5 ways you can help fight the global microfibre problem

If you’ve been following our blog posts over the last few weeks, you will have seen we’ve shared lots of info on fast fashion and the impact of microfibres on the environment. There’s still a long way to go in tackling this problem, but there are some things you can do to help! We’ve picked our Top 5 tips:

1. Ditch acrylic clothes

Synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic make up around 60% of our wardrobes -meaning avoiding these fabrics is one of the easiest switches you can make. Research has found that acrylic releases seven times the amount of microfibres as polycotton blends.

2. Get a microplastics filter

For certain items, including underwear and activewear, it’s nearly impossible to avoid synthetic materials (in these cases, recycled plastic can be a more eco-friendly option). However, there are products out there that collect microplastics released from your garments. It’s worth doing a Google search to find out what’s available in your area!

3. Pick cooler, faster cycles

Opting for a cooler and faster cycle on your washing machine could also lead to fewer microplastics being shed from our clothes. A recent study found washing clothes at 15C for 30 minutes led to a 30% reduction in the number of microfibres released, compared to a typical 85-minute cycle at 40C. Researchers say that if every household in Europe did this, it could potentially save more than 3,800 tonnes of microplastics from being released a year.

4. Shop second-hand

Washing new clothes also releases more microfibres than those you already own, with research showing that more microfibres are shed in the first eight washes. That means extending the lifespan of the garments you already own or buying more second-hand items are positive changes you can make.

5. Wash your clothes less

We’re not saying let your clothes get smelly! But washing our clothes less frequently is perhaps the simplest way to help tackle the microplastics problem. It also reduces CO2 emissions and means our clothes will last longer. Only wash your clothes when you really need to! An excuse to get out of doing the laundry while helping the environment as well? We’re sold.

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