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When I get ready for school, one of the things I always use is a tooth brush. My tooth brush handle is made out of plastic. I go through so many tooth brushes a year so a better option would be an Eco friendly toothbrush. Each time I go through a toothbrush, that toothbrush either ends up in a landfill or the ocean. Overtime, these plastics breakdown into microplastics and wash up on shores. An Eco friendly tooth brush has a bamboo handle instead of a plastic one.
https://northstarfamilydentistry.com/whats-your-toothbrush-made-

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What’s Your Toothbrush Made of? | Washington MI

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You probably know that it’s important to keep up with daily brushing & flossing to keep your teeth & gums healthy & maintain your oral health, but you might be wondering what the toothbrush you use every day is made of.

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Another thing I use every day for school is deodorant. The main reason deodorant is super bad for the environment is because the packaging is all plastic. The other reason is the actual deodorant itself. The chemical in the deodorant goes into water in the environment when you take a shower and you wash it off. This chemical is called triclosan. Instead of using my everyday deodorant, I can switch to a deodorant with recycling packaging and eco- friendly ingredients, which are ingredients that can break down and are eventually compostable. One type of eco- friendly deodorant includes baking soda, coconut oil, and organic shea butter.

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Why Most Deodorants Are Bad for the Environment

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Like many of the products you use, your deodorant impacts the world around you. From the materials used to store and ship it to the actual chemical ingredients it’s comprised of, almost every stick or spray can of deodorant or antiperspirant leaves a mark on the environment. Find out why deodorants are bad for the environment and what you can do to negate that effect in your life.
Air Pollution
Spray deodorants and antiperspirants create the most obvious and perhaps most dangerous threat to the environment. Every time you use spray-on deodorant or antiperspirant, you’re releasing chemicals into the air. These sprays likely contain the largest amount of volatile organic compounds. These compounds help produce ground-level ozone, which is a key component in the formation of smog—a major source of pollution in our atmosphere.
Water Pollution
Many deodorants—along with other skincare products—contain an antibacterial chemical called triclosan. This ingredient serves to reduce and prevent bacterial contamination, thus preventing body odor. However, when triclosan washes off your body, it goes down your drain and into the waterways. Here it sits on the water’s surface, posing a threat to some of the aquatic organisms within.
Packaging
One of the reasons why deodorants are bad for the environment is the irresponsible packaging. Many deodorants come in plastic, tin, or other non-recyclable or non-degradable materials. When you don’t pay attention to the packaging materials that come with your deodorant, you end up contributing to the excessive trash that pollutes the environment.
Ways You Can Help
Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these negative environmental impacts. When you purchase environmentally friendly deodorant through Island Deodorant, you are committing to a greener lifestyle filled with greener products. With recyclable packaging materials and eco-friendly ingredients, Island Deodorant provides health and beauty products that let you take care of yourself and the world around you.

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During school one of the main things I use is a pencil when I write. I use a mechanical pencil. A mechanical pencil contains graphite and a rubber eraser. Instead of being encased in wood it is encased in plastic. This isn't Eco-friendly to the environment. Instead of using a mechanical pencil everyday, it would be a better option to use a wooden pencil. A wooden pencil is a better option because it is NOT made out of plastic. It is also better because eventually the pencil can become little tiny shavings of wood and then be composted.

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Are Pencils Eco-Friendly? 11 Important Facts You Should Know

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Pencils are one of the oldest writing utensils, as versions of them made out of sticks and chalky substances were used even in prehistoric times for marking on surfaces. The look and function of pencils have continued to evolve over time, leading to what we know as a pencil today. Even when almost e…

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During school another main thing I use is a folder because I have to be able to hold all my papers. I have about 7 plastic folders in my bag everyday. Each of the folders I have consists of many microfibers and microplastics. Because of these microfibers and microplastics, pollution is being released all over our an environment because they are broken down little bits of plastic that no one is able to see. To reduce plastic waste to the environment, I would get reusable folders made out of paper or cardboard.

