VANCOUVER – Environmental non-profit Ocean Wise has detailed the findings of a new study into textile microfibre emissions, which suggests a combination of solutions at home, at the manufacturing stage and during design could drastically reduce the extent of pollution.
The Canadian organisation found washing machine lint traps to be up to 90 per cent effective in capturing polyester microfibres, and advises both manufacturers and consumers to adopt these tools, particularly for an item’s first wash when the most microfibres shed.
“What this study clearly demonstrates is that clothing brands and manufacturers have a unique opportunity to incorporate these findings into designing for more ocean-friendly products. But it is not just the brands, there are steps we can take today to stop the leak of microfibres from home laundry,” said Laura Hardman, Ocean Wise’s director for plastics.
