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80% of ocean Microplastics come from washing clothes

​Research has shown that over 80% of microplastic pollution found in the ocean comes from plastic microfibres. 

​Microplastics pollution has reached every part of the planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans and rivers and lakes .
​
We know that microfiber pollution mainly comes from wastewater from developed nations.
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​Microfibres have the potential to poison the food chain as they are readily consumed by fish and other wildlife and by a process called bioaccumulation concentrate in larger animal, both in the ocean  (even turtles ) and on land. 
​ 

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They have already even been found in the placentas of unborn babies and potentially could be linked to the epidemic of reduced fertility worldwide . 


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​Every time we wash our clothes hundreds of thousands of microscopic plastic fibres are released into the wastewater. Because washing machines don't have filters to catch them, all these small plastic particles end up in wastewater and travel down the drain. They pollute the environment, harm ecosystems, and end up in our food and drinking water.  Every year in Australia somewhere between 400-4000 tonnes of microfibres pollute our ocean environment from washing our clothes. 


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The Australian federal government recently announced that all washing machines sold must have a suitable filter fitted by 2030 .

​But that means we will still be polluting the oceans with microfibres for at least another twenty years.

​We need to do more. Now.
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That’s why Clean Ocean Foundation has joined with Planetcare, a European organisation that produces an award-winning filter easily fitted to existing washing machines.

​Clean Ocean Foundation will make these filters available very soon in Australia.

Clean Ocean Foundation’s will ensure these filters are integrated into a fully circular, closed loop solution, so no plastic re-enters the Australian environment.

​Register your interest in getting a filter when they become available in Australia here:
​

Registration Form

Please fill in the form below.





​

​References:
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X16310116
 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/20/plastic-pollution-mariana-trench-deepest-point-ocean
https://www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article1829/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328796380_Abundance_Distribution_and_Drivers_of_Microplastic_Contamination_in_Urban_River_Environments
 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.180667
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.14519
 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/28/shanna-swan-fertility-reproduction-count-down https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/youre-literally-eating-microplastics-how-you-can-cut-down-exposure-to-them/2019/10/04/22ebdfb6-e17a-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html
https://planetcare.org/pages/washing-clothes-pollutes-oceans-with-microplastics
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237839
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/04/polystyrene-to-be-phased-out-next-year-under-australias-plastic-waste-plan

We Would Love to Have You Get Involved


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M-F: 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61 492 917 573

Email

info@cleanocean.org

Clean Ocean Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Clean Ocean Clean Water
    • Media 2022 >
      • Is this our Future?
      • Response Victoria SWS
    • Stop Victoria's Ocean Dumping >
      • Victoria Election 2022
    • COCW Victorian
    • COCW National
    • Save Water Save Us >
      • Save Water Campaign
      • Indigenous
      • Circular Economy
      • NOUS 2030
      • Electoral Candidates Survey
      • Upgrade Summary
      • 2019 Upgrading Australia's Outfalls
      • Upgrade Save Water Campaign
      • Stickers Save Water Campaign
  • NATIONAL OUTFALL DATABASE
    • National Outfall Reporting Standards
    • NOD Survey
    • Transparency Report 2019 NOD Final
    • 2018 NOD Summary
  • Supporting Partners
  • NEWS
    • WHITE PAPERS
  • Donate
    • Wills and Bequests
  • Community
    • Volunteer
    • Membership
    • Health Matters
    • Cotton Bud Survey
    • Events
    • Education Resources >
      • Education - The Big Poo
      • Flow Volumes
    • Community News
    • Walkerville >
      • Press Releases
  • CONTACT US
  • FAQ
  • Microplastics
    • Microplastic Emerging Pollutants and Water Recycling
    • Microplastics - Testing the Waters
    • Microfibres What you can do.