Patagonia essay highlights microfibre pollution
24/06/2016
"We know a single synthetic garment can shed thousands of synthetic microfibres in a single wash," Patagonia wrote in a post on its blog. It added that the irregular shape of synthetic fibres could be a threat to smaller organisms. These organisms could enter the food chain and become a danger to humans.
"We know we sell a lot of fleece; what we produce, combined with all the polyester and nylon products made and sold by other outdoor and apparel brands (and other industries), may constitute a significant problem,” Patagonia said, adding that there is a lot that remains unknown about the impact of synthetic microfibers on the oceans.
As a result of the findings of the study, Patagonia announced plan to take action on a variety of fronts. These include:
•Working with other brands through the Outdoor Industry Association to gain more knowledge of the problem and decide on future action.
•Exploring ways to address the shedding of synthetic microfibres and incorporating these news ideas into future products.
•Supporting non-profit organisations who are working to bring awareness to the problem of microplastics in the ocean.
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