The Microfiber Problem: How Washing our Clothes is Polluting the Ocean

The Microfiber Problem: How Washing our clothes is Polluting the Ocean. When we wash our clothes, synthetic microplastics – about 5mm in length or less – are shed from the fabric and make their way through our water and sewage systems. Microfibers can be toxic for marine life, causing gastrointestinal infections and reproductive issues. They move up the marine life food chain, accumulating in toxicity, and eventually enter our own bodies through the food we eat. The public is placing pressure on fashion brands to make changes in their raw materials and production practices.