Ingredient deep-dive

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT): Is It a Microplastic?

High concernMicroplastic polymer

Solid polyester plastic, PET’s close cousin, used with PET to make cosmetic glitter and shimmer particles.

Where it appears

Cosmetic glitter
Shimmer eyeshadow and highlighter
Festival and body glitter
Nail art

Regulatory status (2026)

European Union

Glitter and shimmer applications restricted under EU 2023/2055 with phased compliance through 2027.

United States

No federal restriction; some state-level glitter bans.

Cleaner alternatives

Cellulose bio-glitter
Mica + iron-oxide shimmer

Use the app

Scan any product for Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) in 5 seconds

The MicroPlastics iOS app flags this ingredient and 24 others instantly. Paste a label into the free web ingredient checker first if you want a no-install scan.

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Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), common questions

Is Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) a microplastic?

Yes. Solid polyester plastic, PET’s close cousin, used with PET to make cosmetic glitter and shimmer particles.

Is Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) banned?

EU: Glitter and shimmer applications restricted under EU 2023/2055 with phased compliance through 2027. US: No federal restriction; some state-level glitter bans.

What can I use instead of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)?

Cleaner alternatives include: Cellulose bio-glitter; Mica + iron-oxide shimmer.

What products contain Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)?

Commonly found in: Cosmetic glitter; Shimmer eyeshadow and highlighter; Festival and body glitter; Nail art.