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Paper is a renewable resource that can be easily recycled, yet paper products like presentation folders have an unfair reputation for being ecologically unfriendly. Paper manufacturers replant more trees than they harvest, helping to grow new forests and ecosystems. Meanwhile, in 2013 it was reported that over 63% of paper products used in the US were later recycled.

Ultimately, paper folders are okay to use as long as you make ecologically responsible choices. If you want to create a paper product that won't keep your conscience up at night, follow our step-by-step instructions for designing the most eco-friendly folder possible.

Selecting a Printer

Eco-friendly printers usually highlight their green practices on their website; if not, you may want to contact them directly.

A few basic questions will likely spring to mind, but you should also consider elements that you might not immediately think of. For example, does the company...

...recycle and use recycled materials for both products and shipping?

...replant trees used to make paper stock?

...reuse resources such as scrap paper?

...use alternative means of electricity such as solar or wind power?

...use carpools for transportation?

...use energy-conserving lighting?

...use energy-efficient computers and printing equipment?

...use paperless offices?

You should also aim for a printer in your immediate area whenever possible. Buying local products is the best way to reduce your own carbon footprint-especially if you go pick up your order by walking or riding your bike to the print shop.

Supporting an eco-friendly company is only the first step of your journey. Next, it's time to begin picking out the most eco-friendly product options.

Start with the right stock

For the ideal paper folder, seek out an unbleached stock made from 100% post-consumer waste; this means that the folder stock is made entirely from materials discarded by another consumer. Certain companies may even use paper made from non-tree materials such as bananas or coffee beans.

If you must use virgin paper (composed of fiber from a freshly cut tree), it's best to use a printer with sustainable logging practices. This could include replanting every tree harvested or only using timber from a sustainable tree farm.

No coatings

Most folder varnishes and laminates are petroleum-based, and adding them to your product releases harmful VOCs into the atmosphere as well as using up valuable oil resources. These coatings also produce chemicals that interfere with your folder's ability to be recycled or composted.

Certain printers may offer aqueous or soy-based coatings, which are more environmentally friendly but still require energy and resources to produce and apply to your folder. For the most "green" folder possible, your paper should remain uncoated by not selecting any coatings.

Choosing an imprint method

There are two different imprint methods that will make your folder look impressive without compromising your ideals.

Embossing/Debossing

Embossing and debossing are arguably the most eco-friendly types of printing available. These processes use heat and pressure to stamp your design directly into the stock itself. This creates a 3-D effect which can be felt with your fingertips. Without any ink at all, there are no VOCs to worry about.

Additionally, ink often has to be ordered or specially mixed, increasing the amount of carbon output your folder creates. Embossed presentation folders are manufactured directly at the printer, so the carbon footprint is much smaller.

Agricultural-based inks

Agricultural-based inks can be used for both four-color process and PMS printing. This is a natural alternative containing a low level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), hazardous chemicals found in many standard petroleum-based inks. Organic ink could include soy ink as well as other vegetable-based inks. It's not only sustainable and more easily recycled; it's also cost-effective and gives your product sharper clarity.

Minimalist design

Smaller, minimalist designs are more eco-friendly because they require less ink, heat and pressure to imprint.

For example, if you're using a larger design with embossed or debossed printing, it may require multiple imprints in different areas of your folder. A smaller design calls for only a single imprint area, saving both money and energy.

If you're using the PMS printing method, remember that each new color requires a new application of ink. Stick to a monochromatic or one-color design to reduce the amount of ink and energy needed to create your folder.

Designing for reusability

The best folder designs are the ones that can be reused again and again for different presentations and occasions. Folders are printed in bulk, so it's a waste if you have leftover unused folders because the design is outdated.

Design with the big picture in mind, but always keep your focus squarely on your brand. What are your goals? What is your mission? What is the most important message about your brand that you want to deliver to all of your future clients, customers and business partners? Getting your message right the first time will ensure that your design lasts for years to come.

Die-cut windows on the cover give you the option to change the overall look of your folder without ordering a new design. Whatever you place behind the window will show through to the cover, which lets easily you alter your design whenever the situation calls for it without needing to waste extra materials or energy.

