Apart from the ever-increasing overproduction and the associated waste problem, it is the mass-produced synthetic textiles that bring with them numerous (often invisible) environmental hazards.
That is why we are addressing the topic of microplastics today on World Oceans Day:
Where does it come from?
Why is it dangerous?
What is the fashion industry doing about it?
When synthetic garments are washed, tiny plastic microfibers are released (every time!), enter our water systems, pollute the oceans, harm sea creatures and enter our food chain via e.g. fish. Bad news on World Oceans Day (even if it’s not that new anymore): we now eat microplastics when we eat fish.
Unfortunately, the fashion industry is not doing enough. Neither to fix the damage she caused. Nor to prevent further damage and reduce the production of synthetic textiles. The 2022 Fashion Transparency Index found that only 24 percent of major fashion brands disclose what they do to minimize microfiber emissions. Pretty clear. We find.
That’s why we call on the textile industry to take action!
It doesn’t work on your own responsibility (also at this point). There are still no corresponding legal regulations. So we, society, have to take action:
We’re calling for accountability from the fashion industry by asking #WhatsInMyClothes on social media and calling for more action on microfiber abrasion.
So: #WhatsInMyClothes?
What are you doing about it? When will you reduce the synthetic content in your collections? When do you take responsibility?And we? Until it finally becomes mandatory for washing machines to be equipped with a microfibre filter, we use the microfibre bags from Guppyfriend
