GREENER LAUNDRY HABITS CAN HELP FIGHT MICROFIBRE POLLUTION

The huge volumes of microfibres washing into Europe’s rivers and seas could be reduced by up to a third with small changes to laundry habits, a study at Northumbria University has found.

An estimated 13,000 tonnes of microfibres are released from washing machines each year in Europe – equivalent to two rubbish trucks per day.

The researchers achieved a 30 per cent reduction in how much microfibre was released when they washed clothes in a 30-minute, 15°C cycle compared to a standard 85-minute, 40°C cycle.