The efficiency of devices intended to reduce microfibre release during clothes washing

The washing of synthetic clothes is considered to be a substantial source of microplastic to the environment. Therefore, various devices have been designed to capture microfibres released from clothing during the washing cycle. In this study, we compared 6 different devices which varied from prototypes to commercially available products. These were designed to either be placed inside the drum during the washing cycle or fitted externally to filter the effluent wastewater discharge. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of these devices at mitigating microfibre release from clothing during washing or at capturing any microfibres released in the wastewater. When compared to the amount of microfibres entering the wastewater without any device (control), the XFiltra filter was the most successful device. This device captured microfibres reducing their release to wastewater by around 78%. The Guppyfriend bag was the second most successful device, reducing microfibre release to wastewater by around 54%; it appeared to mainly work by reducing microfibre shedding from the clothing during the washing cycle. Despite some potentially promising results it is important to recognise that fibres are also released when garments are worn in everyday use. Researchers and industry need to continue to collaborate to better understand the best intervention points to reduce microfibre shedding, by considering both product design and fibre capture.