Upon discovering our contribution to microfiber pollution in 2015, we've actively sought partnerships to help mitigate, if not entirely eradicate, the release of synthetic fiber waste into the air and water.
We've been cognizant of the microplastics issue for some time now—this involves the decomposition of items like plastic bottles, yogurt cups, and fishing nets into streams, which then end up in the oceans as expanding debris clusters that infiltrate the diets of marine birds and wildlife. However, microplastic pollution isn't limited to the oceans. According to the World Wildlife Fund, humans are ingesting plastic waste equivalent to a credit card's size every week from the air and water. This plastic waste finds its way not just into the stomachs of shorebirds, but also into human blood and breast milk.
Microfiber particles from synthetic clothing—materials like polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic—are tiny, measuring 5 millimeters or less in length. These particles are either invisible or barely visible as individual strands. However, each year, an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 tons of fibers shed from clothing make their way to the ocean floor. They contribute to between 16 and 35 percent of the ocean's annual microplastic pollution. Given the enormity of this problem and the minuscule size of the particles involved, cleanup is currently not feasible. This places the responsibility squarely on clothing brands to prevent the spread of microfibers at the source.
Over the past eight years, we've made strides on several fronts to minimize the release of microfibers from our polyester and nylon clothes. We've enhanced product engineering and fabric construction to reduce shedding. We've promoted a wardrobe of fewer, higher-quality clothes. We've encouraged customers to wash their clothes less often, and when they do, to use cold water on a gentle cycle. According to the Plastics Lab of the NGO Ocean Wise, washing clothes in cold water on a gentle cycle alone can reduce shedding by 70 percent. We've introduced a GUPPYFRIEND® Washing Bag for washing synthetic clothes that helps prevent some fibers from entering wastewater. We've also partnered with Ocean Wise and the city of Vancouver to explore how municipal filtration systems might capture more of the microfibers released daily from clothes washers.
For the past three years, we've worked closely with Samsung Electronics, helping them introduce significant improvements to home washing machines. Samsung's engineers, with our introduction to Ocean Wise, began testing prototypes soon after our initial meeting. They've now developed a Less Microfiber Filter that can be easily attached to any existing front-loading washer. Ocean Wise has verified that this filter reduces microfiber shedding by 98 percent. We're grateful for Samsung's commitment to both engineering and sustainability, which has been supported by everyone from the company's chairman to its seasoned engineers and gifted younger employees.
While this partnership between a global electronics giant and a company committed to the Earth may seem unlikely, collaborations like these are necessary for the future. Competitors are now following Samsung's lead, planning to introduce washers that reduce microfiber shedding. An important next step is to reduce microfiber emissions into the air from clothes dryers.
While radical new appliance technology from Samsung and others is a significant development, it's not the only way to curb microfiber pollution. Buying better-quality and fewer clothes is the most efficient way to reduce your microfiber impact. The quest for better engineering and construction continues, as does further research into the release of microfibers into the water and atmosphere, our singular life zone.