Are We Shedding Plastic During Every Wash?

In normal circumstances RSPB Scotland’s Niamh Byrne would currently be inspiring people to protect marine wildlife as part of our Dolphinwatch team in Aberdeen. Here she takes her work online and looks at microfibres, the effect they are having on our oceans and what steps we can take to address the issue of marine pollution; an issue she cares passionately about.

Are We Shedding Plastic During Every Wash?

Plastic Clothing?

The clothes we wear are made of millions of tiny fibres. Many of these are plastic, such as polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide. These popular man-made materials are chosen by the fashion industry because they are durable, resistant and affordable. With the demand for “fast fashion” increasing (cheap to make, cheap to buy, quickly disposed of) the fear is that more plastic fibres will end up in our environment and oceans, affecting both wildlife and human health.

How are the clothes we wear ending up in the ocean?

Just one load of washing can shed up to 700,000  microfibres. These microfibres are usually not visible to the naked eye. Wastewater plants do not have the filtering systems available to prevent the fibres entering our oceans. The startling reality is that microfibres account for 35% of microplastics in our oceans.

What is the effect on humans and wildlife?

The impact microfibres are having in on wildlife and humans is worrying. Fish and shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters accidentally ingest microfibres which can end up on our plates. It has been recorded that 63% of shrimp in the North Sea contain these synthetic fibres.

We are breathing at least 13,000 to 68,000 plastic microfibres from clothing, curtains, carpets and other purchased products every year. Fibres have been found in all products that we buy such as table salt and bottled water, not primarily from the container but from the environment they were produced in.

What are we doing about it?

Well, it’s not all doom and gloom! Researchers and environmental charities are working to help alleviate the issue.

The best way to prevent this microfibre flow is to fit filters into our washing machines. The Marine Conservation Society has been pushing for governmental change in the way we wash our clothing. If you want to support their campaign, to ensure all washing machines are fitted with microfibre filters, by law, by 2023 the visit https://bit.ly/2VHpI0h.

Top tips you can do at home:

• Wash your clothes less: Only wash clothes when they are dirty. Hang the clothes you have worn to air so you can get a few more wears out of them!
• Swap from washing powder to liquid: Powders are abrasive and therefore loosen more microfibres compared to a gentler liquid detergent. Use a fabric softener.
• Wash at 30°C: High temperatures can damage clothes resulting in more microfibre shedding.
• Wash a full load: Only wash when the machine is full as there is less friction between the clothes.
• Tumble dry less: Constant tumbling can make clothes more fragile and loosen fibres that will then shed in the next wash.
• Buy a ball or bag: Cora balls, guppy bags and other ‘in machine’ solutions are available online before filters are developed.
• Conscious clothing purchases: Buy from second-hand clothing shops or from natural materials such as organically grown cotton.