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MARTIN BIDE Professor Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design

Photo by Beau Jones

However, current research is leading textiles scientists to preventative measures and plans for solutions. Bide is also currently working with The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) to help develop standard test methods that industry can use in developing fabrics with fewer problems. “If I create a piece of fabric, is it going to shed a lot?” Bide asked. “I need a test that I can run in a lab that says how much fiber I can expect it to shed if I wash it. The AATCC is developing a test right now that will do just that.” Bide said that the growing efforts to understand the effects of microfibers on the environment has influenced bigger textiles brands and companies involved in the industry to pool their knowledge. Many have joined the Microfiber Consortium that is a collaboration that includes brands like Adidas and Patagonia, the AATCC, as well as several research partners and many more. “My take is that we’re still at the beginning of the research, and that it will lead to a gradual slowing in rate of textiles pollution over time,” said Bide.

“OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING AND MEASURING THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF SYNTHETIC TEXTILES, AND IT’S GREATER THAN ANY OF US KNEW.”

- Bill Jasper

URI Initiative Plastics: Land to Sea SPRING | 2021 Page 21