UK annually emits 1,500 double-decker buses worth microfibers during laundry, study quantifies

07 Mar 2023 --- Researchers at the University of Leeds (UoL), England, have found that the UK’s laundry releases microfibers weighing 6,490 to 87,165 metric tons each year. That’s equivalent to 600 to 1,500 double-decker buses, they share.

As part of a project funded by trade body the European Outdoor Group (EOG) and sustainable textiles organization The Microfibre Consortium (TMC), academics from the University’s School of Design co-created a test to measure the effect of different textile materials and washing conditions on the amount of microfiber released into the water.

“Quantifying microfiber release is an important step in understanding the scale of the problem, as well as the potential impacts of this form of pollution,” says postgraduate researcher and lead author, Alice Hazlehurst.

“There are already lots of estimates out there, but these vary dramatically and it’s almost impossible to make meaningful comparisons. We used a reliable testing method to compare microfiber release from different fabrics and under different washing conditions in the lab. Based on our results, we were able to estimate the quantity of microfiber release at a realistic scale.”

The study “Quantification of microfibre release from textiles during domestic laundering” was published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 

Researchers found that the UK releases up to 87,165 metric tons of microfiber each year.Microfibers in wastewater
The researchers highlight that the domestic laundering of textile fabrics is a significant source of microfiber marine pollution. A lack of standardization prompted the study to quantify the microfiber, which is necessary, according to the researchers, to understand the issue’s scale and evaluate potential solutions.

“Our results show that increasing the wash liquor ratio and wash agitation results in a greater mass of microfibers released, but we found that fabric variables can have a greater influence on microfiber release than the laundering variables tested in this study. However, no single fabric variable appeared to have a dominant influence,” the researchers state.

In a collaborative project involving the UoL, EOG and other stakeholders, TMC co-created and released a globally aligned, standard test to determine the level of microfibers shed from the fabric during domestic laundering.

Dr. Kelly Sheridan, research director at TMC, says: “TMC has actively driven for a globally aligned test method that can be used by the textile industry to measure fiber fragmentation from finished fabrics.”

“The TMC Test Method was the foundation for the development of an international ISO standard, which is a testament to its accuracy and reliability. Consequently, microfiber loss data generated from this method can supersede that of previous quantification estimates that have used inconsistent test methodologies.”

UoL highlights that the TMC Test Method has already been adopted by EU and US standard bodies due to its reliability. “This will help clothing brands more accurately test their garments for microfiber release, inform washing machine manufacturers about filtering and give a clearer picture of the scale of the problem,” it shares.

Studying laundry 
To create a reliable estimate of the UK’s microfiber release, researchers used a Gyrowash – a device that replicates a domestic washing machine in lab conditions.

While testing 16 common fabrics, including polyester, cotton, viscose and blended materials, and comparing different yarn types and constructions (knitted or woven fabrics), they also measured the effects of washing conditions, including the load size and how much the machine shakes the clothes.

The study found that increasing the wash temperature from 40°C to 90°C reduced the microfiber release by 26%. Furthermore, increasing wash duration was found to have little effect on the total release of microfibers.

However, the researchers found the liquor ratio to have a positive relationship with the mass of microfiber release – more than twice as much material was released from the fabric when the liquor ratio was doubled.

“Reduced liquor ratio, reduced agitation and increased temperature all resulted in a significant reduction in microfiber release,” the researchers assert.Domestic laundering of textiles is a significant source of microfiber pollution. 

“Microfiber release was also reduced with repeated washing, but a plateau was reached after the third wash. Fabric variables had a greater influence on microfiber release than laundering variables, however, no single fabric variable appeared to have a dominant influence, demonstrating the complexity of competing factors for different fabric types.”

Fighting microfiber pollution
Last November, as part of the Green Deal, the European Commission proposed stricter rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants and urban wastewater treatment to protect human health and ecosystems.

These rules would require cosmetic companies to pay to remove “toxic micro-pollutants” from EU wastewater.

“They who pollute must pay principle, and since 92% of toxic micro-pollutants found in EU wastewaters come from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, it is morally right and economically correct that industries that put the toxins into our air, water and soil ought to take responsibility in paying the costs to remove them – estimated to increase costs by only 3.8% considerably less than the cost of ill health,” Susie Hewson, the founder at Natracare, previously told PersonalCareInsights.

To tackle the microfiber water pollution problem, BASF and Zara recently collaborated to develop The Laundry – touted as the first detergent designed to lessen microfiber discharge while washing in cold temperatures. The companies shared that the detergent may reduce microfiber release by up to 80% – depending on the fabric material and washing circumstances.

In January, Samsung and Patagonia unveiled the Less Microfiber Cycle and Filter as the latest tech developments for washing machines. The Less Microfiber Filter reduces microplastic emissions by preventing them from escaping into the ocean at the end of wash cycles. It will be available in select Samsung washing machines in Europe in the second half of 2023.

By Radhika Sikaria