The issue of microfibres suddenly has the textiles-apparel-fashion industry in its throes. The subject itself, compared to pesticide use and effluent discharge is relatively new, Subir Ghosh writes.
The highlights from the video:
- Major Concern:
Arguably the biggest issue in the Fashion industry is that of microfibre contamination. The subject had been known for a while, but it is only now that the magnitude of the issue has become a topic of debate.
- The Problem:
Microplastics are plastic fragments that are 5mm or smaller and are today found in all five major ocean gyres. These bind with molecules of harmful chemical pollutants found in wastewater. Plankton and other small organisms ingest these microfibres, which subsequently make their way up the food chain and end up in what humans eat.
- The Magnitude:
A research conducted by a team from the University of Plymouth in the UK concurred that every square kilometer of deep ocean contained about four billion plastic fibres, and these were four times more abundant in the deep sea than in surface and coastal waters.
- Further Research:
An important source of microplastic appears to be through sewage contaminated by fibres from washing clothes. Experiments suggested that a large proportion of microplastic fibres found in the marine environment may be derived from sewage as a consequence of washing of clothes.
- Piling Evidence:
Further experiments' finding was: top-loading washers caused more shedding than front loaders; aged jackets shed more than new ones, and high-end jackets shed less than the budget variety.
- Potentially Catastrophic:
The amount of plastic microfibres entering the ocean between 2015 and 2050 could accumulate to an excess of 22 million tonnes.
- A Clarion Call:
A 2017 report crafted by the Circular Fibres Initiative called for the fashion industry to adopt a new vision and create cross industry collaborations. It invoke the industry to ensure that the material input is safe and healthy to allow cycling and to avoid negative impacts during the production, use, and after-use phases.
- The New Textiles Economy:
Clothes would be designed to last longer, be worn more and be easily rented or resold and recycled, and would not release toxins or pollution.
- Other Solutions:
Plastic Soup Foundation believes that better quality clothing or fabrics coated with an anti-shed treatment could help matters. Waterless washing machines could be another solution, as being developed by Patagonia-funded American company Tersus Solutions.
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