Most self-conscious consumers will recognise the word ‘polyester’ onto the tags of their clothing. Yet, does the most of our population understand how microfibers from fast fashion garments can end up in the ocean, through the fish we eat, into our food chain? We don’t think so.
Microfibers are types of microplastics, which are particles of plastic below 5mm in size.
Because of the cheap price and easy production of polyester clothes, they make up 60% of all the clothes in the market. 64% of all clothes are created through other plastics as well, such as nylon, acrylic, and polyamide.
No one can escape plastic clothing. In fact, one washing load of clothes could be shedding up to 17 million plastic fibers.
“They’re going down the drain, so they are making their way into the sewage treatment works and maybe, from there, into the marine environment,” says Imogen Napper, a marine biologist from the University of Plymouth, who concluded a study in 2016 which investigates the effects of microfibers “When we sample, we find plastic fibres less than the width of a human hair – in fish, in deep sea sediments, as well as [floating] at the surface.”
The way that microfibers end up on our plates is when plankton eat the microscopic plastics, eaten by fish, eaten by us.
Fortunately enough, one person could make sure no microfibers are released into the ocean from their washing load, by doing things such as:
Using a Cora Ball – Once released into your washing machine with your clothes, it will catch most of the microfiber threads shedding amidst the washing process – £29.94
Using a GuppyFriend washing bag – Guaranteed 100% catch of all the microfibers from falling down the drains inside the washing machine, by putting your clothes inside the bag – £24.95
Installing a washing machine lint filter – If not bothered to do steps required in the methods above, pay a little bit more for a built-in filter inside the washing machine – £100 – £200
Buying woolen clothes/abstaining from fast fashion – A wise decision, which can not only effectively stop microfiber pollution, but it’s also making a grant fashion favour for yourself!
Along with other solutions, such as washing at lower temperatures and reducing spin speeds, the war against microfibers has just begun; our world is still dominated by plastic. As a society, we should choose wisely what we consume, because we may be unaware of the tiny threats to humanity that happen inside our washing machines.
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