Author: Shatarupa Majumdar
Plastic will be the main ingredient of all our grandchildren’s recipes. – Anthony T. Hincks, author
The phrase goes right as we are moving towards modernization. The utilization of synthetic materials is increasing alarmingly. As a result, the day isn’t far when plastics will surely be the main ingredient of our lives and will undoubtedly affect us. Starting from the food packaging to a long way to textiles, each part today is in the captivity of plastics. In this article, we will be focusing on the part of textiles and how we use hidden plastics in our daily lives, and hence on the ways we can reduce them. Lastly, we will be having a closer look at how microplastics affect our lives.
Key Statistics
At present times synthetic fiber production accounts for 60 percent of the total global fiber production, which is used in clothing, upholstery, carpets, and other materials. A recent report confirms that the textile-based products release micro-plastics <5mm in size. Thus making its way through the effluents and ultimately affecting the environment adversely, and in turn to our lives.
Thus, the best option we can think of is to switch to natural fiber-based clothing options. But that’s not the real solution, and to understand this, let’s dig deeper into the matter. Further investigation revealed that microplastics are extensively used in textiles, often concealed within eco-friendly clothing, making them a more pervasive issue than initially apparent.
Various sources of microplastics in our clothes
1. Prominent use of Synthetic Sewing Thread
Let’s have a closer look at them to understand them in more detail and consequently eradicate them at their root. So, we found that the utilization of microplastics ranges from the threads used to sew to accessories like buttons and zippers. Starting with the primary sources, the threads, these days, even the very organic white cotton shirt uses synthetic threads to be sewn. The reason plastic threads are comparatively less costly and stronger than their cotton counterparts, that most brands don’t disclose the threads they use and hence hide the micro-plastics in our so-called environmentally friendly clothing.
2. Tags and care labels are mostly made of synthetic materials
The next comes the Tags and care labels, imagine a label printed as 100 % cotton is itself made up of synthetic materials, thus hiding the micro-plastics in the environment-friendly clothing. And this instance is evident from the statement of circularity consultant and designer Courtney Holm, one of the biggest challenges she faced when trying to remove synthetic materials from her clothes was the labels, which were on a later note modified by the suppliers switching to the bio-based alternative.
3. Pocketing fabric and lining material:
The next in the line comes about the pockets, where we often find that the material used for making pockets needs to be durable so that it doesn’t split under the weight of the material it carries and thin so as to not affect the line of garment hence usages of polyester and nylon in their manufacturing.
Lining, next to the queue that again hides plastic in our clothes in order to make them smooth. Lining materials provide one of the intended benefits of lining, making it easier to put in the arm through a sleeve or step into a pair of trousers.
4. Plastic buttons and zippers
Now, last but not least, come the buttons and zippers, which are mostly made from plastic that gives the benefit of being lightweight and less costly than their wooden or metal counterparts. And while the teeth of some zippers are made up of metals, the fabric they are set into is almost always synthetic.
Thus, if we have to eradicate micro-plastics from textiles, we need to focus on these points too, including the small detailing of the clothing. Starting with the threads made up of natural fibers, switching the tag and care labels to natural eco-friendly options, changing the pockets structures and the material they are made up of and choosing silk lining cloths unlike the polyester ones and lastly using wooden and metal buttons in place of plastics and zippers made up of metals.
How do microplastics impact human lives?
Now we know about the hidden plastics in our daily clothing. Let’s know how microplastics affect us. Out of the huge tons of plastics accounting nearly to 260 million tons of plastics that are thrown away every year, only a minimal amount as of 12% is recycled as stated by McKinsey & Company, while the rest of the majority is either burnt, tossed into the landfills or ends up in the oceans. Hence, this has eventually corrupted our food and water sources and thus averages out to human uptake of 39,000 to 52,000 micro-plastics per year, which, when added to inhaled micro-plastics, exceeds 74,000, thus affecting our lives alarmingly and causing several diseases, including the rise in skin infections in living beings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pervasive use of microplastics in textiles poses a significant environmental challenge. By understanding the hidden sources of microplastics in our clothing, such as synthetic threads, labels, tags, and buttons, we can take steps towards reducing their impact. To create a more sustainable future, we should consider choosing clothing made from natural fibers whenever possible.
We should support brands that prioritize sustainable materials and transparent labeling. And demand change by advocating for policy initiatives that promote sustainable textile practices. By working together, we can mitigate the effects of microplastics and create a healthier environment for future generations. Thus, ending it with learning from the quote, it all started and pledging that we will not pass plastics into the lives of our future grandchildren and will make sure that plastic isn’t the main ingredient of their recipe.
About the Author:
Shatarupa Majumdar is an avid learner and aspiring professional in the realm of textile technology. She is committed to contributing innovative solutions and pushing the boundaries of this ever-evolving industry. With a profound interest in the intricate world of textiles, she is dedicated to exploring the diverse facets of this field, aiming to combine technological advancements with creativity.