‘Bio-based fibres may be more harmful to the environment than plastics’
November 5, 2024 — New research from scientists at the University of Plymouth suggests that bio-based materials might pose a greater health risk to some of the world’s vital species than the conventional plastics they aim to replace. These materials, increasingly marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, are commonly used in textiles and products like clothing, wet wipes, and menstrual products. However, microfibres from these materials are released into the environment through washing, the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer, and the natural wear and tear of textile products.
A recent study published in ACS Environmental Science and Technology found that at high fibre concentrations, 30% of earthworms died within 72 hours of exposure to polyester. Mortality rates were significantly higher with bio-based fibres: up to 60% for lyocell (a fibre derived from wood pulp) and 80% for viscose. In a second experiment using environmentally relevant fibre concentrations, earthworms in soils containing viscose fibres exhibited reduced reproduction rates compared to those exposed to polyester fibres.
