Managing Microfibers and Protecting the Environment, One Garment at a Time

Many of us go about our days participating in activities that seem harmless. The reality is that some everyday actions that we carry out that might seem minor actually have detrimental consequences on the environment.

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Consider something as simple as discarding a shirt that no longer works in your wardrobe. While tossing it out feels like a positive way to free up space in the closet, that garment will inevitably make its way to a landfill, where it will contribute damage to the surrounding environment.

Even the way that we wash our clothes can impact the world we live in. With every standard wash cycle started, fabrics discard microfibers into waterways. This can be disastrous for humans and animals alike.  

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THE ISSUE OF MICROFIBERS

Don’t let the name fool you. Microfibers are small particles of plastic that carry big consequences. Microfibers fall off commonly used materials like rayon, nylon, and polyester in washing machines. As they run down the drain, they eventually enter waterways, causing significant pollution in rivers, streams, and oceans. Microfibers that enter waterways often end up in the stomachs of land and sea creatures. As microfiber levels build up, they can disrupt organ function, potentially proving to be fatal to the animal.

The process isn’t without its effect on the human population, either. Fish and other animals get processed for human consumption. When they have ingested microfibers, these toxins inevitably end up being transferred to the person who ingests the animal, too.

Following this trajectory, it’s not hard to see how microfibers play a big role in plastic ending up in the water we drink and the food we eat. It’s estimated that every time a washing machine runs, nearly a million microfibers are released into waterways.

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TERSUS TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH

So how can we change things around when it comes to microfibers? At Tersus Solutions, we’ve long understood that disrupting destructive norms begins with innovation. Our team challenges common textile cleaning practices that are harmful to the environment and replaces them with sustainable solutions instead.

Services like our liquid C02 cleaning system not only extend the life of garments sent our way for cleaning, but it also captures all microfibers along the way. This unique cleaning process keeps quality materials out of landfills and reduces pollution in waterways at the same time.

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Contributing to a circular textile economy is the key to giving back to the environment we all depend on. Eliminating microfiber run-off from the equation is just the start. Once we’ve sustainably cleaned and repaired a garment, it’s ready for resale, upping our sustainability standards even further!

Creativity plays a major role in our process, as well. C02-cleaned materials that can’t be immediately resold entirely redesigned into new apparel, or upcycled. We see this as proof that fashion and a forward-thinking approach to eco-friendly living can go hand-in-hand. At Tersus Solutions, we’re proud to be a part of the fight against microfibers, but just as thrilled to be providing customers with upcycled garments that they can be proud to wear. Looking great and feeling great about your contribution to the environment don’t have to be mutually exclusive!