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Do Recycled Cotton or Polyester Fibers Influence the Shedding Propensity of Fabrics during Laundering?
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Lab laundering experiments tested whether fabrics made with recycled cotton or polyester shed more or fewer fibers than conventional fabrics during washing. Results showed no significant difference in shedding related to recycled fiber content, suggesting that recycled textiles do not increase microplastic fiber pollution compared to virgin-fiber equivalents.
Fabric shedding during laundering is detrimental to the longevity of clothing textiles, and in the case of non-biodegradable, synthetic fabrics, it is a source of diffuse microplastic fiber pollution. Textile recycling offers numerous economic and environmental benefits; however differences in fabric shedding due to their recycled fiber contents are relatively unknown. Accelerated laundering experiments were conducted to quantify the shedding propensity and characteristics of cotton knit, polyester knit, and twill weave fabrics, each at three differing recycled fiber contents. The 70% recycled polyester shed significantly fewer microfibers than the 40% recycled polyester. No other significant influences of recycled fiber content on shedding propensity were identified. The mean length of shed fibers from the 70% recycled polyester was significantly higher than that of the virgin polyester and the 40% recycled polyester.
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Researchers assessed microplastic fiber release from polyester and polyamide fabrics during simulated washing, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and washing conditions all influenced the quantity of fibers released. The study provides data to help quantify the contribution of laundry to microplastic emissions in wastewater.
Differences in the release of microplastic fibers and fibrils from virgin and recycled polyester textiles
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Researchers compared microplastic fiber and fibril release from virgin versus mechanically recycled polyester textiles during abrasion testing. They analyzed four pairs of commercially available textiles that were identical except for the type of polyester used. The findings provide important data for understanding whether the growing use of recycled polyester in clothing changes the amount or character of microplastic shedding during wear.
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Researchers studied how washing cotton and cotton-polyester fabrics up to 50 times affects how many particles they shed, finding that cotton released significantly more particles than the blended fabric, and that most released particles were smaller than 25 micrometers. Because synthetic polyester fibers in laundry effluent are a recognized source of microplastic pollution in waterways, understanding differences between fabric types helps identify which textiles are higher-risk sources.
Microplastic Release from Domestic Washing
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Researchers measured microfiber release from domestic washing of textile materials across five washing cycles, finding that the amount of microplastic fiber shed varied significantly with washing conditions and fiber type, contributing to aquatic microplastic pollution.
Release of microplastic fibers from synthetic textiles during household washing
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Researchers measured how much microplastic fiber different synthetic fabrics release during home washing, finding that woven fabrics shed more than knitted ones and thicker, heavier fabrics released more fibers overall. Notably, recycled polyester released more microplastic fibers than virgin polyester under the same conditions. The study also found that the optional pre-wash cycle releases significantly more fibers than the main wash, suggesting skipping it could reduce pollution.
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