A washing load of clothes could be shedding up to 17 million tiny plastic fibres. These tiny plastic fibres are a type of micro-plastic, known as microfiber. Their particle size is less than 5 mm and their major source is shredding polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide. The article published by Friends of the Earth write, “most new fabrics are made of plastic – up to 64% of them” [Phil Byrne].
Microfiber is a single plastic-based thread, which is usually thinner than a human hair. Certain products shed microfibers during their lifetime. Most of these tiny fibres derive from polyester. Its lightness, warmth and quick-drying feature seemingly make it perfect for clothing. Other common microfibers include nylon and acrylic. These microfibers hide in our carpets, curtains and other household textiles, as well as our clothes.
A majority of microfibers are shed during washing loads and are drained out through the sewage system. The water treatment plant does not have any provision for plastic of such size. This results in microfiber plastic entering the oceans. These microfibers are likely to be mistaken as food and eaten by plankton or smaller marine animals like fish. These plastic fibres have even been found in mussels and fish, destined for the dinner table. And there are other ways they might end up in your body. According to Friends of the Earth, “microfibers have been found in air, rivers, soil, drinking water, beer and table salt “[Phil Byrne].
If these fibres are tiny, what is the problem?
These plastic pieces may be small, yet they can absorb high concentrations of poisonous substances – pesticides like DDT, detergents and fireproofing chemicals. They pose a threat to our liver, kidneys and nervous system. Others are toxic to aquatic life. Recycling plastic is not the answer to the plastic pollution. Early steps to combat the production of low-grade quality materials made out of plastic, and cutting down on manufacturing of non-biodegradable plastic at the same time, is a must.
How we dress plays an important role in our society today. We are frequently judged by what we wear and how we style our clothes. Our choice of clothes and shoes in today's society helps us fit in or stand out. Some well-known international brands like Girlfriend Collective is committed to making its clothes out of sustainable materials and through ethical processes. The original leggings are popular for their hyper-flattering compression, elongating seams and low cost. The originals were made from 25 recycled water bottles each. More recently, Girlfriend Collective released a lightweight, workout-friendly line of clothes, made from recycled fishing nets, called the LITE collection.
Some other clothing brands are Allbirds, Aday, Batoko, Ellie Evans, Gucci, Ecoalf, Mara Hoffman are repainted.
Patagonia has been making recycled polyester from plastic soda bottles since 1993, making it the first outdoor clothing manufacturer to turn trash into fleece, according to the company. Now, the company makes its recycled polyester fibres from a blend of used soda bottles, unusable manufacturing waste and worn-out apparel (including Patagonia garments). The recycled polyester is found in a wide range of Patagonia’s collection, ranging from packs to t-shirts to winter weather gear.
Sport shoe brands like Adidas and Nike are switching towards manufacturing shoes that fuse performance-oriented footwear and are made of sustainable, progressive material that has been expanded into apparel. Each Adidas shoe re-purposes approximately 11 plastic bottles intercepted before they could enter the ocean. The colorways mimic the environments they seek to protect — sea-foam blues, deep greens, and a spectrum of navy. Adidas's goal is to phase recycled plastic into all of its shoes by 2020. Other shoe companies like Flyknit shoes, Rothy’s, Vivobarefoot and many others are coming up with unique solutions to reduce plastic generation and recycle the plastic.
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