Test for textile microplastics launched by Hohenstein
Testing service provider Hohenstein has worked with a series of partners to create a new, standardised test method for detecting and classifying the environmental effects of textiles during washing.
Test method DIN SPEC 4872 combines analysis of fibre release, biodegradability and ecotoxicity. It shows how many fibres are released during laundering, how well these fibres degrade in wastewater and how harmful the residues are to the environment.
Hohenstein said that synthetic fibres pose the greatest risk to the environment because of their longevity and lack of biodegradabiliity. But project manager, Juliane Alberts, has also said: “Biodegradability does not mean that natural fibres are completely harmless to the environment. They, too, remain in ecosystems until they completely. In addition, additives, auxiliaries or finishes used in textile production can further slow the degradation process and leach into the environment.”
