145
Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution—here's how to clean your clothes more sustainably (theconversation.com)
submitted 10 months ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/green@lemmy.ml
55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The most common microplastics in the environment are microfibers—plastic fragments shaped like tiny threads or filaments. Microfibers come from many sources, including cigarette butts, fishing nets and ropes, but the biggest source is synthetic fabrics, which constantly shed them.

Textiles shed microfibers while they are manufactured, worn and disposed of, but especially when they are washed. A single wash load can release several million microfibers. Many factors affect how many fibers are released, including fabric type, mechanical action, detergents, temperature and the duration of the wash cycle.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] rekabis@lemmy.ca 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Cotton, wool, linen, silk, hemp, bamboo, etc..

Even Rayon/Viscose is “decent”, as it’s a pulp and paper product.

Downside is that it is much, much easier to find near-100% natural products as a guy than as a girl. A lot of clothing for women come only in synthetic fibres, and the struggle for my wife is very, very real.

And even as a guy, you have to be aware of mixes. Many fabrics may be up to 95% of one thing (cotton, etc.), but then have a half-dozen synthetic additives (for additional physical attributes, like stretchiness) that then contribute to those microfibres that don’t easily break down.

Even as a hard Atheist, I frequently (and jokingly) turn down clothing due to the fact that it violates Leviticus 19:19.

[-] ebikefolder@feddit.de 2 points 10 months ago

As a fellow atheist, I love your bible argument! 😂

I can imagine it's more difficult for women, but as a man I haven't really looked into that. And as an old man dressing more on the "formal" side it might be easier to find clothes, than younger "athleisure" people.

[-] rekabis@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The hilarious bit is when I see salespeople wearing visibly obvious Christian symbols (a cross on a necklace, for example) who get either visibly confused at my reference, like they have no clue of that passage or what it says, or get visibly offended that I am (ostensibly) living my life biblically, like a good Christian should.

I was even once asked why I was not wearing a cross. Enraged the dude by telling him that all iconography and symbols - like a cross - is nothing more than a golden calf.

[-] BrowseMan@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

True question: bamboo, rayon, viscose, tencel, etc... are "natural" product artificially polymerized. Aren't these similar to plastics in the sense of a polymerized chain?

Does it degrades faster than "traditional" plastics? I'll have to look into that.

And I otherwise completely agree with you. I'm now only buying if cotton/linen/wool. However hard to find clothes made 100% with these. :(

this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2024
145 points (90.1% liked)

Green - An environmentalist community

5234 readers
52 users here now

This is the place to discuss environmentalism, preservation, direct action and anything related to it!

RULES:

1- Remember the human

2- Link posts should come from a reputable source

3- All opinions are allowed but discussion must be in good faith

Related communities:

Unofficial Chat rooms:

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
theloneforager@lemmy.ml
Chloe@lemmy.ml