Active industry-wide engagement is needed to address the multi-faceted challenge of microfibre pollution, The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) has exhorted as it released a report on efforts being made to address fibre fragmentation from textiles.
- The Microfibre 2030 Commitment: An Update on Progress lays out some of the most recent, and imminent, actions that the TMC has taken, and these include the establishment of the TMC Policy Committee, which is creating alignment with, and providing expert advice on, proposals such as the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint.
- TMC is also empowering the manufacturing community to mitigate fibre fragmentation in manufacturing effluent, developing the Fabric Shedding Rate (FSR) indicator to give brands and retailers the ability to act on an aligned understanding of testing results.
- In addition, it is also reviewing the TMC Test Method portfolio to improve understanding of pollution pathways.
THE NEXT STAGE: To support all of this, the consortium has recently launched version 2.0 of The Microfibre Data Portal, which will allow for greater scalability of testing data and more advanced analytics.
- This report showcases the TMC contribution to mainstream sustainability discourse through publishing, teaching, advocating, learning, and leading discussions at industry events and academic forums worldwide.
- Together, it aims to advance knowledge and innovation that serves the sector and drives meaningful progress towards shared goals at pace and scale.
- As the TMC revises the roadmap using the extra knowledge and data that it now has, it promises to continue to play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between industry and science.
- It bridges the gap so that brands, retailers and manufacturers can implement the necessary changes to reduce fibre shedding. To do that with maximum effect in the long term will need even more input and engagement from industry, and urges companies in the apparel sector to get in touch and get involved.
ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM: The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) is a research-led sustainable textiles NGO, working to convene the global textiles sector through The Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap.
- It is the first and only organisation whole-heartedly focused on this topic and works on behalf of its signatories which comprises brands and retailers, researchers and affiliated organisations.
Its global remit ensures that the clothing industry delivering to a wide and diverse consumer base, can be consistent with its implementation of mitigation measures relating to unintentional fibre fragmentation and microfibre pollution (both synthetic and natural) through actions such as:
- developing root cause understanding and solutions,
- driving an aligned commitment, and
- delivering sustained action and measurable impact. Its work is managed by a dedicated UK based team.
TMC’s signatory base represents the UK, the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, among others.
WHAT THEY SAID:
This report lays out in detail some of the excellent progress that has been made to address the complex and significant issue of fibre fragmentation. It also provides a stark insight into the scale of the challenges that we must address if we are going to achieve the objectives of The Microfibre 2030 Commitment. In that context, what we have collectively done to expand the industry response to this issue is vital. It better reflects the reality of the bigger picture, complementing and amplifying the significant work that is ongoing to address fragmentation from synthetics.
— Kelly Sheridan
Chief Executive Officer
The Microfibre Consortium
