Conservation charity’s fleeces in pollution alert

THE National Trust is reviewing its sale and use of fleeces following warnings that the material contributes to plastic pollution.

The conservation charity for England, Wales and Northern Ireland gives the garments to staff to wear on and off duty.

But studies have shown that washing acrylic and polyester clothing releases millions of plastic fibres into drains and, ultimately, the sea.

Microfibres that pollute our oceans and land have been found in food ranging from blue mussels to table salt and even honey. As a result the NT – which also sells fleeces to its five million members – is reviewing its use of the jackets.

Its Scottish counterpart, the National Trust for Scotland, already issues staff and volunteers with lightweight waterproofs instead.

The American Association of the Advancement of Science is expected to hear warnings this week about the dangers of plastic fabrics.

In an advance paper, Professor Chelsea Rochman, an aquatic ecologist at Toronto University, said: ‘Microfibres have become one of the most common types of microplastic pollution. They are found in diverse habitats and animals, including in Arctic ice, deep-sea animals and our seafood. We know that washing our clothing is one source.’

The NT, which last week threw its weight behind the Daily Mail and Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean anti-litter campaign, said: ‘As a conservation charity we are committed to finding ways to help our members and supporters reduce their environmental impact.’

Richard Thompson, professor of marine biology at Plymouth University, who has led research into plastic microfibres, said he had been contacted by the NT over the environmental impact of its fleeces.

An Italian study found synthetic clothing is 16 times more damaging for the environment than microbeads, with one 5kg (11lb) washing load creating up to 17.7million plastic microfibres.

The European Outdoor Group and the UK Outdoor Industries Association, which represent fleece manufacturers, said: ‘The global outdoor industry is working collaboratively on the microfibre-shedding challenge... to gather the data needed to make more informed decisions about the fabrics and fibres used.’

The Daily Mail has long campaigned against the environmental harm done by plastics including shopping bags, bottles and microbeads.