Key takeaways

• Microfibre pollution is endemic in global ecosystems, yet global legislation remains fragmented. Existing ecolabels and frameworks rarely address microfibre release directly, despite growing scientific concern.
• Policy momentum is increasing, with regional strategies emerging in key markets. However, most interventions target domestic laundry, overlooking shedding during manufacturing and the lack of disposal pathways for captured fibres.
• Voluntary initiatives are driving progress where regulation lags, from cross-industry agreements to research collaborations mapping fibre fragmentation. Standardised testing, improved design and clearer consumer guidance will be key to mitigating shedding at source while the sector waits for binding global policy.

One of the textile industries smallest byproducts could be causing a big environmental problem, but is this driving a shift in policy in the industry?

From the Antarctic to Mount Everest, microfibre pollution reportedly spans the globe [1], [2]. Composed of synthetic and natural materials, microfibres are suggested to be shed from textiles during manufacturing, laundering and everyday use. They subsequently enter environments through wastewater discharges, atmospheric deposition and transfers from inland waterways to the sea [3]-[7]. Scientists have identified the dominance of microfibres in the environment, yet there remain limited policy and legislation around the release of microfibres within the textile industry [8].

Regulations on the textile industry
Despite the global significance of the textile industry to the world economy, there is currently no globally binding regulations for the specification of textiles in the industry [8].