Micro Plastics And Environment: How Long Will Textile Fibers Last

How long will textile fibers last?

More and more media reports on plastics in the ocean. Wildlife organizations are also warning that a large amount of plastic is entering the sea. A random search on the Internet shows that unlucky fish are trapped in discarded plastic bags, and whales and other marine mammals die from eating plastic.

According to the data of Geyer et al. i, from 1950 to 2015, about 60% (nearly 5 billion tons) of plastics were discarded in the total production of polymer resins, synthetic fibers and additives. Of these, 600 million tons are fibers. The final destination of these plastics is the landfill; Some of them leak into the natural environment, causing greater harm.

Eriksen et al. ii estimated that 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing 270000 tons were floating in the global ocean. Microfibers generally refer to fibers with a length of 5 mm or less. In recent years, as microplastics penetrate the food web and spread to every corner of the earth, affecting the ecosystem and health, people begin to pay more and more attention to this most neglected plastic problem. In addition, plastic particles may also attract and absorb other harmful pollutants, which eventually enter the body of fish, leading to the bioaccumulation of toxic compounds.

According to the latest report of PLOS Oneiii, 81% of tap water samples, 12 samples of American beer brands and 100% of sea salt samples were contaminated by microplastics. The source of microplastics is a key issue. About 85 million metric tons of polyester fiber produced annually may be a major source, most of which are clothing and household goods.

When the fabric is washed, micro fibers are generated and then discharged into the sewage treatment system. The sewage enters the urban sewage treatment plant, and some fibers are filtered and precipitated into the sludge. Others directly enter the drainage ditch. Sludge is usually dried and used as agricultural fertilizer, in which a large number of fibers that were initially removed are eventually released into the sea.

Cotton garments can be considered as one of the sources of cellulose microfibers when washed. It is well known that cotton and other natural fibers, such as wool, will naturally degrade after entering the environment. How about the degree and speed of degradation? Compared with micro plastics? Researchers at the North Carolina Institute of Natural Resources set out to learn more about what happens to small particles of cotton, polyester, rayon and poly/cotton. In the accelerated laundry test and environmental degradation research, researchers found that although cotton fiber produced microfibers, unlike microplastics, cotton fiber can be rapidly degraded in seawater, lake water and urban sewage treatment plants. The conclusion of this study is that compared with polymer fiber, cotton fiber is the most environmentally friendly fiber.

Textile manufacturers are one of the main sources of microfiber problems. They should make environmental protection decisions to minimize the impact on the environment. COTTON USATM can help with this. Cotton is a kind of strong and tough natural fiber, which has a variety of unprecedented innovative uses, such as cotton flannelette. American cotton is planted with the highest sustainable standard, and its biodegradation speed is fast. Throughout the life cycle, cotton is the best choice for the environment and enterprises.

About the author:

Jordan has more than 40 years of experience in cotton production, processing and textile services. He is the boss of Jordan Associates, a consulting company that provides clients with consulting services on sustainable production practices and standards. Jordan served as the Vice President of the Technical Service Department of the National Cotton Industry Association of the United States and the Executive Director of Cotton Foundation, a research and education institution of the National Cotton Industry Association of the United States.