Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Over 100 million tons of plastic enters the environment each year, with more than 10 million tons ending up in our oceans. These plastics break down into harmful microplastic particles so small they can be consumed by wildlife.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Discarded clothing is responsible for millions of tonnes of plastic waste each year. Credit: Yudhistira99/Shutterstock We all recognize discarded bottles and bags as plastic waste. But the synthetic fibers that are woven into our clothing—polyester, nylon, acrylic and others—are equally problematic. Every year, more than 60 million tons of plastic fabric is produced, a considerable amount of which ultimately finds it way to landfill. One promising approach to tackle this crisis is the use of "biodegradable" plastics. These plastics are designed to break down naturally into gases and water, which are then released back into the environment without causing long-lasting damage. But the reality of biodegradable plastic (or "bioplastic") falls short of meeting our expectations. New research, led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, has found that a popular bioplastic material called polylactic acid does not break down in the environment nearly as quickly as hoped. The researchers suspended fiber samples from both bio- and oil-based plastic materials, as well as natural fibers such as cotton, in coastal waters and on the seafloor. Over time, they examined these individual fibers under a microscope to see if they were breaking down. While cotton fibers began to break down within a month, synthetic fibers, including bioplastic materials such as polylactic acid, showed no signs of breaking down even after 400 days submerged in the ocean. Finding their way into the sea The plastic pollution that stems from clothing is a particularly tricky area. Clothes are often not recycled or even recyclable, and they release tiny plastic fibers into the environment through gradual wear and…