Big Green Questions

QIt’s clear that washing fabrics can release microplastics into our lakes, rivers and oceans – but it seems fleece is a particular worry. Does this mean we shouldn’t buy fleeces, or is there a way to care for them that offsets the risks?

We put this to Páramo and Nikwax, partner brands who have been ahead of the curve on sustainability for decades. Both are members of The Microfibre Consortium, which is carrying out research to identify the causes of fibre fragmentation and ways to limit the release of microplastics through new technologies and processes.

Zoe Hewitt of Nikwax says: “Sadly it’s true that just by wearing and washing fleece, millions of plastic fibres are shed into the environment. But it’s not game over for the fleece yet. There are a number of measures you can take to mitigate the impact:

Add a microfibre filter to your washing machine (starter pack £50 from planetcare.org, refills required). Or use a microfibre filter bag that you can wash your clothes in (Guppyfriend, £36 from madewell.com).

Wash your fleece (and all synthetic materials) at a low temperature, use washing detergent instead of powder, or a technical cleaner such as Nikwax Tech Wash (£5, nikwax.com). This will help reduce the microplastics shed from your fleece.

Use Nikwax Polar Proof (£5, nikwax. com) after washing: it will reduce pilling and shedding, help your fleece last longer and add water repellency.

If you do buy a fleece, avoid cheaper options as the fibres are more likely to shed. Opt for a low-shed product such as the Páramo Bentu (pictured; £125, paramo-clothing.com).”

Tim Pickering of Páramo adds: “All fabrics come with their own set of environmental impacts. We use polyester in our fleeces as it’s easily recyclable and very durable. We believe that ensuring our garments have a long lifespan (i.e, 20+ years) is the best way to reduce our impact on the environment.”