How can I prevent plastic pollution when washing my clothes?

When washing your clothes microfibres are often released. These tiny pieces of plastic come off of synthetic clothing and go into the water supply, they are usually missed by filters and end up in the ocean. Microplastic shedding is caused by three things: abrasion, heat and chemicals from detergent.

To prevent plastic pollution when washing your clothes:

• wash your clothes on a cooler and shorter cycle to reduce the amount of microplastics being shed from your clothes
• you could buy a microplastic catching washing bag, which will catch plastics before they enter the water stream
• avoid buying new synthetic clothes, such as those made from polyester or nylon, as these will add to the microplastic footprint of your existing wardrobe
• opt for clothes made from natural fibres like cotton or hemp, which won't shed plastics when you wash them.