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Research on Monitoring of Microfiber Shedding from Textile Washing and Legal Compliance under the Microplastics Regulatory Framework
Summary
Testing polyester fleece fabrics under EU regulatory methods found that recycled PET fleece shed significantly more microfibers in early wash cycles (485 mg/kg) than virgin PET fleece (295 mg/kg), with shedding stabilizing after the first wash. These findings reveal challenges in setting representative regulatory disclosure values for microfiber emissions, as shedding rates are highly dynamic and material-source-dependent.
The quantification of microfiber shedding during laundering is a critical aspect of textile performance, particularly for synthetic fabrics like polyester fleece. Driven by emerging regulations such as the EU��s Ecodesign for Sustaina-ble Products Regulation (ESPR), standardized testing is crucial for compliance. This study provides a quantitative analysis of fiber loss from two common textiles: 100% virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fleece and 100% recycled PET (rPET) fleece. Employing the AATCC TM212-2021 test method, microfiber release was measured over repeated laundering cycles (1st, 5th, and 10th). Results, derived from structurally equivalent fabrics to isolate material effects, demonstrate the significant influence of raw material source on fabric durability and fiber reten-tion. The rPET fleece exhibited a substantially higher initial shedding rate (485 �� 42 mg/kg) compared to the virgin PET fleece (295 �� 25 mg/kg). For both fabric structures, fiber loss rates decreased markedly after the initial wash, indicating the removal of surface fibers and a subsequent stabilization. These findings, while specific to polyester fleece, underscore the challenges the textile industry will face for similar high-shedding, staple-fiber materials in reporting a single, representative shedding value for legal disclosure. The study concludes that while AATCC TM212 provides an essential benchmark for fabric performance, the dynamic nature of fiber shedding necessitates a nuanced approach for data reporting to ensure compliance with microplastic-related textile legislation.