LEEDS – New scientific research confirms that cooler, quicker home launderings could drastically mitigate the emission of textile microfibres into the environment.
Academics at the University of Leeds teamed up with Procter & Gamble (P&G), which funded the study, to assess the impact both temperature and cycle time had on the volume of microfibres shed and the release of dyes into wastewater.
A laundering at 20°C sustained for 30 minutes was found to reduce microfibre shedding by more than 50 per cent comparative to one held for 85 minutes at 40°C.
“This is a simple way everyone can make their clothes last longer and keep them out of landfill,” said Lucy Cotton, from the University of Leeds’ School of Design.
