Microfibre Pollution and the Environmental Impact of Washing Clothing and Textiles
Neil Lant
Wednesday, 1 January 2020
Over the past four years, microfibres have risen out of seemingly nowhere as one of the most harmful effects of the textile industry on the planet. We know for certain that microfibres are extruded from our synthetic clothes, but beyond this, what do we actually know about the facts surrounding these tiny plastic pollutants?
While their effects are still unknown, working on finding out the answer to this serious environmental question, along with practical methods of solving the crisis is Neil Lant and his team of researchers at Procter & Gamble. Neil’s approach is wholly focused on the science behind washing clothes and his 20 years of experience in researching the best washing techniques make this interview a must-watch for anyone keen to stay abreast of the current state of the microfibre crisis.
In this video, you'll learn:
- How washing clothes impacts our environment and water streams
- What microfibres are and how they are released from clothes during the wash cycle
- About the research currently being undertaken at P&G to understand and reduce the release of microfibres
- How detergents impact the release of microfibres
- The best practice for washing clothes to reduce environmental impact
- How collaboration across industries can help to improve the quality of clothing on the market
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Washing Formulations for Garment Care and How to Reduce Our Environmental Impact
with Fred HolzhauerRead More...Summary
'Green' laundry detergents from brands like Ecover and Method may be popular amongst the eco-friendly crowd, but some still need convincing of their effective cleaning properties.
Fred Holzhauer, as the former Director of Formulations at Method and currently Application Development Specialist at Univar Solutions, is just the man to speak to when it comes to understanding eco-friendly laundry habits and detergents. In this interview, he explains precisely how detergents clean fabrics, what those nasty chemicals are doing to our clothes and how to adopt more environmentally friendly approaches to laundry that care for textiles and reduce our need for harsh agents.