5 Ways to Reduce Microplastic Pollution

In the last post, Why is Plastic Bad for the Ocean, I talked about how plastic harms our ocean but what about microplastics? First, what are microplastics? Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than 5 mm in length. They break off from larger pieces of plastic and wear down smaller and smaller.

When microplastics break off, they make their way into the environment via air, water ways, and other forms of transportation. These microplastics include microfibers which are shed from synthetic materials like polyester, rayon, and nylon when washed.

In a University of Plymouth study, researchers found a single load of laundry could release 700,000 microfibers.

The water from your washing machine goes to the local waste water treatment plant which removes large debris and treats the water. These treatment plants cannot filter tiny microfibers. Similarly, they could not filter tiny scrubbing microbeads that were commonly found in face and body washes before they were banned in 2015.

What I found the most surprising in reading about microplastics is that the majority of microplastics being found in our water, beer, food, air are actually microfibers from synthetic materials.

What is a synthetic material? Any material that is not naturally grown. Cotton is grown in the ground and wool we get from sheep. Synthetic materials, like polyester, are manufactured in a lab, oftentimes from plastics derived from oil. Yes, your polyester shirt is made from plastic. I was bummed out when I learned this too.

A few years ago, I switched back to natural fibers for a completely different reason. In planning for our first child, I wanted to create a clean and toxic-free environment for our future baby. After reading about how cotton is one of the most chemically intensive crops in the world, I started buying organic cotton clothes since pesticides are not used when growing organic cotton. We think of our skin as a barrier but it can absorb chemicals from our fabrics.

When I became pregnant I had serious skin issues. I developed eczema on my hands and when I wore any synthetic material I developed a rash. As if being pregnant wasn’t uncomfortable enough. During this time I started slowly replacing my clothes with organic cotton and other natural fibers. No more rashes and less microfibers entering the ocean!

So, here are 5 ways to reduce microplastic pollution:

1. Shop for natural materials when shopping for clothes, sheets, and other washed textiles. Natural fibers include:

• cotton
• wool
• silk
• linen
• hemp
• rayon
• viscose
• bamboo
• lyocell
• modal

Like previously mentioned, the majority of microplastics polluting our environment are microfibers. So, choosing natural fibers will make the biggest dent in the problem. While you’re at it, opt for organic cotton to ensure no pesticides are used.

2. Wash your clothes less. We get into habits, go on auto-pilot and stop thinking about things. We automatically wash clothes after every wear but is that necessary? I started wearing my work clothes (which are still mainly synthetic materials) at least twice before washing them. (Hopefully, none of my coworkers reading this think I smell.) I make exceptions for summer days when it’s scorching hot and I get a little sweaty. By washing your synthetic fabrics less, you release less plastic microfibers into the environment.

3. Stop using glitter. Yes, I’m sorry crafty readers, glitter is plastic. I’m not a fan of glitter–even before going plastic-free. It gets EVERYWHERE. Please, do not send me greetings cards with glitter.

4. Refuse single-use plastics. Single-use plastics are usually thin and cheaply constructed and thus easier to breakdown into microplastics.

5. Stop drinking bottled water. A study measuring microplastics from bottled and tap water from countries around the world found that bottled water had up to 7 times as many microplastic particles in a sample.

There are also a number of solution entering the market such as microfiber filter attachments for your washing machine, a ball or bag that catches microfibers in the washer.

Do you already do some of these 5 tips? What are other things you do to prevent microplastics from entering our oceans? Tell me in the comments!

For more tips on reducing your plastic usage, start at the Start Here page.