Clothing firms urged to act on plastic pollution

London – On the opening day of London Fashion Week, Friends of the Earth are
calling on the fashion industry to do more to tackle plastic pollution, as
new figures highlight that the sector is a “significant contribution” to
the problem.

The environmental campaign group states clothes washing in the UK is
estimated to generate around 4,000 tonnes of plastic microfibre pollution
every year, of which 1,600 tonnes could be ending up in our rivers and
estuaries.

The call for the fashion industry to act on plastic pollution coincides
with a new survey, showing that most people aren’t aware that much of our
clothing is plastic-based. The Friends of the Earth-commissioned YouGov
poll found that only 45 percent of the public know that new clothing can
often be made from, or contain, plastic.

As much as two-thirds of UK clothing could be made from synthetic
plastic material, such as polyester, acrylic or polyamide, according to the
environmental group.

Friends of the Earth plastics campaigner Emma Priestland said in a
statement: “The fashion industry is a major contributor to plastic
pollution, shedding tonnes of tiny plastic microfibres into our oceans via
our washing machines every year.

“These fibres are so small that they pass through water treatment
facilities and end up in the food chain when they are swallowed by small
creatures in our seas. The industry must help stop this tsunami of plastic
pollution.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Friends of the Earth (@friends_earth) on Sep 8, 2018 at 10:45am PDT

Friends of the Earth call on fashion industry to do more to tackle
plastic pollution

The charity is urging the public to embrace slow fashion by choosing
fewer, more durable clothing items made from sustainable material, which
can be kept longer, as well as urging the clothing industry to take steps
to reduce its contribution to the plastic pollution entering our oceans.

Priestland added: “Eco-conscious shoppers can play their part by
embracing slow fashion and choosing better quality, less-polluting clothes
or buying vintage items. Ultimately, to end the plastic pollution crisis,
we need government action to phase-out all but the most essential
plastics.”

Key tips include: buying fewer fleeces as polyester fleece is thought to
be one of the biggest emitters of microfibres due to its construction,
instead the charity is suggesting consumers buy woollen fleeces as an
alternative.

While for maintaining clothing for longer it suggests washing clothes at
lower temperatures, typically under 30°C, as a lower temperature wash is
less aggressive, so therefore less likely to stimulate fibre release and
also saves energy. In addition, it adds to reduce spin speeds, use
environmentally friendly liquid detergent, use a special ‘Guppy’ friend bag
to collect fibres to help reduce fibre release from clothes, and air dry
rather than tumble dry.

Image: courtesy of Friends of the Earth