Fast track: addressing the problem of microfibre pollution in waste water, waterways and the oceans

Fast track: addressing the problem of microfibre pollution in waste water, waterways and the oceans

The problem of pollution from microplastics is an urgent concern. Among the biggest causes of microplastics pollution are fibre fragmentation during the manufacture and processing of textiles and apparel, and fibre shedding during domestic laundering. To address the problem, some companies are developing technologies which help to slow down or eliminate fibre shedding while others are developing methods of testing fabrics for fibre shedding and measuring how fibre shedding varies with different types of fibres, yarns, fabric constructions and finishes. Meanwhile, researchers are developing methods to filter microfibres shed during domestic laundering and reduce the amounts of microfibres shed during domestic laundering. In this report, Robin Anson analyses some of the solutions developed in order to address the problem of microfibre pollution by brands and organisations, including Nilit, Polartec, The Microfibre Consortium (TMC), Under Armour and the ZDHC Foundation. Also, he examines a testing method developed by researchers at the University of Leeds which enables them to compare the amounts of microfibres released from different fabrics under different washing conditions in the laboratory, and a method developed by researchers at the University of Toronto which enables them to reduce the amounts of microfibres shed by synthetic fabrics during the laundry cycle.