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Low-friction coatings reduce microplastic release from textiles
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"A two-layer PDMS coating for nylon fabrics has been shown to reduce microplastic fiber shedding during laundering by up to 93%, with the protective effect persisting through at least nine wash cycles. Preventing fiber release at the source rather than trying to capture particles downstream represents one of the most efficient strategies for curbing microplastic contamination of aquatic environments and the organisms living in them."
A durable, two-layer coating has been developed for nylon fabrics. The coating’s low coefficient of friction reduces the amount of microplastic fibres released from nylon fabrics during laundering by up to 93%. The coating’s efficacy, and other fabric properties, are maintained after at least nine laundering cycles.
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Polydimethylsiloxane-coated textiles with minimized microplastic pollution
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"Researchers developed a durable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brush coating for nylon fabrics that reduces the coefficient of friction and cuts microplastic fiber release during laundering by 93%, without compromising fabric feel, hydrophobicity, or surface structure. Because synthetic textile washing is among the largest single sources of oceanic microplastic pollution, a scalable low-friction fabric finish could dramatically reduce the volume of fibers entering waterways and ultimately the human food chain."
Eco-Sustainable Finishing Treatment of Polyamide Fabrics to Reduce the Release of Microplastics During Washing Processes
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Researchers investigated eco-sustainable surface treatments for polyamide (nylon) fabrics to reduce the shedding of synthetic microplastic fibres during household washing, aiming to cut a major source of marine microplastic pollution at its origin.
Influence of Sewing on Microplastic Release from Textiles During Washing
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Sewing thread and edge effects during textile manufacturing are a dominant factor in microplastic fiber release during washing, accounting for a 43% difference between otherwise similar polyester fabrics. This finding redirects attention from wash conditions to garment construction as a key lever for reducing the estimated 35% of primary ocean microplastics that originate from synthetic textile washing.
Textile Recycling and Microplastics
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This review paper looks at how the fast fashion industry creates mountains of textile waste, and how even our attempts to recycle old clothes can accidentally release tiny plastic fragments called microplastics into the environment. Since microplastics can end up in our water, food, and even our bodies, this matters, it means the recycling solutions we're counting on need better technology and stricter rules to actually solve the problem instead of creating a new one.
Domestic Washing and Drying as the Source of Microplastics from the Textile and Garments
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Every time you wash and dry your clothes, tiny plastic fibers break off and escape into the environment, through wastewater into rivers and oceans, and through dryer vents into the air we breathe. This review paper explains that factors like water temperature, fast-fashion fabric quality, and how often you wash your clothes all affect how many of these microfibers are released, and since treatment plants can't fully filter them out, they end up polluting waterways and potentially our food and air. The good news: simple fixes like laundry filters, mesh washing bags, and choosing higher-quality, less frequently washed clothing can help reduce this pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.