Designing for durability

Do what you can to make a durable, heavy duty folder that lasts as long as possible. For example, a folder with multiple, complex die-cut designs may become easily torn. Rounded corners won't become so easily dog-eared. Unglued folders won't deteriorate over time.

Properly store your excess folders in a cool, dry place that's out of the sunlight to help them last longer.

Order by phone or e-mail

Whenever possible, try to work with your printer through telecommunication. Driving over to the print shop creates a lot of carbon emissions for no good reason.

The same goes for working with designers outside of your own company; use phone, e-mail and file sharing services to keep in touch with designers and discuss your folder design ideas.

No physical proofs or samples

The decision to order a physical sample or proof is difficult to make when you're trying to stay eco-friendly. On one hand, sending a physical sample produces carbon emissions, yet on the other hand it allows you to catch any mistakes before accidentally printing an erroneous batch of folders, which cuts back on waste in the long run.

Opt for color digital proofs whenever you can-they are usually the most accurate representation of the final product, save for a few variations in tone and crispness due to the application of the design onto a stock. If digital proofs are not an option, order a physical proof only if there is reason to believe that your design might need tweaking before the final product.

No reruns

The most eco-friendly printers have procedures in place to conserve paper by catching errors before actually beginning your print job. Each folder is put through an extensive review process at each step of the construction process, from initial printing to the cutting and the folding of the stock. At each stage, a make-ready copy is created to catch any errors, such as jagged die-cuts or a misprinted ink layer.

This prevents the printer from having to rerun an entire batch of folders because of an error. Any printing service claiming to be eco-friendly should adhere to this level of commitment when it comes to quality assurance.

Eco-friendly packaging

Remember that the packaging your folders arrive in will likely be made of paper as well. If you want your entire shipment to be eco-friendly, ensure that your printer uses recycled or recyclable packaging materials too.

Don't pickup by car

If you want to conserve gas, your first thought might be to pick up your completed folders from the printer yourself; surely your car uses less gas than those big shipping trucks, right?

Actually, there's a good chance that having your order shipped to you will use less gas than picking it up yourself. Yours isn't the only shipment being delivered, after all, and the distance between your address and the delivery truck's previous stop could be much less than the distance to the print shop. You should only pick up your folders if you can do so without consuming gas; either by foot, bike, or carpooling with someone who's traveling to that area anyway.

Ship locally by ground

Always buy your paper products from local companies since overseas shipping greatly increases the size of your carbon footprint. It's better to order standard shipping through ground mail than overnight shipping through air mail as traveling by truck requires fewer carbon emissions.

Companies like UPS and FedEx now practice carbon offset shipping, donating money to eco-friendly causes such as reforestation and wastewater treatment. This helps to balance out the carbon emissions produced by shipping your folders. Most printers use these shipping options or (at the very least) allow you to use whatever printing service you like at your own cost.

Recycle, don't trash

Nothing lasts forever, not even a quality folder. When you're ready to dispose of your folder, be sure it ends up in the recycling bin. Alternatively, you may be able to compost certain folder stocks if they do not contain chemical coatings or bleach.

Add an eco tag on the back of your folder to let recipients know that it's made from recycled material. This makes them more likely to recycle the folder when they're done with it.

Whenever you hand out your eco-friendly folder to someone, be sure to impart the importance of recycling the folder properly. Let them know what options are available to encourage them to make the right decision.

Conclusion

You can apply these strategies to all of your paper marketing collateral; not only will you be doing your part to save the Earth, you'll make a good impression with your eco-friendly clients and business associates.

This post is a part of our Presentation Folders 101 product guide.

Author: Vladimir Gendelman

As CEO of CompanyFolders.com, Vladimir is a knowledgeable authority in print marketing and graphic design for businesses. With his team of designers and experts, he helps customers put forth the best possible impression with high-quality collateral. Learn more about Vladimir's history and experience, and connect with him on Twitter.

