Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Natural and Sustainable? Consumers’ Textile Fiber Preferences

Researchers surveyed Norwegian consumers and found a strong preference for natural over synthetic textile fibers, contradicting sustainability tool ratings, while also finding that perceptions of fiber sustainability were negatively correlated with willingness to reduce clothing consumption.

2023 Fibers 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainability Initiatives in the Fashion Industry

This paper examines sustainability efforts in the fashion industry, where synthetic textiles are a major source of microplastic fiber pollution during washing. It reviews industry initiatives and consumer behavior changes aimed at reducing environmental impacts, including microfiber shedding.

2019 IntechOpen eBooks 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-conception d'étoffes en polyester pour limiter le relargage de fragments de fibres microplastiques lors du premier lavage

Researchers investigated the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester textiles during the first machine wash, evaluating how production-stage design choices affect fibre shedding with the goal of developing lower-emission textile manufacturing approaches.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Policies and Perspectives on Regulating Microplastic Fibre Pollution

This review surveys emerging policy options for regulating microplastic fiber pollution from synthetic textiles, examining legislative approaches, industry standards, and the regulatory challenges posed by the ubiquitous presence and uncertain health effects of synthetic fibers.

2022 6 citations
Review Tier 2

Synthetic textile and microfiber pollution: a review on mitigation strategies

This review examines strategies to mitigate synthetic textile microfiber pollution, covering filtration technologies, fiber-shedding-reducing fabric designs, wastewater treatment upgrades, and policy measures.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 96 citations
Review Tier 2

Mapping sustainable options in the fashion industry: A systematic literature review and a future research agenda

This systematic review examined 187 studies on sustainable practices in the fashion industry, which is a major contributor to microplastic pollution through synthetic textiles. Researchers classified sustainable solutions across the purchase, use, and disposal phases of clothing and identified key gaps in current knowledge. The study suggests that addressing fashion industry practices is critical for reducing textile-related microplastic contamination in the environment.

2024 Sustainable Development 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the Flows of Microplastic Fibres in the Textile Lifecycle: A System Perspective

The lifecycle flows of microplastic fibers through the textile industry were mapped, identifying key stages from fiber production through washing and disposal where fibers are shed and enter the environment. This systems-level analysis supports targeted interventions to reduce fiber microplastic pollution at source.

2025 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Challenge in increasing the use of animal-origin textile fibers to reduce microplastic pollution on earth

This review argues that replacing synthetic textile fibers with natural animal-origin fibers—such as wool and silk—could significantly reduce the release of microplastic fibers during washing, which currently contributes large quantities of plastic pollution to aquatic environments. The authors propose a scientific and policy framework to scale up natural-fiber use as a practical strategy for cutting textile-derived microplastic contamination.

2023 Journal of Textile Engineering & Fashion Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fibras Sintéticas como um tipo de microplástico: caminhos para o setor têxtil atuar no combate ao lixo no mar

This Brazilian doctoral thesis examines synthetic fiber release from textile laundering as a major source of microplastic pollution in waterways and the ocean. The work reviews textile parameters affecting fiber release and analyzes certification and regulatory strategies that the textile sector could adopt to reduce marine fiber litter.

2023
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments from washing synthetic textiles

Washing synthetic textiles releases microplastic fibers into wastewater, and this study reviewed the scale of the problem and explored strategies to reduce emissions at the washing machine, garment design, and wastewater treatment levels. Textile laundering is considered one of the largest sources of microplastic fiber pollution reaching aquatic environments.

2021 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Sustainability trends and gaps in the textile, apparel and fashion industries

Researchers conducted a 20-year systematic review of sustainability in the fashion and textile industry, identifying consumer behavior, circular economy practices, and supply chain transparency as the three main research themes. The review highlights that synthetic textile fibers — a major source of microplastic pollution — are embedded in a complex industry that still lacks coherent sustainability standards across its global supply chains.

2023 Environment Development and Sustainability 223 citations
Article Tier 2

Laundry Care Regimes: Do the Practices of Keeping Clothes Clean Have Different Environmental Impacts Based on the Fibre Content?

This study examined how different textile fiber contents influence the environmental impacts of clothing care, finding that synthetic fiber garments generate more microplastic shedding during washing while natural fibers have other environmental trade-offs. Laundry care choices and fiber content both affect how much microplastic pollution is released into wastewater from household textile washing.

