Wash clothes less to save planet, urges WI

THE Women’s Institute is urging members to wash their clothes less frequently and to revive the ‘make do and mend’ approach to damaged garments in the battle to reduce plastic pollution.

Microplastic fibres shed by clothes made from synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester often come out in the washing machine and end up in the ocean.

Now a survey of 1,500 WI members and non-members aged 45 to 74 found almost half of their most washed items contained more than 30 per cent synthetic fibres.

The In A Spin report said that since households do 2.5 loads of washing per week – the equivalent to 68million loads nationally – ‘9.4trillion microplastic fibres could be released per week in the UK’.

The WI suggests its members wash clothes only when required, pointing out that items not worn close to the skin often do not need washing after just one wear. It also advocates filling your washing machine to the maximum to cut friction between clothes, and washing at a low temperature on shorter cycles.

The survey found that two-thirds of respondents purchased and disposed of between one and 20 items a year.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is also encouraging its 220,000 members to repair and recycle clothes,

Members are advised to ‘use their crafting skills’ and hold events to raise awareness of this.

It is not calling for a ban on synthetic clothing, nor a complete switch to natural fibres. It wants more research.