The plastics issue

Plastics… Invented in 1907 it brought significant improvements to our societies and economies. It was only then that humans could create new materials, without being limited to what nature had to offer. Plastics could protect the natural world from the destructive forces of ever-increasing human needs! Yet,… fast forward to 100 years later and its implications are devastating.

Did you know that the total amount of plastics ever produced equals to 8.3 billion tonnes? Which equals to 25.000 Empire State Buildings or 1 billion elephants!

University of Georgia

And on top of the obvious plastic pollution caused by plastic bottles, plastic bags, disposable this and that… there are also this tiny little invisible microplastic fibers, deriving from synthetic clothing.

IN FACT, THE NUMBERS ARE:

140000fibres from polyester-cotton blend

500000nearly half a million fibres from polyester

700000more than 700.000 fibres from acrylic
The microplastic issue

Most of us have understood there is a need to start saving on water and energy consumption. Yet surprisingly few of us are aware of the problems that microfibres can cause. Once entering our waters they attract toxins, pesticides, industrial chemicals and pathogenic bacteria. Being so tiny, fish confuse them for plankton and that is how they enter our food chain – causing severe poisoning, genetic disruption, infertility and deseases.