The Plastic in Our Clothing
The Plastic In Our Clothing
Dr. Kathleen Easlick, Phd
University of Porto, Portugal
University of Porto, Portugal
Sarah at the Shopping Mall
Sarah is looking for a new pair of trousers.
Although she has many items of clothing already, she is looking for something she can wear both at work and during her free time.
Although she has many items of clothing already, she is looking for something she can wear both at work and during her free time.
Sarah finds a pair of long black trousers. She looks at the label and it says: 100% polyester.
Sarah has seen this material many times before but she is not familiar with what the material really is.
She tries on the trousers. She likes the way they look and feel. She decides to buy them and heads home.
Sarah has seen this material many times before but she is not familiar with what the material really is.
She tries on the trousers. She likes the way they look and feel. She decides to buy them and heads home.
Information About Polyester Fabric
What is Polyester?
Polyester is a man-made fabric formed from plastic polymers.
It has been regularly used in clothing since around the 1960s.
Due to mass production of clothing and the growth of fast-fashion, polyester is a common material in both inexpensive and high-end clothing brands.
However, polyester is non-biodegradable and many studies have identified the negative health effects microplastics have on human and animal life.
It has been regularly used in clothing since around the 1960s.
Due to mass production of clothing and the growth of fast-fashion, polyester is a common material in both inexpensive and high-end clothing brands.
However, polyester is non-biodegradable and many studies have identified the negative health effects microplastics have on human and animal life.
Microplastics
Unfortunately, due to human behaviour, microplastics are everywhere, found in the deepest ocean to the top of Mount Everest (Napper, et al. 2020).
Microplastics have even been found in human blood and can be damaging to human cells (Danopoulous, et al. 2020).
Microplastics have even been found in human blood and can be damaging to human cells (Danopoulous, et al. 2020).
At Home
Sarah At Home
Sarah is excited to wear her new trousers, but first she decides to wash them.
Washing Polyester Clothing
Studies have shown that polyester textiles release microfibers during laundering.
The amount of microfibers released depend on the fabric's construction.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Plymouth and the National Research Council of Italy, 700 to 4,000 individual microfibres could be released during a single wash at 40'C (de Falco, et al. 2020).
The amount of microfibers released depend on the fabric's construction.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Plymouth and the National Research Council of Italy, 700 to 4,000 individual microfibres could be released during a single wash at 40'C (de Falco, et al. 2020).
Next Day
The Next Day
The next day, Sarah wears her new trousers. She decides to meet a friend for lunch.
The restaurant is not far from where she lives.
The weather is nice, so she decides to walk there.
The restaurant is not far from where she lives.
The weather is nice, so she decides to walk there.
Releasing Microfibres During Regular Wear
Microfibres are released during laundering, but simply wearing polyester clothing can release microfibres into the environment.
According to a recent study, 400 fibres per gram of fabric could be shed by polyester items during just 20 minutes of normal activity (de Falco, et al. 2020).
According to a recent study, 400 fibres per gram of fabric could be shed by polyester items during just 20 minutes of normal activity (de Falco, et al. 2020).
A Full Closet
Sarah's Closet
Sarah wears her new trousers regularly along with many other items made of polyester, acrylic and other synthetic materials.
She has a large closet full of blouses, skirts, and jackets that are all made out of these harmful materials.
She has a large closet full of blouses, skirts, and jackets that are all made out of these harmful materials.
Microfibres Shed Each Year
The results of the previous study indicate that one person could release around 900 million polyester microfibres per year simply by wearing their garments (de Falco, et al. 2020).
A Year Later
Sarah A Year Later
A year passes, Sarah discards some items of clothing and decides to buy new clothes.
The cycle continues.
The cycle continues.
Consumer Habits and Health Concerns
Our consumer habits have led to an overproduction of clothing and an insufficient system for recycling the textiles.
Fast Fashion Contributes to Plastic Pollution
Learning More
UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
One day, Sarah sees a flyer for the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion.
She is curious to learn more.
She is curious to learn more.
Fast Fashion and Microfibres
Sarah learns more about the damages of the fast fashion industry and of polyester clothing.
She also learns techniques to reduce consumption of clothing. She learns how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
She also learns techniques to reduce consumption of clothing. She learns how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Sky Report:Ocean Rescue
Sarah's Change in Habits
Sarah decided to change some habits.
She is now purchasing less clothing and when she does, she makes more environmentally-friendly decisions.
She considers the fabric material and the longevity of the item.
She is now purchasing less clothing and when she does, she makes more environmentally-friendly decisions.
She considers the fabric material and the longevity of the item.
Rethinking Her Wardrobe
Sarah started to take her clothing to a tailor if it needs to be fixed or updated.
She participates in clothing-swaps and finds quality clothes at second-hand shops.
She is happy knowing that her small changes can have a positive impact.
She participates in clothing-swaps and finds quality clothes at second-hand shops.
She is happy knowing that her small changes can have a positive impact.
Resources for a Plastic Free Future
UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
https://unfashionalliance.org/
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/documents/article_2_microfibers_formatted.pdf
National Geographic
www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution
UN Clean Seas
www.cleanseas.org/
https://unfashionalliance.org/
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/documents/article_2_microfibers_formatted.pdf
National Geographic
www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution
UN Clean Seas
www.cleanseas.org/
References
Danopoulous, et al (2020) Microplastic contamination of drinking water: A systematic review, PLoS ONE: 15(7).
De Falco, et al (2020) Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters, Environ Sci Technol, 17;54(6):3288-3296.
Geyer et al (2022) Quantity and fate of synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing in California and strategies for their reduction, Environmental Pollution, 298.
Napper et al. (2020) The efficency of devices intended to reduce microfibre release during clothes washing' Science of The Total Environment, 738.
De Falco, et al (2020) Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters, Environ Sci Technol, 17;54(6):3288-3296.
Geyer et al (2022) Quantity and fate of synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing in California and strategies for their reduction, Environmental Pollution, 298.
Napper et al. (2020) The efficency of devices intended to reduce microfibre release during clothes washing' Science of The Total Environment, 738.
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The Plastic In Our Clothing
Sarah at the Shopping Mall
What is Polyester?
Polyester Jackets
Microplastics
Sarah At Home
Washing Polyester Clothing
The Next Day
Releasing Microfibres During Regular Wear
Sarah's Closet
Microfibres Shed Each Year
Sarah A Year Later
Consumer Habits and Health Concerns
Fast Fashion Contributes to Plastic Pollution
UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
Sky Report:Ocean Rescue
Sarah's Change in Habits
Rethinking Her Wardrobe
Resources for a Plastic Free Future
References