Clothes are more than a reflection of style—they’re an ecosystem in their own right. Recent research shows that washing synthetic fabrics releases hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibres per load, which make their way into rivers, oceans, and even our drinking water.
The lifecycle of your wardrobe
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres long.
They’re released from synthetic garments in factories during cutting, weaving, and finishing. Workers handling synthetic fibres may be exposed to microplastics through inhalation. After purchase, the materials continue to shed microplastic fibres while they’re worn and release anywhere from 700,000 to 18 million microplastic fibres in a single household wash. At the end of their lives—whether they are recycled or tossed in the landfill—they continue to slough off toxic microplastics.
“Many people are surprised to learn that microplastics pollution from clothing is not limited to fast fashion or cheaper garments—any clothing made of synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, or spandex sheds microplastics, especially during washing,” says Becca Kram-Dos Santos, communications and public engagement specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation.
The multitudes of microplastic particles flowing from our washing machines either wind up in sewage sludge, commonly used as a fertilizer on farmland, or slip through wastewater treatment and infiltrate bodies of water. They can then be ingested by earthworms and microscopic nematodes and continue to work their way up the food chain.
Due to their microscopic size, they’re unrecoverable by the time they’ve reached the ecosystem and continue to linger because of their low biodegradation rate.
When “recycled” makes it worse
Many major brands have replaced virgin polyester with recycled polyester, but this has only magnified the problem. A recent study found that recycled polyester actually sheds the most microfibres.
The environmental impact of microplastics
Evidence of the harm microplastics cause to rivers, oceans, wildlife, and human health is accumulating.
The toxicity of microplastics has been documented in marine life like zebrafish, shellfish, plankton, and floating algae. Accumulated particles in farmland soil may affect crop health and contaminate the food supply. Microplastics in wildlife can also cause many other physical, physiological, and behavioural impacts such as digestive tract blockage, tissue damage, and altered migration routes.
Microplastics have been identified in the human stomach, circulatory system, and organs. In humans, they may be associated with colon and lung cancer and reproductive system disorders. They are also suspected to potentially adversely impact our digestive, respiratory, and immune systems.
Fabrics and care practices that make a difference
Laundering of synthetic textiles—domestic and commercial—is responsible for up to 90 percent of primary microplastics in the oceans. Approximately 35 percent of the microplastics in the ocean come from washing synthetic textiles.
You can minimize this shedding by using microfibre-catching laundry bags, balls, or filters and exploring low-impact washing machines.
Other small actions make a big splash in reducing microplastics:
- washing your clothes in cold water (or a lower temperature)
- washing your clothes on gentler or shorter cycles
- avoiding over-washing
- laundering full loads
The most impactful way to reduce microfibre release is to reduce our use of both virgin and recycled synthetic fibres by investing in natural fabrics, which are biodegradable, such as cotton, linen, wool, and silk.
Beyond your washing machine
According to Kram-Dos Santos, advocacy is essential.
“Most people don’t choose synthetic fabrics knowing they shed plastics; many choose what’s affordable and available,” says Kram-Dos Santos. “Advocacy helps shift responsibility from the consumer upstream toward manufacturers, regulators, and policymakers.”
Public pressure has already put the issue on some policy agendas (such as in the EU), says Kram- Dos Santos. She encourages engaging in meaningful—and accessible—advocacy:
- supporting stronger policies that address microplastic pollution at the source by sending an email, signing a petition, or using a pre-written advocacy tool to contact your elected officials (such as the David Suzuki Foundation’s plastic pollution campaign)
- demanding accountability and change from your favourite clothing brands by asking what they’re doing to reduce fibre shedding and reliance on synthetic materials
- supporting organizations and campaigns that are working on plastic reduction, textile sustainability, and microplastics research to help build momentum for systemic change
Beyond clothes
Rethinking skin and beauty products
It’s not just synthetic fabrics that contribute to microplastic pollution—many conventional skincare and beauty products contain tiny plastic beads, silicones, or microfibres that wash down the drain and into waterways.
Make natural, plant-based, or biodegradable products your go-tos by looking for the following attributes in your beauty products:
- minimal chemical additives
- nourishing ingredients
- eco-friendly packaging
- sustainability-certified
Or go DIY with ingredients at home!
This article was originally published in the May 2026 issue of alive magazine.
