During a washing machine, thousands of microparticles plastic leaks from clothes. In the oceans, this invisible and diffuse pollution is added to plastic bags and packaging. In what clothes are they hiding these microfibersfiltered and very concentrated? Polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from petroleum and “100% plastic“, represents for example “65% of clothing marketed throughout the world”, explains Pauline Debrabandere, advocacy and campaigns manager at Zero Waste France.
Microfibers are released into the water when washing, in large quantities. “In a machine weighing approximately 6 kg, we will release 700,000 microfibers per wash”, specifies Pauline Debrabandere. To retain plastic, some manufacturers have installed a filter integrated directly into the washing machine. 90% will bet thus trapped. The solution was to be mandatory on all new machines in the 1st January 2025, but no decree has yet been published.
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