Microplastic analysis and water monitoring
11. April 2025
Standardized microplastic sampling and detection
30. April 2025
Recycling or standard? How much microplastic is really released from different synthetic textile raw materials?
Microplastic-free textiles? This is wishful thinking and far from reality, as most of the textiles produced today contain at least some synthetic fibers. These consist of polymers such as polyamide, polyester or elastane.
Microplastics, synthetic polymer particles smaller than 5mm, are created during the production, manufacturing, use, and recycling of textiles - in every processing step up to incineration.
Not a trace is microplastic-free. The addition of chemicals in the various process steps is also common practice.
And just because you find a sticker on the product certifying that it is chemical-free, PFAS-free or microplastic-free does not mean that this is the case throughout its entire life cycle.
For textiles, the focus is also shifting to the washing machine. It is described as one of the main places where microplastics are created.
In this context, there is also increasing talk of the microplastic footprint. Scientists estimate that washing synthetic fabrics is responsible for 34.8% of the primary type B microplastic particles that end up in wastewater or in our rivers and, at a later stage, in the sea.
Laundry as a microplastic hotspot
Microplastics are produced mechanically (rotation, friction) and chemically (water, detergent, fabric softener) with every wash cycle when textiles are washed in the laundry machine. In the media, most journalists still refer to scientists' estimates that up to 700,000 potential microplastic fibers can be released per wash load during a wash cycle. Typical household wastewater ends up in wastewater treatment plants. Most wastewater treatment plants can only retain small amounts of microplastics, with the remainder ending up in our aquatic environment or introduced into our soil as fertilizer with the sewage sludge. But what about recycled fibers regarding microplastics?
Microplastic release during washing - What can everyone change directly without it costing anything?
There are many factors that influence the release of microplastics during washing. We have already closed some knowledge gaps in our first washing machine study in 2023.
Numerous washing parameters such as temperature, spin speed, washing time, but also the detergent used, and the various properties of different textiles have an influence on microfiber release. There are now numerous supposed ways to capture such microplastic. We took a closer look at whether such filters, bags and the like are able to retain microplastics (and to what extent) in a previous blog post.
Small spoiler: In our washing machine study, we collected so many answers and were able to derive real recommendations for action on individual washing parameters for everyday life. For example, if you reduce the washing temperature and number of revolutions and use a detergent, you can reduce 71% of the microplastics released from synthetic materials during washing. Without filters or other changes!
The introductory question of the microplastics study
In our new microplastic study, we took a closer look at the microfiber release from various synthetic textile base materials. The idea for the study came from a joint exchange at the wastewater treatment plant.
Oleg - pole vault professional and co-worker of Wasser 3.0
Insights
As you may already know, the Wasser 3.0 team is quite sporty. Oleg and Dennis are successful pole vaulters. Katrin likes to cycle a lot, Erika climbs, Maike runs a lot and used to play soccer. Anika, Pieter and Michael sometimes cycle to microplastic sampling sites or go to the gym. So everyone in the team regularly uses synthetic fibers.
The question was whether there are differences between the materials. That's why we ordered several basic materials from cycling jerseys.
There is currently no detection standard for determining the release of fibers and microplastics in the washing machine, so we have developed an (internal) standard. We rely on fluorescence microscopy and our innovative fluorescent markers for microplastic analysis. These selectively stain microplastic particles, regardless of the polymer type, but not natural particles. This enables us not only to distinguish particles, but also to analyze them comparatively, quickly, with a high throughput and maximum efficiency.
The study design and the answers
The study design was quickly found. We washed different fabric components under laboratory conditions at 40 degrees and removed them from the water after certain washing times. Despite the fabrics having the same field of application and very similar properties, there were major differences in the release of fibers.
When evaluating the microplastic release, a distinction was made between microplastic particles and microplastic fibers. The differences between the substances are immense. When looking at the release of fibers, the values range from 813,812 fibers per kg of fabric and wash cycle to 1,987,989 fibers per kg of fabric and wash cycle, a difference by a factor of 2.4. The release of microplastic particles far exceeds the values for fibers. These range from 13,455,509 MP per kg of fabric and wash cycle to 330,027,079 MP per kg of fabric and wash cycle, a difference by a factor of 24. This not only shows that enormous quantities of microplastics are released during washing, but also that there are significant differences between supposedly identical source materials.
There is still too much ignorance and too much opinion-making without a data basis
The study once again underlines the importance of data. Only those who have comparative data at hand can make recommendations for action. The fact is:
Without comparative data, we are all just people with opinions.
We at Wasser 3.0 are working every day to provide answers, close gaps in our knowledge and pave the way for finally avoiding and removing microplastics. The book “Rebel of Water” by Katrin Schuhen also provides exciting approaches.
Together towards the future of water
We need your financial help to keep going – full steam ahead. We receive no funding for almost all these everyday research questions. Although the questions are asked, there are no national funding tools for this. Foundations help here and there if they can, but of course they also receive many requests, so unfortunately a wave of rejections is also common for us.
We can only continue in the future if we open alternative funding channels and that's where you come in: Become part of the solution and support us financially so that we can continue to provide answers and close knowledge gaps. Thank you very much!
