On October 21, 2025, a bill was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives (HB 4175) that would prohibit the sale of personal care products containing “nonbiodegradable plastic glitter” after December 31, 2029.
The bill defines “nonbiodegradable plastic glitter” as “a decorative material, consisting of reflective particles of one or more colors that are less than 2 millimeters in size, made of nonbiodegradable plastic, precision-cut into various shapes and sizes, and introduced into products to create a shimmering effect by reflecting light.”
This follows California’s broader attempt to expand its restrictions on microplastics in consumer products. Specifically, AB 823 would have prohibited the sale of the following products beginning January 1, 2029:
- Personal care products containing plastic microbeads that are used as an abrasive to clean, exfoliate, or polish, in a non-rinse-off product.
- Cleaning products containing plastic microbeads that are used as an abrasive to clean, exfoliate, or polish.
- Personal care products containing plastic glitter.
Governor Newsom vetoed AB 823 on October 11, 2025, explaining that he is “not supportive of the approach this bill takes to ban specific ingredients, such as glitter, which may incidentally result in a prohibition on biodegradable or natural alternatives.” Of note, Illinois’s HB 4175 appears to address this concern by specifying that it applies only to nonbiodegradable plastic glitter.
While several states, including Illinois, have passed legislation banning synthetic plastic microbeads in “rinse-off” products, these laws are preempted by the federal Microbead-Free Water Act (21 U.S.C. § 331(ddd)) to the extent their restrictions on rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads differ from the federal standard. Notably, the federal preemption reaches only rinse-off cosmetics, leaving states with a pathway to regulate microplastics in other product categories, including glitter and leave-on products.
As concerns surrounding microplastics in consumer products grow and the science surrounding potential ecological and human health effects continues to evolve, we’ll likely see more states propose legislation or regulations to restrict microplastics in other consumer products. For example, California continues to move forward with potentially designating certain products that may contain or generate microplastics as Priority Products under its Safer Consumer Products regulatory framework.
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