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Fast fashion is back in the spotlight as researchers calculate the global spread of microfibers from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon.
Washing clothes made from synthetic microfibers is one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution on farmland, according to new research.
Scientists at the University of California calculated the annual spread of plastic microfibers from hand washers and washing machines around the world.
They found that more than 176,500 metric tons of microfibers ended up in farmland and landfills around the world each year from sewage treatment sludge, compared to 167,000 tons that seep into waterways per year.
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Researcher Jenna Gavigan lamented that the focus should be on reducing the use of microfibers rather than trying to clean up after they have been released into the environment.
DEBRIN FOXCROFT / STUFF
Most modern clothing is made of plastic, which causes microfibers to seep into waterways and farmland, the researchers say.
“Large-scale removal of microfibers from the environment is unlikely to be technically feasible or economically feasible, so the focus should be on preventing emissions,” Gavigan said.
“Since wastewater treatment plants do not necessarily reduce emissions to the environment, our focus should be to reduce emissions before they enter the wastewater stream.”
The authors’ calculations showed that about 5.6 million metric tons of synthetic microfibers were released from laundry between 1950, the start of widespread use of synthetic fibers, and 2016, half in the last 10 years.
Just under half ended up on land, with 1.9 million metric tons on the surface and 0.6 metric tons in landfills.
Microfiber emissions are growing 12.9 percent annually, and current annual emissions to land, at 176.5 thousand metric tons per year, exceed those from water bodies, at 167 thousand metric tons per year.
Fourteen percent of all plastic is used to make synthetic fibers, mostly for clothing, the researchers said.
Microfibers, defined as particles less than 5 millimeters in length, are generated in large quantities at each stage of a fiber’s life cycle, especially during washing, which mechanically fragments synthetic fabric.
When wash water becomes part of the flow to a sewage treatment plant, the microfibers it contains can be retained along with the biosolid sludge, which can be applied to farmland or buried in landfills.
Professor Oliver Jones, associate dean for biosciences and food technology at RMIT in Australia, said that most people’s wardrobes were essentially made of plastic.
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Environmental advocate Kate Hall says most kiwis did not consider the impact of synthetic materials.
“We used to think that microfibers reached the rivers and the sea (and they do). What this research does is point out, clearly, that microfiber contamination can be an even bigger problem for the land than for the oceans. “
Environmental blogger Kate Hall said that many people weren’t as aware of the impact of microplastics.
“Nature itself is that you can’t see it, it’s a microplastic, so we don’t really know or think about how it affects us,” Hall said.
Hall said it encouraged people to do less laundry.
“People tend to wash their clothes every time they wear them, which is unsustainable. Not only because microplastics enter waterways, but clothing also loses longevity each time it is thrown into the wash cycle. “
New technology was being introduced that collected or filtered microplastics during the wash cycle, such as the Cora ball or a GuppyFriend bag, Hall said.
Awareness of the impact of synthetic fabrics was also important, he said.
“When you buy a garment, you generally look at the price and see if it fits you. You don’t look at the care labels or the composition of the fabric, ”Hall said.
“People must start to take responsibility and understand that when you buy something you make sure it impacts people and the planet in a positive and not a negative way. We need to consume much less ”.
