A new study shows that microplastics release from microfiber cleaning supplies, just like they do from textile clothing. These plastics end up in our water and in our bodies.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are everywhere. Even in places you wouldn’t expect, like our brains. You probably know already what microplastic is, because it’s a huge topic. But just to remind you, microplastics are teeny tiny plastic particles with a maximum of 0,5 millimeters, that are a result from the production of synthetic materials. These particles are a threat to us humans, wildlife, and the planet itself. The tiny plastics can enter our body though air, food and drinks.
According to scientific research microplastic can even end up in our brain. Researchers found 5 milligrams of microplastic, per gram of brain tissue. According to this news article on Dutch news site nu.nl the average human brain contains a spoons worth of plastic.
Note that the researchers are really cautious about their findings, more research is needed on this matter. And next to that, it is still unknown if it’s actually damaging or not. But it sure doesn’t look good, does it?
Where do all these microplastics come from?
One of the biggest sources of microplastics is the wearing and washing of synthetic textiles. Washing those materials will result in the release of microplastics in the water. Eventually ending up in our sewage system. During the water treatment process, most of these fibers get filtered out. But the smallest particles will end up in our surface water.
The research on microplastic
Shocking research shows that washing microfiber mops releases quite the amount of microplastic. The same happenes with the washing of consumer textiles. These are items like clothing. The research, conducted by VSR, shows that large quantities of microplastics have been found after the laundry process of microfiber mops.
Previous studies have shown that most plastic particles are released during the first wash. With repeated washing, the release of microplastics decreases. For example, a new t-shirt sheds more microplastics than one that has been washed multiple times.
Microfiber is even worse. The number of microplastics that release actually increases with each wash. So older materials will release more microplastic in comparison to new materials.
Can we reduce the amount of microplastics?
Yes! By switching to sustainable cleaning solutions, we can stop the microplastics from polluting our water. It is possible to reduce the number of microplastics, at least the ones coming from cleaning materials like textile microfiber mops. Just make the switch to single-use cleaning mops and cloths. Why? You won’t have to wash them. So there isn’t a risk of those plastics getting in our water.
We make different kinds of single-use cleaning solutions. All created with sustainability in mind.
Our Vegatex dust cloths, for example, are 100% plastic-free. And then we have floor pads these are made out of 100% recycled PET materials. Giving a second life to old plastic bottles.
Do you want to join us in our mission towards a more sustainable future? Take a look on our product page to see what we have to offer. You can always contact us for more information. We’re happy to help!
