In a previous newsletter we talked about the importance of cold water wash
and how it saves energy AND saves your clothes; in another newsletter we talked about installing a microfiber capturing filter to the discharge line of your washer to prevent microfibers from making their way to the ocean; but today we are focused on avoiding plastic microfibers in clothing all together.
The materials used to make your clothes all have varying levels of impact on the environment. Ones to avoid include polyester, acrylic and nylon clothing because they shed plastic microfibers during each wash. These plastic microfibers cannot be filtered out at wastewater plants, which means they end up in the ocean. In fact, the plastic particles washed off from products contribute to 35% of the primary plastic polluting the ocean! These particles then get eaten and passed through our food chain, eventually making their way into our own bodies.
To counteract this, shop for sustainable fabrics when you can. Linen, hemp or bamboo are all great options. In addition, you can lower your carbon footprint by remembering the 4 R’s when choosing clothing: Reduce the amount of clothing you purchase, Recycle pre-worn clothing by shopping at second hand stores, Reuse (or repair) what you already have and Regift by passing along lightly worn clothes to the Goodwill or other local charities.
Clothing retailer H&M partnered with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to release a scorecard of the environmental performance of the material used in their products. Other companies are following, which will help inform consumers when shopping and put the power in your hands to make a difference by lowering your carbon footprint so you can feel better about your choices!
Ready to take action?
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