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How to Achieve the Most Eco-Friendly Folder

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Paper is a renewable resource that can be easily recycled, yet paper products like presentation folders have an unfair reputation for being ecologically unfriendly. Paper manufacturers replant more trees than they harvest, helping to grow new forests and ecosystems. Meanwhile, in 2013 it was reported that over 63% of paper products used in the US were later recycled.

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One of the main snacks I eat everyday are little packaged gold fish. These are not very good for the environment. All these little bags produce so much trash. These little baggys are made out of plastics and foils. Since these can't breakdown they belong in the trash when you are done eating your goldfish. Instead of eating from mini goldfish bags, I could start getting bigger cartons of goldfish and then when I want to eat them I could put them in reusable containers. This is safer for the environment because instead of throwing the plastics out and having it get lost and sent off to the landfill, my reusable container is being reused each day.

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Another meal of my day is dinner, when I eat with my family at night, and we eat on paper plates and plastic forks and spoons. This is not the best choice for the environment because plastic utensils end up in the trash and then once they end up in the trash they go to the landfills and end up in the water ways and could make them dangerous. Not only do plastic utensils end up in landfills, but they also take over hundreds of years to decompose. Instead of using plastic utensils at dinner, I can start to use glass dishes and metal utensils. Glass can be recycled unlike plastic utensils and dishes.

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At some point, you must have come across some disturbing images of ocean and land creatures who mistakenly ingest plastic ware, shopping bags, hooks, and small adventure gear. Sadly, most of them are badly injured and beyond the point of being saved, ultimately losing their life to plastic pollution.

Using plastic cutlery may be easy and cheap, but it's causing more damage to our environment than good!

Plastic garbage is one of the biggest factors harming the natural fauna residing in water and on land. Despite continuous warnings from environmentalists, the number of animals being killed from plastic-ware debris has reached an alarming point.

Our ecosystem is now at high risk of losing numerous species of seabirds, fish, and other kinds of aquatic/non-aquatic mammals . These animals bring a natural balance to our environment by taking care of bugs and pests.

But that shouldn't be the motivation behind keeping our lands and oceans plastic-free. If we fail to stop the use and abuse of plastic cutlery, we're actively contributing to the brutal killings of these innocent animals.

How bad is plastic cutlery for the environment?

More than 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic garbage are currently floating in the seas and oceans around the world. This deadly pollution consists of fishing gear, cigarette butts, broken shards of plastic cutlery, bottle caps, plastic bags, and even fragments of balloons.

Plastic cutlery items can't be recycled and are often thrown away. They often reach the wildlife in forests or waterbodies.

According to scientists, plastic forks, knives, and spoons need around 200 years to decompose. And this is only possible under strong sunlight. With time, the compounds reach the soil and water, affecting the plants, sealife, and poisoning animals. The entire food chain can be poisoned only through improper disposal of plasticware.

How many ocean animals die from plastic cutlery?

The numbers are truly alarming - get ready to be

Human garbage and plastic debris travels from far and wide and gets swallowed by the ocean, ultimately killing the innocent sea fauna.

United Nations discovered that almost 80% of the plastic waste has affected approximately 800 different animal species in oceans. This includes fish, turtles, sea birds, and other mammals residing deep underwater.

One 2018 revealed how ingesting only 14 pieces of plastic can increase the death rate of sea turtles by a whopping 50%!

Even seabirds consume plastic cutlery, mistaking it as pieces of food. An estimated million seabirds including pelicans, seagulls, puffins, ducks, and geese die from plastic water waste every year.

Scientists are certain these numbers will continue rising rapidly if we fail to take action. So disturbing...

How can plastic kill sea animals?

Plastic cutlery accumulates on land as well as in water pathways. Most of these individual pieces are less than 5mm in length - also known as micro-plastic.

Now imagine a bird circling above the water or a fish floating near the surface, seeking daily morsel. They consume these pieces of micro-plastic, mistaking them for food from afar.

Since it's primarily made of petroleum compounds, the pieces don't easily degrade or dissolve. Eventually, they get inside the belly of marine animals such as sea turtles, whales, dolphins, birds, and numerous types of fish.

