As per a University of California study, on an average synthetic fleece jackets release 1.7 grams of microfibers with each wash. Older jackets shed almost twice as many fibers as new one. Millions of tons of these microfibers contaminate marine and environment every year. The main source of these microfibers is synthetic clothing followed by city dust and erosion of vehicle tyres, says a Vogue Business report. The International Union for Conversation of Nature estimates synthetic clothes account for 60 per cent of global apparel industry’s annual fiber consumption and 35 per cent of microplastics in the ocean. Ellen MacArthur Foundation also believes, clothing care contributes half a million tons of primary microplastics a year.

Caring with consciousness

A likely solution for this calls for collaboration between brands and consumers. Especially, brands need to teach consumers to use their washing machine properly, reduce spin cycles and microfibre filters. They further need to phase out the production of synthetic clothing and promote designs that minimize fiber shedding.

Brands also need to teach customers ways to care for their products with minimum environmental impact, says Charlotte Turner, Head-Sustainable Fashion and Textiles, Eco-Age. Global brands like Patagonia, Sweaty Betty and Finisterre have been able to achieve this through Guppyfriend washing bag. Designed by Alexander Nolte and Oliver Spies, the Guppyfriend captures microfibers released during domestic washing cycle inside a mesh bag. These fibers are later released in a sealed container which prevents them from reentering the environment. The bag lasts up to 50 washes, after which it has to be separated from the zip and binding, and recycled. It reduces fiber shedding by an average 79 per cent for partly synthetic clothes and 86 per cent for completely synthetic textiles. To reduce fiber shedding Guppyfriend also advises its customers to use less abrasive detergents, wash similar textures together and lower the spin cycle or air dry garments.

Eco-friendly materials to prevent fiber shedding

However, Francois Souchet, Head-Make Fashion Circular Initiative, Ellen MacArthur Foundation explains, solutions like these have limited success. To prevent microfiber shedding, clothes need to be designed in a particular way.

Though some brands say recycled plastic fibers are highly sustainable; Pascal Burn, Head-Sustainability, H&M opine, recycled polyester has the same impact as virgin polyester regarding microfibers. He shares sustainable clothing care tips and solutions with consumers through the brand’s Take Care website. The website is available in 43 markets while its associated clothing care products and in-store repair services are available in seven markets.

British sportswear brand Tala has also launched its own version of the Guppyfriend. The Fibre Filter Bag uses Q-Nova, a nylon made from upcycled factory offcuts and pre-consumer waste. Independent London brand Birdsong has introduced recycled polyester although the brand also uses eco-fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton.

Though solutions like Guppyfriend help educate consumers about the dangers of synthetic fibers, a proper legislation is required to control them. France has announced that its future washing machines would have built-in microfibre filters. Similarly, Nolte calls for a medley of solutions to address this problem of microfibers.