWN Festival
The Secret Garden Party
The Vicar’s Picnic
Tramlines
Truck Festival
Twisterella Festival
Underneath the Stars festival
Victorious Festival
Village Green
Y-Not Festival
Read more: Why Ravers Should Think Twice About Wearing Glitter
Sources: Forbes, The Festivals (UK) | Photo via aLIVE Coverage
