Yhere’s all this talk about microfibers—or fiber fragments, period—but what really happens when clothing, towels, and bedding shed fibers in the wash and enter into our waterways? Depending on the fiber, textiles can accumulate in waterways and break down at different rates—or hardly at all—in wastewater. Cotton microfibers will break down nearly 89%, and polyester fibers only 5%, in freshwater, like rivers and lakes. Cotton microfibers will break down nearly 77%, and polyester fibers, zero. In saltwater, cotton microfibers break down nearly 49%, and polyester fibers, 4%.
Our fabrics are often treated with color or finishes to help with everyday wear. Cotton grows from the earth, just like an oak. Let’s look at how common dyes and performance finishes change how cotton and natural fiber break down in our waterways. Even with textile treatments, the cotton fibers broke down in water at a rate similar to an oak leaf.
Do your part and know your clothes by checking the ingredients for natural fibers, like cotton.
To learn more about cotton and sustainability, visit Cotton Today.
