Microfibres

A global assessment of pollution from textile manufacturing finds that wastewater treatment, long treated as the industry's primary fix, delivers only a fraction of the reduction available on its own. Researchers at Earth Action, working with The Nature Conservancy, argue that sludge disposal and product design carry far greater unrealised potential, reshaping how brands and policymakers should prioritise investment.

A new fluorescence-based detection method has revealed that standard textile testing significantly undercounts microfibre pollution, missing a large proportion of the smallest fibre fragments released during washing and wear. New research has found that textile pollution is more varied in shape and size than previously understood, with implications for ecosystem health, eco-design, testing standards, and future regulation.

A new citizen science study by researchers at the Desert Research Institute and Keep Tahoe Blue has found that household clothes dryers release significant amounts of microfibres into the air. The findings highlight dryers as a previously under-recognised source of microplastic pollution and suggest that simple household changes could help limit fibre emissions into the environment.

The US National Cotton Council has released survey findings showing widespread consumer confusion about microplastic pollution sources, particularly regarding synthetic clothing's contribution to environmental and health risks. Research reveals significant barriers preventing consumer action, including unclear guidance and uncertainty about effective solutions for reducing personal microplastic exposure.

A new peer-reviewed study reveals that cotton-polyester blends, commonly used in everyday textiles, release significantly more microplastics than pure polyester fabrics. The research introduces a novel separation method to measure synthetic fibre shedding accurately, offering a validated approach to quantify microplastic pollution released during domestic and laboratory-scale laundering.

Fashion For Good and The Microfibre Consortium have launched a ‘Fibre Fragmentation Project’ which aims to offer a snapshot of the issue of fibre fragmentation through the lens of the textile and fashion industry, unpacking various aspects of this complex issue.

A newly established collaborative research hub in North East England will explore the extent and environmental impact of microfibre loss from textiles.

Scientists have developed a new fibre fragmentation scale which, if adopted by industry, could be displayed on clothing labels, similar to the way many food manufacturers display calorie information on packaging.

The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) has released a new report on efforts being made to address fibre fragmentation from textiles, also known as microfibre pollution, and showcases industry progress to address the issue even as it exhorts industry-wide engagement to address the multi-faceted challenge.

Researchers in the US have concluded that cellulosic microfibres from flushable wipes, tissue paper, and cotton fibres generated from bleached cotton jersey knit fabric biodegrade extensively across all tested conditions.