35% Of Microplastics Released Into The World’s Oceans Are From Synthetic Textiles

An incredible 6 million microfibres are released from a typical 5kg wash load of polyester fabrics and thats what’s polluting our oceans…

Today the Institution of Mechanical Engineers calls for urgent action to prevent the 6 million microfibres released from a typical 5kg wash load of polyester fabrics from polluting our oceans - Report recommends key actions including incentivising the development of more environmentally friendly fibres - Manufacturers and retailers need to tackle waste, including huge amounts of clothing going to landfill every year.

Each time an item of clothing is washed up to 700,000 microscopic fibres make their way into our oceans, where they are swallowed by sea life and become incorporated into the food chain, potentially ending up on our plates, according to a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Engineering at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:

“The garment industry is one of many industries that has a three-fold impact with emissions to air, water, and large amounts of waste produced for landfill and incineration. This means that to begin to create a sustainable fashion industry we need to address all of these areas and engineers are producing solutions that range from greater efficiency in machinery and water use to new materials with reduced shedding.

“Given that it has been estimated that there are 20 new garments manufactured per person each year and that consumers are buying 60% more than in 2000, these environmental implications must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

The report highlights that garment aftercare affects an item’s carbon footprint and advocates for individuals to wash their clothes at a lower temperature, use mesh laundry bags to catch threads, rely on tumble dryers less often or install filters on washing machine waste pipes.

Engineering Out Fashion Waste also highlights the extent to which fashion is a thirsty industry, one which contributes significantly to water pollution globally. It is also is energy-intensive, producing 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2015 – more emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

The Institution calls for urgent action to tackle the waste produced over the lifecycle of an item of clothing. This includes addressing water-intensive processes during manufacturing, such as removing excess dyes, and tackling the problem of disposing of a garment at the end of its life; three-fifths of all clothing produced is sent to landfill or incinerated within a year of being made.