Microfibre pollution: causes, effects and interventions
Under the microscope: the causes and effects of microfibre pollution, and actions for intervention
By Ella Harvey, Dr Rory Sullivan and Nicky Amos, Chronos Sustainability
· The First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute (SII) has issued a new report, authored by Chronos Sustainability, on the issue of microfibre pollution: Microfibres: the invisible pollution from textiles.
· The report explains how microfibres, tiny particles shed from textiles and clothing, are formed, how they enter the environment and how they might impact on the environment and human health.
· The report offers practical recommendations to textile and clothing manufacturers, policymakers and investors on how they might address the issue of microfibre pollution.
All textiles, including natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic materials shed microscopic fibres, or microfibres, throughout their lifecycle. While being manufactured, while being used, washed and dried, and after they are disposed of, these microfibres are then released into air or wastewater and find their way into the natural environment.
Microfibres have been found in the deep ocean, on beaches, in rivers and in the atmosphere. They have also been found in animals, as their microscopic size means they can be easily ingested by organisms at the base of the food chain. When microfibres are ingested and move up the food chain, they can eventually contaminate human food.
The environmental and health implications of microfibre pollution have been gaining attention over the past decade due to the scale and ubiquity of this growing problem. Over 5 million metric tonnes of synthetic microfibres alone were estimated to be in the environment in 2015.
Global textile production and consumption is likely to continue to expand, and annual microfibre release – if left unaddressed – is expected to increase substantially over the next few decades.
Despite the scale of the problem, research on the implications of microfibre pollution and exposure is still in its infancy, and microfibre release is still largely unregulated.
A new report from the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute - Microfibres: the invisible pollution from textiles - explores the sources and scale of microfibre pollution, its pathways into the environment, and how its accumulation can affect the environment and human health, and makes four key recommendations to tackle the issue:
(1) Regulate textile shedding rates: Since some textiles and fibres shed microfibres at different rates, meaning some types of textiles contribute to microfibre pollution more than others. Therefore, policymakers can pass regulations such as a maximum textile shedding rate, and industry can engage in voluntary initiatives to self-regulate shedding rates.
(2) Curb microfibre loss during textile and apparel manufacturing: Industry can implement and promote best practices during fabric and garment manufacturing to curb microfibre loss, such as using ultrasound cutting techniques or applying non-shed coatings to textiles.
(3) Install microfibre filters on washing machines: Filtration technologies already exist at cost-competitive prices but it is up to policymakers to mandate their widespread adoption, either through minimum product standards requiring filtration technology to be installed on washing machines, or through product labelling to facilitate informed consumer choice.
(4) Improve microfibre capture efficiency at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs): Since WWTPs often intercept residential and commercial wastewater containing microfibres before it enters the environment, improving microfibre retention rates at these plants can reduce the volume of microfibres entering the environment.
The report also highlights the critical role that investors can play to:
a) encourage companies to take a proactive approach to managing microfibre pollution, both through implementing best practices and through developing new product line
b) encourage policymakers to adopt measures such as setting standards, providing funding for research, and leveraging economic instruments.
It is only through research, education, collaboration and action that the challenges of microfibre pollution can be addressed. Chronos Sustainability is proud to support the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute on shining a spotlight on the issue of microfibres and their potential threat to our aquatic environments and human health.
Notes
First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute
The First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute is a joint venture initiative between First Sentier Investors and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation. The Institute provides research on topics that can advance sustainable investing and works with global research groups, consultants and academics to examine Environmental, Social and Governance issues and better understand how our investment practices can lead to a more sustainable world.