Pesky Microfibers

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12 Jun

Written By Senorita AweSUMO

three fingers with the middle one has a line of microfiber pollution on it collected from the guppyfriend wash bag

What are they and where do they come from?

A lot of our textiles and clothing garments are unfortunately entirely or at least partly made from synthetic materials, including Polyester, Viscose, Nylon, Elastane, Polyester (Polar) Fleece + many trademarked textiles. Teeny microfibres from these materials are shed during each laundry cycle and are washed away with our machine’s wastewater - ending up in essentially every part of our ecosystem. Our water, our air, our soil, our produce and our whānau! These fibres can be extremely detrimental to our natural world. Once in our environment, the tiny micro-plastics irreversibly degrade into smaller and smaller particles and are impossible to retrieve. Micro-plastics and microfibres essentially act as a sponge for all the nasties we are trying to get rid of; oil, chemicals, pesticides, industrial wastes, and other toxins. They perpetuate the cycle of harmful pollutants and bacteria that do damage to all living things, this is no doubt because they are made from fossil fuels.

Micro-plastics have been found in countless species and high levels of which are present in most forms of plankton; a vital marine organism. Plankton is essentially the cornerstone of all aquatic life. It is at the bottom of the marine food chain and is ingested by countless species. Once ingested by these little critters, micro-plastics unavoidably seep into the digestive system of all organisms further up the food chain. The cycle continues and the harmful micro-plastics being leached into our marine environment end up right back with us, and find their way into our hardworking digestive systems.

plastic straws cut up into small pieces making micro-plastics

Research has found that micro-plastics are now present in our honey, salt, water, beer and other food sources - they have been found in our bodies too, which is pretty darn scary if you ask us! In a recent study, micro-plastics have been detected in human blood. Scientists found tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested. Prof Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands has spoken about the issue, “It is certainly reasonable to be concerned… The particles are there and are transported throughout the body.” The scope of the damage these micro-plastics cause to our human organs and cells is not yet known. To read more about this alarming research read here.

Micro-plastics and microfibres are inescapable in a society that now so heavily depends on plastic. There are many culprits but fast fashion dump sites are a major player in the pollution problem. Check out the work of The Or Foundation - their mission statement is a hefty one - “Working at the intersection of environmental justice, education and fashion development, our mission is to identify and manifest alternatives to the dominant model of fashion – alternatives that bring forth ecological prosperity, as opposed to destruction, and that inspire citizens to form a relationship with fashion that extends beyond their role as consumer”. They really are an inspiring foundation and we totally support what they stand for.

Most washing machines are not currently equipped with microfibre filters. Although there are prototypes being developed, it will probably be some time before a practical model will be available for purchase. Microfibres are so small and plentiful that they could clog a machine’s microfibre filter in a matter of seconds. Even if our washing machines were able to filter out micro-plastics, our wastewater treatment facilities are ill-equipped in this space. Wastewater treatment plants are unable to rid our wastewater of microfibres/plastic. Our infrastructure has a way to go when it comes to weaning out harmful pollutants and minimising the damage of synthetic materials and plastic, which is why we are stoked to find this awesome tool. We also recommend The Fitrol filter, which is an incredible water filter solution to tackle our growing pollution problem.

Ultimately the goal is to prevent microfibres from being thrown out with our wastewater during each wash. This is where the Guppyfriend comes in really bloody handy. So how does it work? The Guppyfriend Washing Bag has a smooth texture which minimises friction and fibre breakage. The bag itself catches all microfibres shed during the wash. All we need to do is remove these pesky bits from the lining of the bag and dispose of them in the trash. Micro-plastics successfully diverted from our wastewater! The Guppyfriend also protects your clothes from shedding and leaves the fabric more intact - extending the life of your favourite pieces.

Pick one up from our online store and reduce your microfibre pollution today!

xxx