Last week, an article about the Mermaids project was published in The Guardian. Mermaids deals with the mitigation of microplastics impact caused by textile washing processes, highlighting the growing concern around this environmental issue.
Here is an extract of the article. Click here to read the full article. Many thanks to May Catherine O’Connor for this good piece of news! Enjoy the reading!
“Researchers launched Mermaids in 2015 and set an ambitious goal to cut the amount of microfiber shedding during washing by 70%. The Italian National Research Council led the research, with help from Polysistec, a maker of textile coatings, and Leitat, a Spanish research council.
The Mermaids researchers pinpointed factors in the manufacturing of polyester and acrylic textiles that influence the amount of fibers shed during laundering or even normal wear. They recommended changes, such as lowering the melting temperature during yarn production to improve its tensile strength and reduce the likelihood of breakage. However, these changes come with trade-offs, including potential slower production rates.
The researchers also evaluated a range of coatings or chemical treatments for their ability to inhibit fiber loss. Coatings already used by textile makers, such as silicone and acrylic finishes, produced mixed results, ranging from no reduction to cutting fiber loss by as much as 40%. One of two bio-based finishes, chitosan, derived from crustacean shells, reduced fiber loss by up to 50% compared to untreated fabrics.
While the Mermaids report offers recommendations, it doesn’t address the financial and technical challenges of implementing these manufacturing changes. So far, textile and apparel makers appear unconvinced that they should invest in these innovations.”
This project has received the contribution of the LIFE financial instruments of the European Union.
