Work

Understanding the Flows of Microplastic Fibres in the Textile Lifecycle: A System Perspective

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Microplastics released from synthetic garments pose a complex challenge to society and the environment. Textiles contribute to microplastic pollution throughout their entire lifecycle—from design and production to washing and use to their disposal—and can enter the environment through wastewater, soil, and air. The detachment of fibre fragments and their fate in the environment has received attention in the recent literature but lacks a harmonised research methodology and a holistic approach to the topic. This work presents a model to estimate the flows of microplastic fibres and synthetic garments in geographical Europe, expressed in tonnes per year. It was developed through a search of the literature to provide an estimate of synthetic fibres entering the environment and to identify the connections between the stakeholders involved. A first-level multicriteria decision analysis was conducted to recognise relevant pollution flows: the study revealed significant but poorly understood pathways, such as the flow of microplastics in the indoor and outdoor air during garment wear. Also, the flow of microplastics from the combined sewer overflow of untreated water during heavy precipitation and the flow to the agricultural land from the application of sewage sludge result in relevant pathways to water and soil, respectively. By fostering collaboration across multiple actors, the transition toward sustainable textile practices can significantly reduce fibre pollution.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17198726

Authors: Beatrice Dal Pio Luogo, Gaetano Cascini

Institution: Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896