When we machine wash clothes made of synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, our laundry sheds microplastic fibers. You can use an in-drum solution like the GUPPYFRIEND washing bag to reduce microfiber shedding from laundry and prevent microplastics from entering our waterways.
The bag was tested over a period of three years by representatives of the outdoor and textile industry, retailers, universities, and the following scientific and independent institutes:
- German Textile Research Center North-West, DTNW
- Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT)
- UC Santa Barbara as part of the Patagonia research program
The results:
- The GUPPYFRIEND bag drastically reduced the number of fibers that broke off in the wash. Tests by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT showed on average 79% with partly synthetic clothes and 86% with completely synthetic clothing.
- The plastic fibers that did break off in the wash were retained in the bag by over 90% in all tests, and thus did not pollute wastewater.