Great kiwi research into how different clothes fibres biodegrade

Brandon Vickers from Bruntwood Lane

Hi everyone!

Recent research done by an amazing kiwi shows how different clothes fibres biodegrade in water, it's a great read.

I've written a summary, but the attached document is a good technical read.

When it comes to selecting clothes, more thought usually goes into fashion rather than materials.

This is not to say that what clothes are made of is not thought of. Different materials offer different benefits - polypropylene for its inability to retain water, polyester for its sturdiness, wool for its natural warm and breathability or nylon for its economic and recyclable properties.

Something that is generally overlooked is how these materials affect the environment. Which are recyclable and which are biodegradable?

In the research article linked below, the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) put in the time and resources to provide you with some great findings on how different clothing materials degrade in marine environments.

The findings show that natural fibres biodegrade while synthetic fibres have very minimal degradation.

What does this mean?

Natural and synthetic fibres are used in a range of products - clothes, crafting materials, loofahs, toothbrushes etc. With general wear and tear these products inevitably break down and can end up in our oceans & lakes. Which in turn have a carry on effect into damaging our marine life.

We all know the importance of protecting our environment. Being mindful of which products we use and where they end up can help us look after the planet.