Patagonia, maker of those wonderful fleeces, realised it had a problem … and collaborated with Samsung to eliminate micro-plastics, 35% of the world’s plastic waste
February 2, 2023
8 years ago, a team at outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, with a mission to “save our home planet” started to study the environmental impacts of micro plastics.
With every load of laundry, millions of microfibres, each less than 5 mm long, wash down the drain. Some are filtered out at water treatment plants, but others end up in the ocean, where fibres from synthetic fabric make up a surprisingly large amount of plastic pollution – 35%, by one estimate.
Patagonia, of course, are a leading manufacturer of fleece jackets, from where many of those microfibres emerge.
Patagonia and Samsung have now joined forces to flight the microplastics that emerge from clothes.
Microplastics as a result of clothes washing has to date not received the same awareness campaign compared to other sustainability efforts, such as water-saving technologies. When synthetic textiles are washed, microplastics from garments including stretchy denim, fleeces, nylon and polyester will all see microplastics end up in the waterways. Even delicate cycles release copious amounts of plastics.
Add-on filters for washing machines and protective laundry bags are just some of the solutions that are now available to help capture some of the microplastics released during washing.
Samsung says that they are working with Patagonia on a feasible, effective and expandable way to combat the microplastics that result from textiles and laundry. Samsung is designing new machines that minimise the impact of microplastics.
The release of microplastics from synthetic clothes is mainly caused by the mechanical and chemical stresses that fabrics undergo during a washing process in a laundry machine, which lead to the detachment of microfibres from the yarns that constitute the textile.
Last year Samsung pledged it would accelerate the development of eco-conscious home appliances through innovative products and services that can be used in everyday life.
The Patagonia and Samsung collaboration will see select machines using a new filter system and cycle, with both companies look at reducing micro plastics by up to 54%. The washing machines are expected to be available later this year.
Update: see also this Fast Company article.
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