Both untreated wool and machine-washable wool biodegrade to a high degree, new research shows.
What happens to textile fibres once they enter freshwater systems and the sea?
It’s a question that received scant attention until the recent rise of concern over microfibres.
A substantial body of research firmly establishes how wool biodegrades on land, but far less was understood of its behaviour in the aquatic environment – until now.
Findings released by New Zealand research institute AgResearch now reveal the biodegradation rates of various textile fibres in the marine environment. The research, led by Dr Stewart Collie, followed the path of the fibres released by domestic laundry processes, examining how the breakdown process occurs.