Washing machine manufacturers are starting trials with an innovative technology that could remove polluting microfibres from our washing loads before it reaches sewers, rivers and seas.

Microfibres are tiny fragments of fabrics shed from clothes and other textiles, and are a major source of pollution in the environment. In the UK alone, more than 9 trillion microfibres are released from domestic washing machines into wastewater every week and most treatment plants do not have the capability to remove them.

Synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester are staples of sportswear and fashion, but they are also a source of microplastics that do not biodegrade in the environment. Chemically-treated cotton, softened for luxury clothing, can also contribute to the problem.

UK technology company Xeros is tackling the issue head on, paving the way for microfibre filtration in household washing machines by working with two manufacturers to test and trial its XFiltra technology. The company has already launched products for commercial laundries.

“Microplastics are affecting our environment in so many ways, and it’s still something that we don’t fully understand,” explains Tom Stanton, a researcher in the School of Geography and Faculty of Engineering at University of Nottingham. “Any wildlife in or around rivers is exposed to the threats of microplastic pollution.

“We know that they can be ingested by organisms as small as zooplankton. If ingested, microplastics can block the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms, or trick them into thinking they don’t need to eat, leading to starvation."

There are many ways to address the problem of the release of microfibres into the environment. We can all contribute by buying fewer clothes and washing them less often.

Improving the quality of fabrics and clothes so they don’t shed as many microfibres and developing better wastewater management systems is also important. Another obvious place for attention is our washing machines

Currently France is the only country with legislation in place for microfibre filters in new washing machines to be mandatory by 2025, with the EU likely to follow suit. In September 2021 the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Microplastics released a report calling on the Government to pass legislation mandating microfibre filtration in all domestic and commercial washing machines by 2025, following a campaign by the Women's Institute.

Xeros boss Mark Nichols said, “Washing machine manufacturers are increasingly putting sustainability and protecting the environment at the heart of their products. This includes preventing microfibre pollution, which is generated by washing clothes.

“We’re delighted to be partnering directly with multiple washing machine brands and a world-renowned component supplier to the industry, all of whom share our concern for the environment, our passion for helping consumers to ‘wear better’ and reducing the impact of microfibre pollution on the planet.”