These pieces of plastic garbage get stuck in air pathways or the digestive system, unable to move out from the body, leading to bloating and instant suffocation. These animals can't eat anything either and might die because of starvation as well.

Plastic cutlery pieces are quite sharp and once inside, they can cause internal injuries and bleeding. Additionally, the plastic cutlery chemicals are contaminated and slowly release toxins into the body of animals. If a poisoned creature is consumed by a larger animal such as a sea lion or whale, it can be dangerous for the ecosystem at large.

Once these animals are found, the plastic debris is once again released into the environment with no solutions for recycling or biodegradation.

How can you help keep our animals safe?

Here are a few ways you can mindfully protect animals from toxic plastic poisoning and death:

Instead of ordering take-out foods while going outdoors, try some go-to healthy recipes that would take just a few minutes to cook!

Avoid using plastic cutlery when you're on a picnic, barbeque, or on a hike. Instead, choose stainless steel cutlery - like the portable set by Outlery. It's a whole lot more convenient and doesn't contaminate your food or environment.

Never use plastic bags and instead switch to biodegradable options.

Ditch plastic water bottles altogether and only drink from reusable glass bottles.

Find ways to reuse and recycle plastic bottle caps. You can find numerous DIY projects online to make use of such tidbits!

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Plastic cutlery is killing our water animals & it must stop

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Is plastic cutlery dangerous for marine animals? At some point, you must have come across some disturbing images of ocean and land creatures who mistakenly ingest plastic ware, shopping bags, hooks, and small adventure gear.

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One main thing I like to do on my free time is shop for clothes. People wear clothes every single day and they are something that people need to live, but maybe I can cut back on how often I was my clothes. When you wash your clothes microplastics and microfibers are being released from your clothing. When our clothes are washing these fibres detach from the clothes and go into the wastewater. Eventually, these microplastics that are being released will end up in the ocean. To help the environment, I can do my wash less and I can go through less laundry.

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During the month of February, we've been exploring fashion's impact on water and looking at how we can practice water stewardship through our wardrobes. So far, we've discussed the consequences of industrial dyes misconceptions around water consumption, better laundry habits to conserve water. Now, we're taking a look at how our wardrobes affect our oceans when they release microfibres.
What are microfibres?

Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces that are less than <5 mm in length. Textiles are the largest source of primary microplastics (specifically manufactured to be smaller than 5mm), accounting for 34.8% of global microplastic pollution [1]. Microfibres are a type of microplastic released when we wash synthetic clothing - clothing made from plastic such as polyester and acrylic. These fibres detach from our clothes during washing and go into the wastewater. The wastewater then goes to sewage treatment facilities. As the fibres are so small, many pass through filtration processes and make their way into our rivers and seas.

Around 50% of our clothing is made from plastic [2] and up to 700,000 fibres can come off our synthetic clothes in a typical wash [3]. As a result, if the fashion industry continues as it is, between the years 2015 and 2050, 22 million tonnes of microfibres will enter our oceans [4].

What impact do microfibres have on the environment and on human health?

Due to the tiny size of microplastics, they can be ingested by marine animals which can have catastrophic effects on the species and the entire marine ecosystem.

Microfibres can absorb chemicals present in the water or sewage sludge, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and carcinogenic Persistent Organic Pollutants (PoPs). They can also contain chemical additives, from the manufacturing phase of the materials, such as plasticisers (a substance added to improve plasticity and flexibility of a material), flame retardants and antimicrobial agents (a chemical that kills or stops the growth of microorganisms like bacteria). These chemicals can leach from the plastic into the oceans or even go straight into the bloodstream of animals that ingest the microfibres. Once ingested, microfibres can cause gut blockage, physical injury, changes to oxygen levels in cells in the body, altered feeding behaviour and reduced energy levels, which impacts growth and reproduction [5][6]. Due to this, the balance of whole ecosystems can be affected, with the impacts travelling up the food chain and sometimes making their way into the food we eat! It has been suggested that people that eat European bivalves (such as mussels, clams and oysters) can ingest over 11,000 microplastic particles per year [7].

