We’ve all seen the heartbreaking images of plastic bottles littering beaches or bags drifting in the ocean. But what if one of the most dangerous forms of plastic pollution is hanging in your wardrobe?
Behind glossy “sustainable” labels, many eco-conscious fashion brands are still stitching plastic into their garments in the form of polyester, nylon, acrylic and elastane. These synthetic fibres are all derived from fossil fuels and they don’t just damage the planet during production. They also shed thousands of tiny plastic microfibres every time you wear or wash them. These invisible contaminants flow freely into our rivers, oceans, and food chain, creating a form of pollution that is easy to overlook but impossible to ignore.
This is one of fashion’s most underestimated environmental threats and it’s time we brought it into full view. If sustainability is truly the goal, then plastic clothing can’t be part of the solution. We must begin to phase it out entirely. This is an example of what you would call Sustainability Plus in action.
The Scale of the Problem
The magnitude of plastic use in fashion is staggering. According to the Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber & Materials Market Report 2022 2:
This means the majority of clothing produced globally is plastic-based and every single wash will send thousands of plastic microfibres into our water systems. These fibres don’t biodegrade, but linger in the environment for centuries.
What Are Plastic Microfibres and Why Are They Harmful?
Plastic microfibres are tiny threads that break away from the fabric in polyester or acrylic containing T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and jackets, mostly when they are worn, but more significantly when they are washed. According to a 2016 study by Plymouth University 1, a single 6kg load of laundry can shed hundreds of thousands of the plastic microfibres during each laundry cycle.
For just one polyester garment, that’s over 30,000 microfibres released into the environment with every wash. These plastic particles are small enough to pass through sewage filtration systems and end up in oceans and lakes where they are eaten by marine life and eventually ingested by humans. This form of invisible pollution is growing rapidly and raises serious concerns for environmental and public health.
The True Sustainability of Recycled Polyester
With sustainability becoming a fashion trend, many slow fashion brands have turned to recycled polyester as a greener option. While recycled polyester does reduce the dependency on virgin fossil fuels, it doesn’t solve the underlying issue of microplastic pollution.
A 2020 study published in Environmental Science & Technology 3 showed that recycled polyester sheds just as more than double the amount of microfibres as virgin polyester. So, while using recycled plastics may seem like a step forward, it’s only a delay tactic. Plastic remains plastic, regardless of how many times it is repurposed, and will always remain a source of contamination.
That’s why at 3rd planet, we stand by this principle: “Recycled plastic clothing still pollutes our oceans. Choose Sustainability Plus and wear only natural fibre clothing.”
Introducing 3rd planet: Sustainability Plus
At 3rd planet, we don’t believe sustainability should stop at the surface. We go beyond eco buzzwords with our Sustainability Plus philosophy, a deeper and more transparent approach to responsible fashion.
Our commitment is simple. No plastic fibres, not even recycled ones. We use only biodegradable, natural materials including 100% organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and linen. You won’t find polyester, nylon, acrylic, or elastane in our clothing. Why? Because we believe the best way to stop plastic pollution is to eliminate it at the source.
Why Natural Organic Fibres Matter
Natural fibres have a significantly lower environmental impact than synthetics. Take organic cotton for example which represents 24% of the global fibre market 2 :
Other natural fibres like linen (flax) and hemp also have strong sustainability credentials. Though they currently represent just 1% of the global fibre market 2, like cotton, they have been used for centuries and are durable, breathable, and planet-friendly.
The Future of Natural Materials Used in Fashion
As fashion brands begin to confront the environmental costs of synthetic materials, many are turning back to nature for solutions.
Alongside traditional fibres like cotton, hemp, and linen, we are seeing innovation in plant-based fabrics derived from cellulose. Materials like bamboo, viscose, modal, and lyocell now make up about 6% of the global fibre market 2. While they are breathable, soft, and biodegradable, their environmental impact is determined on their processing. Materials like viscose use older methods which can be chemically intensive, but newer technologies, like closed-loop lyocell production, are far more sustainable.
The horizon is also expanding with next-gen fabrics made from banana plants, citrus peels, pineapple leaves, and seaweed. While still in early stages, these innovations could one day replace synthetic fabrics entirely, without leaving behind the plastic burden on our planet.
Rethinking What We Wear
We’re all on a journey to reduce our environmental footprint. Whether we realise it or not, fashion plays a role in that journey. More consumers are choosing ethical clothing. More brands are embracing mindful production. But for fashion to be truly sustainable, it must tackle the core issue of plastic.
Sustainability Plus is our answer with a commitment to full transparency, deeper responsibility, and smarter material choices. At 3rd planet, we don’t just aim to reduce harm. We aim to eliminate it. That means no plastic-based fibres, no greenwashing. Just honest, earth-first fashion made with nature in mind
If you’re ready to wear clothing that cares for the planet, and doesn’t pollute it, join us. Wear natural. Wear responsibly. Choose Sustainability Plus.
Explore our 3rd planet collection of plastic-free, 100% natural fabric clothing — made to wear, made to care.
References
1. Napper and Thompson, 2016. Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions. Marine Pollution Bulletin 112 (1-2): 39-45.
2. Textile Exchange: Preferred Fiber and Materials Market Report 2022
3. Özkan & Gündoğdu, 2021. Investigation on the microfiber release under controlled washings from the knitted fabrics produced by recycled and virgin polyester yarns. Journal of The Textile Institute Volume 112, Issue 2: 264-272.
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