Microplastics
We're striving to mitigate the effects of microplastics in our garments.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can break away from clothing and textiles made from plastic-based materials. Fabrics including polyester, nylon, acrylic and elastane may shed microplastics, particularly when washed. Natural fibres such as cotton, linen and wool can also shed microparticles. However, these are natural fibres that are likely to biodegrade more easily.
Synthetic fabrics are widely used in garment manufacturing for durability. This can be positive for the planet if the items last longer. Garment examples include polar fleece jackets, polo shirts, sweatshirts and many sportswear garments.
Release Pathways
Washing garments (major contributor).
Friction from wear and drying.
Production waste during cutting/finishing.
Scale of Issue
It is estimated that textiles contribute 35% of global primary microplastics annually.
Impact
Microplastics bypass wastewater treatment, accumulate in oceans and soil, and enter food chains.
Human Health Risks
Microplastics may be found in drinking water, seafood and the body, leading to health concerns including inflammation, chemical exposure, and long-term accumulation.
Actions We Take To Mitigate The Effects
Fabric Choices
Year on year, we've increased our consumption of responsible cotton in our products, through our participation in the Better Cotton Initiative.
Where possible, we’ve changed existing products to reduce microplastics. For instance, our Performa 50 knitwear has transitioned to a cotton/nylon/polyester blend proven to emit less microplastics.
Many of the synthetic yarns we use are vortex-spun, which reduces the amount of microplastics emitted during the production process.
We conduct rigorous testing of our products across abrasion, pilling and colour fastness performance. This ensures One+All products meet the highest quality standards and helps to reduce microplastics being emitted.
Production Practices
We minimise fabric production, avoiding excessive steps such as finishes which contribute to further microplastic shedding.
All One+All manufacturing suppliers follow stringent environmental legislation, and have invested heavily in their own water effluent systems to minimise environmental impact.
Innovation and Partnerships
One+All works with our manufacturing suppliers to explore ways of capturing fibres in factory wastewater systems.
We engage in continual product development to innovate and improve the effectiveness of our products in wash/wear performance and reduction of microplastics.
While important steps have been outlined, it is clear that the subject of microplastics in clothing remains in its infancy. Much is still to be understood about the scale of impacts, pathways, and long-term consequences. One+All is committed to learning, working collaboratively with partners, raising awareness with consumers, and acting responsibly to minimise risks. Our aim is to respond to current knowledge, and remain proactive as research and regulations evolve, ensuring our actions reflect both responsibility and continuous improvement.
One+All and our suppliers continue to:
Better understand the challenges and risks - environmental impact, product design and legislation.
Reduce shedding at source - we continue to work with suppliers on fabric and process innovation.
Lead responsibly - One+All will always look to develop alternatives, as well as educate customers on the action they can take.