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environmental

Microfiber Pollution From Our Clothing – in our Food?

August 12, 2018 by Beth Fiteni

Microscopic views of microfibers
Microscopic views of microfibers. Photos: Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UCSB

Many of us are becoming aware of the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean. But did you know that when you wash your synthetic fleece top, it may be releasing tiny fibers of polyester (which is made of plastic), into your wastewater, which can then contaminate water bodies?[1] A 2016 study found that microfibers (less than a millimeter in length) are being found in oceans as well as land, from the bottom of the Indian Ocean to U.S. farmland. Results found that when synthetic jackets are washed, on average 1,174 milligrams of microfibers are released from the washing machine. “These microfibers then travel to local wastewater treatment plant, where up to 40% of them can enter into rivers, lakes, and oceans (depending on local wastewater treatment conditions).”[2] The Global Microplastic Initiative points out that microplastics do not break down, and can bioaccumulate, affect cell function in fish, and can move from the digestive tract into the bloodstream. Microfibers have been detected in “table salt in China, in arctic waters, and in fish caught off the coast of California.”[3]

So what are some solutions?

  • Purchase biodegradable fabrics such as cotton, hemp, and linen
  • Seek better quality spun fibers that don’t shed as much as low quality clothing.
  • Washing machines:
    • Should have a lint filter.
    • Front loading machines tend to cause less shedding than top loading machines.[4]
    • Use a colder wash setting. Higher temperature can damage clothes and release more fibers.
    • Dry spin clothes at low revs. Higher revolutions increase the friction between the clothes.

Learn more in the Green Wardrobe Guide.

#StopTheMicrofiber #GreenWardrobeGuide #Ecofashion #NoMorePlastic

[1] How Microplastics Cause Macro Problems for the Ocean

[2] Microfiber Pollution and the Apparel Industry

[3] Are We Eating Our Fleece Jackets?

[4] What Do We Know About Tiny Plastic Fibers in the Ocean

Filed Under: Health, Plastic, Water Tagged With: clothing, eco, eco fashion, environment, environmental, plastic, waste

Be Social Change Holds Series on the Future of Fashion

July 24, 2014 by Beth Fiteni

Paper No. 9The final of a series of 3 gatherings on how to create a sustainable clothing future, the group Be Social Change sponsored a packed July lecture at Wix Lounge in NYC on future trends in fashion production. The panel of experts, moderated by Summer Rayne Oakes, author of “Style, Naturally,” focused on new people breaking into the business and how it can be difficult to do everything they’d like to do to be sustainable when first starting a business – but with a continued ethic, fashion companies can build up to include more green measures over time. They discussed product durability as a factor in sustainability, customization & 3D printing of clothing, banding together with like-minded others to reach target markets instead of competing, and standards for determining product sustainability levels. A very interesting textile featured was made from processed recycled paper. See Paper No. 9.

The Future of Fashion panelFind these panelists on Twitter:
@besocialchange
@paperNo9
@Sroakes
@Shethinx
@twinmiki
@haggarco
@rhoniball

Filed Under: Ecofashion, Green Products, New York Tagged With: Brooklyn, eco, eco fashion, environmental, event, green, new york, nyc, sustainability

Ground for Hope: GreenFaith Inspires Environmental Stewardship in Long Island

March 25, 2013 by Beth Fiteni

Reverend Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith, addresses the crowd

GreenFaith, a NJ based nonprofit, came to Temple Beth David in Commack, Long Island on 3/10/13 to enliven the community of faith’s efforts on stewardship of the earth.

Through their Ground for Hope event, over 100 people from different religious backgrounds came together to learn:

  1. How their institution can grow gardens that provide food for the needy,
  2. Opportunities to save energy & money in their buildings, and
  3. Ways to inform their communities about sustainability issues.

Inspiring and educational, it was a great opportunity for people of different faiths to meet local sustainability leaders and recognize that stewardship of our environment is a goal shared commonly by all. See Greenfaith.org.

Proud to have been a part of organizing this great event!

Filed Under: Faith, New York Tagged With: agriculture, building, community, eco, education, energy, environment, environmental, faith, food, gardening, green, hope, LI, local, long island, religion, stewardship, sustainability, temple

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