Where do Plastic Fibres come From?
Every time we do our laundry 9 million microfibres get released into water systems and wastewater treatment plants can’t remove them. Because of that these fibres end up on the ocean and enters the food chain as animals digest them. That’s why we have Plastic Fibres from Clothes in the Ocean. Plastic that ends up in the environment does not biodegrade it fractures into smaller pieces which are smaller than 5mm! These are not usually visible to the naked eye.
How Big is the Plastic Fibre Problem?
Plastic particles made by washing synthetic clothes contribute up to 35% of the plastic that’s creates pollution: Plastic Fibres from Clothes in Ocean. Recent research shows that we are eating and drinking plastic. We breathe in plastic from our carpets, curtains and other textiles. Once in the ocean they are ingested by sea creatures like plankton, who mistake them for food. Then larger fish eat them and they go up the food chain until we’re eating them for dinner. A quarter of the seafood we consume contains plastic.
But what can you do?
- Hand wash where there’s an option.
- Use a shorter wash and lower temperature .
- Wash similar textures together.
- Try to wash less often (odours can be removed by hanging clothes in the sun.)
- Do full washes.
- Use liquid detergent instead of powder detergents.
- Make sure you throw out your lint filters in the bin instead of down the sink.
- Older synthetics shed more than newer ones.
- Use natural clothing such as cotton, linen and wool.
- Buy second hand clothes.
- Buy less clothes.
- If you buy synthetics get tightly woven ones.
- Use a washing bag, this helps catch microfibres.
So you see, there are plenty of eco friendly ways to change how you wash your clothes, I would personally recommend getting a washing bag, using lower, quicker washes and getting second hand clothes, you never know what you’ll find in charity shops!
Written by “O” aged 14