2020 Sustainability 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Fibrous Microplastics Release from Textile Production Phases: A Brief Review of Current Challenges and Applied Research Directions

This review examines how microplastic fibers are shed during various stages of textile production, from spinning and weaving to dyeing and finishing. Researchers found that fibrous microplastics account for roughly half to 70% of all microplastics found in global wastewater, primarily originating from synthetic fabric manufacturing and household laundering. The study identifies gaps in current knowledge and explores recycling technologies and regulatory approaches that could help reduce textile microplastic pollution.

2025 Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Gaps, challenges and drivers for environmentally sustainable textile and garment manufacturing in India

This is a policy and sustainability study reviewing the challenges and opportunities for environmentally sustainable textile manufacturing in India; it is not a microplastics research paper, though synthetic textile production is indirectly linked to microfiber pollution.

2023 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effect of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Synthetic Fabrics on the Release of Microplastics during Washing and Drying

Researchers investigated how the physical and chemical properties of synthetic fabrics influence microplastic fiber release during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and surface treatment are key determinants of the quantity and characteristics of released microplastic particles.

2022 Polymers 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Decision-Making in the Fashion Industry : How to influence the fashion industry to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions

This study examined how different actors in the fashion industry make sustainability decisions, noting that the industry is responsible for an estimated 20-35% of microplastics in the ocean from synthetic fiber shedding. The study explores how manufacturers, retailers, and consumers can be influenced to make more environmentally responsible choices.

2021 KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic fibers as microplastics in the marine environment: A review from textile perspective with a focus on domestic washings

This review examined synthetic fibers as a source of microplastics in the marine environment, tracing the full textile lifecycle from manufacturing through use and disposal to understand where and how fibers enter aquatic systems.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 742 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on microplastic emission from textile materials and its reduction techniques

Researchers reviewed how synthetic textile fibers — tiny plastic threads released from clothes during washing, drying, and wearing — are a major source of microplastic pollution, entering waterways and food chains through seafood, salt, and drinking water. They identify fabric type, detergent, and washing conditions as key factors affecting fiber release, and propose textile finishing and regulatory strategies to reduce emissions.

2022 Polymer Degradation and Stability 291 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on Advanced Technology for Sustainable Management of Synthetic Microplastic Waste

This review examines how synthetic microfibers released from textiles during manufacturing, washing, and disposal contribute to microplastic pollution. The paper evaluates advanced technologies for capturing and breaking down these microfibers, which are important because textile-derived microplastics are among the most commonly found types in both the environment and human tissues.

2024 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecodesign of polyester fabrics to limit the release of microplastic fibre fragments during the first wash

Researchers investigated how textile production parameters affect the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester fabrics during the first wash, aiming to develop ecodesign strategies for the textile industry which is responsible for 35% of microplastics released into oceans.

2025 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

Textile industry as a major source of microplastics in the environment

This review examines the textile industry as a major source of microplastic pollution, synthesizing data on recycling technologies and lifecycle assessments for synthetic textile fibers. It identifies barriers to progress — including fiber lamination with metals, rapidly changing fiber types, and low recycling efficiency — and argues that only a globally coordinated reduction in synthetic fiber production will meaningfully curb microplastic release. The textile sector is one of the largest contributors of microfibers to aquatic environments, making systemic change in this industry critical.

2023 Global Journal of Ecology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable collection development towards greener future: Earthsavers

Researchers examined the 'Earthsavers' sustainable textile collection as a case study in environmentally aware fashion design, analyzing how the collection addresses environmental harms from the textile sector including waste disposal, resource depletion, and the role of synthetic plastic-based fabrics.

2022 Communications in development and assembling of textile products 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Facilitating a Circular Economy for Textiles workshop report

Researchers convened a workshop to examine how the textile industry can shift toward a circular economy — one where materials are reused and recycled rather than discarded — covering challenges in fiber identification, sorting technology, and policy standards. The report outlines key technical and regulatory barriers that must be addressed to reduce textile waste, including microfiber pollution from washing.

2022 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Consumer Engagement in Response to Sustainable Social Media Content and Brand Identity of Fashion Brands

This marketing study examines how sustainable social media content and brand identity affect consumer engagement with fashion brands. While not a science paper, consumer behavior toward sustainable fashion is relevant to demand for lower-microfiber synthetic textiles.

2023 Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness 2 citations