Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Research on Recycling Design of Clothing Textiles Based on Sustainable Development

This review examines sustainable design strategies for recycling and reusing clothing and textiles, covering the full lifecycle from design to end-of-life disposal. Textile recycling is relevant to microplastic pollution because synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon shed microplastic fibers during washing.

2023 The Frontiers of Society Science and Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastics release from polyester fabrics: The impact of different washing conditions

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.

2020 Environmental Pollution 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, characterizing the quantity and types of microplastics generated and their potential pathway into wastewater systems as a significant source of environmental microplastic pollution.

2022 Materials 139 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

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

Quantification of shedding propensity of polyesterfabrics in the washing process

Researchers quantified microplastic shedding from three polyester fabric types — woven, knitted, and double-faced plush — under standardized washing conditions at 60°C using gravimetric analysis and physicochemical characterization of wastewater over 5- and 10-cycle wash experiments. Results showed fabric structure influences shedding propensity, and that the majority of fragments are released during the first washing cycles.

2024 The holistic approach to environment 1 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

Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters

Researchers measured microfiber release from polyester garments into both wash water and air during everyday wear, finding that release into air was comparable to or exceeded laundry release and was influenced by fabric structure, yarn type, and twist level.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 404 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

Polyester Textiles as a Source of Microplastics from Households: A Mechanistic Study to Understand Microfiber Release During Washing

Researchers conducted a mechanistic study of microplastic fiber shedding from polyester textiles in household washing machines, identifying wash temperature, spin speed, and detergent type as key variables affecting fiber release rates.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 744 citations
Article Tier 2

Reducing microfiber release from polyester fabrics through optimization of spinning process parameters

Researchers identified yarn hairiness — the tiny fibers sticking out from a thread — as the primary driver of microfiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, and showed that selecting the right spinning method (Siro compact spinning) at manufacturing can reduce microplastic shedding by minimizing those protruding fibers at the source.

2025 Fashion and Textiles
Article Tier 2

Domestic laundry and microfiber pollution: Exploring fiber shedding from consumer apparel textiles

Researchers measured microfiber shedding from a range of consumer apparel textiles during simulated laundry cycles, finding that fiber release varied substantially by fabric type, construction, and wash conditions, with polyester fleece releasing the most microfibers per wash.

2021 PLoS ONE 144 citations
Article Tier 2

Clothing and Textile Sustainability

This review examines sustainability challenges facing the global clothing and textile industry, covering resource use, chemical pollution, and the growing problem of microfiber release from synthetic textiles. Synthetic garments shed millions of microplastic fibers with every wash, making the textile industry a major contributor to global microplastic pollution.

2020 Textile & Leather Review 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Reducing Microplastic Fiber Fragment Emissions from Woven Fabrics During Laundering by Controlling Weaving Process Parameters: A Contribution to Sustainable Textile Ecodesign

Scientists found that the way polyester fabrics are woven affects how many tiny plastic fibers wash out in the laundry and end up in our water supply. By changing specific weaving techniques—like using fewer threads per inch and certain weave patterns—manufacturers could reduce these microplastic releases by up to 70%. This matters because these microscopic plastic fragments can end up in our drinking water and food chain, potentially affecting human health.

2026 Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Developments in Recycling of Polyester Textile Waste

This review examines developments in polyester textile waste recycling, discussing how the fast fashion model has shortened garment lifespans, increased waste, and contributed to microplastic pollution from synthetic fibres. The authors survey mechanical, chemical, and circular economy recycling approaches, highlighting low current recycling rates especially in developing countries and the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption.

2023 Advance Research in Textile Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The global apparel industry: a significant, yet overlooked source of plastic leakage

This study provides the first comprehensive estimate of the global apparel industry's total contribution to plastic pollution, including microfiber shedding during washing, packaging waste, and end-of-life textile disposal. The apparel sector is identified as a major and largely underestimated source of plastic entering the environment.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

“The effect of the detergent on microfibre release during the washing process of polyester textiles”

This study examined how detergent type affects microfiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, finding that detergent surfactant concentration and formulation significantly influenced fiber shedding, with some products reducing fiber release while others increased it compared to water-only washing.

2021 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics Released Based on Polyester Fabric Construction during Washing and Drying

Researchers characterized microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction type significantly influences fiber shedding rates, with looser fabric structures releasing substantially more microplastic fibers per wash cycle.

2021 Polymers 31 citations
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

Effect of Washing Process on the Release of Microplastics from Polyester Fabrics

Researchers conducted an analytical evaluation of microplastic and fiber release from tri-color pile polyester fabrics during washing with detergent, employing multiple characterization methods on the fabric, wastewater, and filter cake before and after cryogenization to assess defragmentation and fiber shedding.

2025 Separations
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

Quantifying shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles; a source of microplastics released into the environment

Researchers quantified the shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles during simulated washing, finding that fabric type, age, and wash conditions significantly affected fiber release, and establishing a quantitative basis for estimating textile-derived microplastic inputs.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 590 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of fibrous microplastics from functional polyester garments through household washing

Functional polyester garments released measurable quantities of fibrous microplastics during household washing, with fiber shedding rates influenced by garment type and washing conditions, while German wastewater treatment plants captured a significant but incomplete fraction.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Reducing microplastic fiber shedding from hand-washed polyester

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber shedding from hand-washed polyester fabric, addressing a gap since most prior studies focused on machine laundering despite the majority of global garment washing being done by hand. They tested coating-based mitigation strategies and found effective approaches for reducing fiber release during hand washing. The study demonstrates that hand-washing conditions and mitigation techniques deserve specific attention in efforts to reduce textile-derived microplastic pollution.

2025 Scientific Reports 1 citations