What can fashion brands do?

The fashion industry needs to take responsibility for minimising future microfibre releases. Brands can have the most impact if they take microfibre release into consideration at the design and manufacturing stages. Designers should consider several criteria in order to minimise the environmental impact of a synthetic garment [3]:

1. Use textiles which have been tested to ensure minimal release of synthetic microfibres into the environment.

2. Ensure the product is durable so it remains out of landfill as long as possible

3. Consider how the garment and textile waste could be recycled, to achieve a circular system.

During manufacture, there are several methods that can be applied to reduce microfibre shedding such as brushing the material, using laser and ultrasound cutting [4], coatings and pre-washing garments [1]. The length of the yarn, type of weave, and method for finishing seams may all be factors affecting shedding rates. However, much more research from brands needs to occur in order to determine best practices in reducing microfibres and create industry-wide solutions.

Waste-water treatment...

Waste-water treatment plants (where all our used water gets filtered and treated) are currently between 65-90% efficient at filtering microfibres [6]. Research and innovations into improving the efficiency of capturing microfibres in wastewater treatment plants is essential to prevent them escaping into our environment.

Washing machine filters...

Improving and developing commercial washing machine filters that can capture microfibres may allow for an additional level of filtration, whilst also educating consumers and businesses [8]. However, current filters which need to be fitted by the user, such as that developed by Wexco, are currently expensive and reportedly difficult to install. They also place a financial burden upon the consumers, rather than pressurising brands to commit to change. To tackle this, we need more industry research and legislation to ensure all new washing machines are fitted with effective filters to capture the maximum amount of microfibres possible. However, we then have the issue of what to do with the microfibres once we have caught them - an area which requires more research and industry collaboration.

Collaboration is key

Collaboration across multiple industries is required if we are to tackle microfibre pollution. In addition to material research, waste management and washing machine research and development, there is a role for other sectors such as detergent manufacturers and the recycling industry to come together to help reduce microfibre pollution. Cross-industrial agreements could help promote collaboration between industry bodies and promote sharing of resources and knowledge.

A major issue has been a lack of a standardised measure of measuring microfibre release. However, a cross-industry group, The Microfibre Consortium recently announced the first microfibre test method. The launch will enable its members (including brands, detergent manufacturers and research bodies) to accelerate research that leads to product development change and a reduction in microfibre shedding in the fashion, sport, outdoor and home textiles industries. The Microfibre Consortium also works to develop practical solutions for the textile industry to minimise microfibre release to the environment from textile manufacturing and product life cycles.

The need for microfibre legislation

Comprehensive legislative action is needed to send a strong message and force the brands to address microfibre releases from their textiles. This is a complicated issue that will require policymakers to tackle this issue on many different levels and sectors. Currently, there are no EU regulations that address microfibre release by textiles, nor are they included in the Water Framework Directive.

However, there have been several developments in microfibre legislation in the past few years:

As of February 2020, Brune Poirson, French Secretary of State for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, is the first politician in the world to pass microfibre legislation. As of January 2025, all new washing machines in France will have to include a filter to stop synthetic clothes from polluting our waterways. This makes France the first country in the world to take legislative steps in the fight against plastic microfibre pollution. The measure is included in the anti-waste law for a circular economy.

In 2018, US states of California and Connecticut proposed legislation which would see polyester garments legally required to bear warning labels regarding their potential to shed microfibres during domestic washing cycles. However, this legislation is yet to be passed.

In 2019, the EAC urged the UK government to accelerate research into the relative environmental performance of different materials, particularly with respect to measures to reduce microfibre pollution, as part of an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. However, the UK government rejected the proposal stating that current voluntary measures are sufficient.

What can you do?

Write to your policymaker

It is vital that policy is put into place to tackle microfibres, such as the new French washing machine filter legislation. If you are concerned about microfibres, we encourage you to write to your policy representative and urge your government to take action on microfibre pollution. Now that France has enacted the microfibre legislation, it raises the bar for other governments to also take action, but they will only do so with enough pressure from the people they represent - you!

