78% of British people believe microfibre filters should be made mandatory on all new washing machines sold in the UK.
New polling conducted by Matter, has found that some 78 percent believe microfibre filters should be made mandatory on all new washing machines sold in the UK, and 58 percent would be willing to pay more for a washing machine that comes with a microfibre filter.
The polling conducted across 2,068 UK adults demonstrates that there is public backing for policymakers to take action on mandating microfibre filters for all new washing machines. It also demonstrates to washing machine manufacturers that there is consumer interest in the problem and demand for a solution.
Matter will be putting this issue to MPs at the Houses of Parliament next week, during a roundtable event 'Election 2024: How Parliament can lead the fight against microplastics entering UK waterways'.
Ahead of the event, Matter and collaborators A Plastic Planet, PlanetCare, Xeros and 5 Gyres have today published a whitepaper asking policy makers to:
Commit to a timetable for introducing a microfibre filter mandate on all new washing machines sold in the UK to an agreed high efficiency standard
Support further research and innovation through providing funding to support companies developing new filter technologies; and
Consider how DEFRA’s Plan for Water can support these aims, following international best practice.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres in size, produced through everyday consumer products and textiles. One-third of the world’s primary ocean-based microplastics originate from textiles and clothing – contributing to some 171 trillion microplastics floating in our oceans right now.[i][ii]
Up to 700,000 microplastic fibres can be released from a single household washing machine cycle, before entering sewage networks, posing significant harm to people and the planet.[iii] Microplastics have been found in the blood of nearly 80 percent of those tested in a Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam study, with research suggesting they could even cause cancer and mutations to DNA.[iv][v]
Elsewhere, microplastics pose a concerning ecological threat. Phytoplankton have a critical role in the food chain and studies show potential damage to ecosystems as a result of microplastics altering the structure of phytoplankton, while they also decrease the diversity of species living on the seabed.[vi][vii]
If the government were to mandate washing machine filters, the UK would not only be leading the way globally in tackling microplastic pollution, but also supporting British technology companies. The UK is a leading light in both the science surrounding micropollution and the innovative solutions to fight the problem.
“The opinion polls published today show clearly that British people are seriously concerned about what plastic pollution is doing to their health and environment,” said Adam Root, CEO of Matter.
“The data is telling us too that a strong majority of people believe microfibre filters should be made mandatory on all new washing machines sold in the UK. At the forthcoming General Election, our political leaders must show decisive leadership on one of the most profound environmental and public health issues in a generation.”
