It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

University of Portsmouth

Microfibre Pollution / Carpets

26 May 2023

3 minutes

Microplastics are used by the flooring industry and when these begin to break up indoors in a closed environment they can lift into the air as dust to be breathed in, or to later land on food and be eaten.

Carpet Industry Must Stop Brushing Under the Mat Evidence of Potentially Harmful Microplastics, Says Report

Carpets can double the number of microplastics fibres at home and there is an urgent need to make consumers aware of the possible health impacts and bring about microplastic reduction policies in the carpet industry.

Staff Writer

Supply Chains / Small Players

16 May 2023

2 minutes

Due to the high competition between small suppliers in the garment sector, brands are able to purchase orders for very low prices, even below the cost of production. These include costs required to meet code of conduct compliance, as well as necessary production costs like energy or transport prices.

Europe's Fashion SMEs: Squeezed by Unfair Trading Practices, But Power Dynamics Beginning to Change

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth under the aegis of the Fair Trade Advocacy Office have come out with a report that reviews unfair trading practices (UTPs) in textile supply chains, along with a case study analysis of emerging best practices.

Staff Writer

Textile Waste / Polyester Problem

8 February 2023

2 minutes

Researchers at the University’s Centre for Enzyme Innovation have already developed enzyme technology to reduce single use plastics, including PET, to their chemical building blocks, leading to safe and energy efficient recycling. Now they have set their sights on creating a similar process for polyester textiles.

New Project Aims to Deploy ‘Plastic-Eating’ Enzymes to Combat Waste Polyester Clothing

After developing an enzyme technology to reduce single use plastics, researchers are now working on creating a similar process for polyester textiles.