THE PROBLEM   

What is microfibre pollution?

Microfibres from textiles are a widespread environmental pollutant. Once released, they have the potential to cause harm.

Fibre fragmentation is the process of fibre loss from a textile product during its lifecycle and through its subsequent breakage in the environment, this is also known as microfibre pollution. 

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Three release pathways:

The-ways-microfiber-pollution-is-released-to-the-environment-and-ecosystems

All pathways for microfibre release to the environment must be considered to protect ecosystems from the impact which fibre fragments can cause.

All textiles, all lifecycle stages.

The-lifecycle-stages-of-microfiber-pollution-from-fashion-clothing-and-textiles

Fibre fragments shed during manufacture, consumer use and as a result of disposal. The issue is not isolated to plastics, as all fibre types have the propensity to shed.

Triple planetary impact:

How-microfiber-pollution-impacts-the-planet

The risks posed by fibre fragments are multifaceted and threaten to exacerbate the interlinked crises of biodiversity loss, environmental pollution and climate change.

What is the solution to microfibre pollution?

It’s a complex and multifaceted issue

Yet change can be made at the root cause level (the fabric itself) to mitigate the planetary impacts of fibre fragmentation.

FAQ’s

The Problem with Fibre Fragments

  • Fibre fragments are any processed* fibrous material broken from a textile structure during production, use, end-of-use, as well as through its subsequent breakage in the natural environment. 

    *Processed is intended to encompass fibres that have undergone any form of mechanical or chemical processing. This includes natural fibres that are no longer in their raw, unprocessed state as found in the environment, as well as Man-Made fibres derived from synthetic and natural polymers. 

    More key definitions can be found in our glossary of terms.

  • Fibre fragments from textiles are recognised as widespread pollutants with proven impact on the environment. There is also concern over the effect of fibre fragments on human health, biodiversity loss and climate change. 

    An introductory webinar to the issue hosted by TMC can be found here.  

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