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How to stop fleece clothes from fouling the sea: bring in the tiny brushes

Nylon coated with a non-toxic compound does not shed microfibres that can pollute the ocean.
Close-up photo of colourful fleece clothing with seams

Synthetic fabrics are a major source of plastic microfibres in the ocean. Credit: Eugene Sergeev/Alamy

A coating of tiny silicone brushes reduces the number of microscopic fibres that nylon fabrics shed when washed1. The durable treatment offers a way to make synthetic garments that generate less plastic pollution.

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Nature 614, 392 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00351-3

References

  1. Lahiri, S. K., Dijvejin, Z. A. & Golovin, K. Nature Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-01059-4 (2023).

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