Changing your washing practices

The easiest thing you can do to minimise microfibres releasing from your clothing is to simply wash your clothes less. Given that up to 700,000 microfibres can detach in a single wash [3] ask yourself if that item really needs to be washed or can it be worn once or twice more before you do?

While some research suggested using a liquid detergent, lower washing machine temperatures, gentler washing machine settings [3] and using a front-loading washing machine [9] can reduce microfibre shedding. Researcher Imogen Napper stated they found that there was no clear evidence suggesting that changing the washing conditions gave any meaningful effect in reducing microfibre release.

You can also use a Cora Ball, a guppy bag or a self-installed washing machine filter to capture microfibres from your clothing. The CoraBall and Lint LUV-R (an install yourself washing machine filter) have been shown to reduce the number of microfibres in wastewater by an average of 26% and 87%, respectively [10]. Although these can't solve the problem, we still want to divert as many microplastics as we can from entering our waterways.
The impacts of microfibres on the environment can be mitigated, but only with systematic and meaningful change supported by policymakers, brands, industry, NGOs and citizens all working together.
Should we all switch from synthetic fibres?

While many people's first instinct is to switch from synthetic materials to natural materials to minimise microfibre release, this is not always a simple choice as there are other sustainability aspects involved. The UK's Environmental Audit Committee in their report states 'A kneejerk switch from synthetic to natural fibres in response to the problem of ocean microfibre pollution would result in greater pressures on land and water use - given current consumption rates' [11].

Demand brands to do more to take action on microfibres

"Ultimate responsibility for stopping this pollution, however, must lie with the companies making the products that are shedding the fibres." states the Environmental Audit Committee [11], but there are still too many major fashion brands not taking responsibility for what happens in their supply chains and in the life cycle of their products. As well as demanding action from your policymaker, we should also ask brands what they are doing to minimize the microfibre release from their products. It is clear that there is still a lot of work to do, and as their customers, we have a lot of power in influencing the impacts of the brands we buy.

References

[1] Boucher, J. and Friot, D. (2017). Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: A Global Evaluation of Sources. Available at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002-En.pdf

[2] Textile Exchange (2019). Preferred Fiber and Material Market Report. Available at: https://store.textileexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2019/11/Textile-Exchange_Preferred-Fiber-Material-Market-Report_2019.pdf

[4] Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future. Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/A-New-Textiles-Economy_Full-Report_Updated_1-12-17.pdf

[6] Henry, B., Laitala, K. and Grimstad Klepp, I. (2018). Microplastic pollution from textiles: A literature review. Consumption Research Norway SIFO. Available at: https://www.hioa.no/eng/About-HiOA/Centre-for-Welfare-and-Labour-Research/SIFO/Publications-from-SIFO/Microplastic-pollution-from-textiles-A-literature-review

[7] Van Cauwenberghe, L. and Janssen, C. (2014). Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environmental Pollution. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749114002425

[11] Environmental Audit Committee (2019). Fixing Fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability. House of Commons. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/1952.pdf

Research and writing by Sienna Somers, Policy and Research Co-ordinator at Fashion Revolution

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Our clothes shed microfibres - here's what we can do...

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During the month of February, we've been exploring fashion's impact on water and looking at how we can practice water stewardship through our wardrobes. So far, we've discussed the consequences of industrial dyes misconceptions around water consumption, better laundry habits to conserve water.

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On my free time I play a lot of soccer and I bring a ton of plastic water bottles to my games and practices. This isn't a good idea at all. All these water bottles have or will end up in the landfills or the oceans and are going to kill the world. These plastic water bottles go to the trash when I am done with them and then when they eventually end up in the ocean they kill so many sea creatures. Instead of using these plastic water bottles I can use reusable water bottles which reduce plastic use and this means that less plastic water bottles will end up in the landfills and ocean.

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Why are Disposable Water Bottles Harmful to the Environment?

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Disposable water bottles are killing our ocean creatures and suffocating our garbage landfills. Join Office H2O in being part of the solution when you equip your home or office with a bottleless water cooler. Call us at (866) 621-6910 today.