Synthetic microfiber pollution is an emerging problem that has gained much attention lately. We know that plastic from our takeout meal or water bottle can end up in our waterways. But what about our plastic clothes? Synthetic clothing is everywhere these days. Almost everyone has at least one synthetic garment in their closet and many of us would probably even have hundreds! Synthetic fibers are great for yoga pants, polar fleece sweaters, and your favorite swimsuit. However, synthetic clothing has one huge issue: water pollution.
Environmental Impact
A huge source of water pollution is synthetic microfibers from our clothing. Even though some fleece is made from recycled materials (such as plastic bottles) it creates a massive waste problem after each trip to the laundry. During washing, the fabric is agitated and tiny synthetic fibers are released into the water. Water treatment plants are able to filter some waste but often cannot handle millions of miniscule plastic fibers. The water then enters the environment where it moves through the food chain and can even affect humans. The plastic presents a particularly difficult problem for aquatic life since it cannot biodegrade.
Removing the fibers from hundreds of bodies of water is difficult at best and nearly impossible at worst. It is best to act before the fibers ever make it to our oceans, lakes, and streams. We need our water treatment centers to modify their filtering processes and for washing machines to adopt new filtration systems. More than anything, we have the power to act individually right now.
What can you do?
Avoid Plastic and Buy Natural
First and foremost, avoid buying clothes that are made from any plastic material. I check the label on clothes while I shop to make sure they are made with 100% natural fibers. Avoid polyester, acrylic, nylon, and spandex (or lycra).
Fibers from linen, cotton, hemp, and wool clothing are still washed away in the laundry but they biodegrade naturally. These materials are also comfortable to wear and, in my experience, last much longer than polyester clothing.
Since I buy most of my clothing secondhand, I make sure to buy well-made natural-fiber clothing when shopping at thrift and consignment stores.
There are also places online where you can get new natural and eco-friendly clothing. In fact, I recently bought a pair of organic cotton fleece (instead of polyester fleece) long johns from an online retailer. My cotton fleece pants completely replace my plastic-based sweatpants (and yes, I will be wearing them all winter long!).
Does that mean you have to get rid of all of your plastic-based clothing?
Nope! I do still own synthetic clothing – it’s difficult to get undergarments, swimwear, and exercise clothes without it. Luckily, there are solutions!
A German company developed a laundry bag (called the Guppy Friend) that holds clothes during the wash so that synthetic fibers are not released into the water. Your fleece jacket and polyester pants go into the bag and are washed as usual. When it is done, the clothes can be dried and the remaining fibers in the bag can be removed and put in the garbage (since dryer lint is not compostable). The bag is currently only available on the Patagonia website.
Buying well-made clothing can also reduce microfiber pollution. Outrageously cheap (and practically disposable) clothing sheds the most microfibers since it is not made to last.
A top loading washer also results in higher microfiber shedding. If you are in the market to get a new washing machine, choose a front loading washer!
If you are handy or know a good plumber, another option is to install after-market filters to your laundry plumbing to catch fibers. One of the filters suggested is available here.
As more consumers become aware of the issue of microfibers in our water, we need to demand that the industries responsible help develop solutions for mitigation.
Plastic fibers in waterways are currently, nearly impossible to clean up. Synthetic microfibers are a problem that will continue to be pervasive in our environment. We will have to deal with the consequences for generations to come. Help stop microfiber pollution by making these changes yourself and educating other individuals, organizations, and governments.
