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Comparative microfiber shedding from natural, virgin and recycled synthetic textiles under standardised laundering conditions
Summary
Recycled polyester, often marketed as the eco-friendly choice, actually shed slightly more microplastic fibers than regular polyester when washed, and its fibers were even smaller, meaning they could be more easily inhaled or ingested. Cotton released fewer, longer fibers overall, suggesting it may break down into less concerning particles. This matters because as microplastics increasingly show up in our food, water, and even bloodstreams, choosing "recycled" clothing doesn't automatically mean you're reducing your exposure to shed plastic fibers.
Abstract Microfiber release from synthetic textiles is increasingly recognized as a major source of microplastic pollution, yet the performance of recycled materials relative to virgin and natural remains contested. This study provides standardized evidence on microfiber shedding from commercially available garments, comparing recycled and virgin synthetic fibers alongside natural alternatives. A total of 51 garments from five global fashion brands were analyzed, including cotton, polyester (virgin and recycled), and polyamide (virgin and recycled). To capture complementary shedding metrics, two internationally recognized laundering methods were applied: ISO 105-C06 to quantify fiber number and length, and ISO 6330 to measure total fiber number and mass loss under simulated domestic-scale washing conditions. Descriptively, recycled polyester (rPET) released the highest mean number of microfibers (12430 fibers·g −1 ), approximately 55% more than virgin polyester (8028 fibers·g −1 ); however, this difference was not statistically significant across material categories, reflecting high within-group variability. In contrast, fiber length differed significantly by material type, with rPET and recycled polyamide producing significantly shorter fibers (mean 0.42 mm) than cotton and virgin polyester (mean 0.52 mm). Recycled polyamide showed a similar descriptive trend of higher fiber counts relative to its virgin counterpart. While cotton released a greater total fiber mass (1.85 mg·g −1 ), these fibers were longer and fewer in number. Statistical analysis indicated that microfiber shedding was largely driven by fiber type and material properties rather than brand-specific differences. Nevertheless, some garments -particularly from one brand (B-5)- consistently exhibited higher fiber release across both virgin and recycled synthetic materials, suggesting that textile design and manufacturing practices may also influence shedding intensity. These findings challenge assumptions that rPET is a sustainable alternative and emphasize the need for performance-based evaluation of textile materials in efforts to reduce microfiber emissions.