Public awareness of the issue of single-use plastics is increasing and with it a collective shift in consciousness towards sustainable consumption. This has brought about slight changes in our individual choices and the implementation of various plastic-waste prevention actions by governments and industry.
The average consumer’s idea of plastic is usually discarded packaging. Occasionally a clothing label may state “made out of 100% recycled plastic bottle”, which indicates plastic was used in the manufacturing of that clothing. Recycling plastic waste and turning it into a useful material is important because it prevents leakage into the environment, boosts innovation and can help create livelihoods.
The volume of water used in the production of garments is also staggering. According to the UN Environmental Programme, 2,700 litres is required to produce one T-shirt — enough drinking water for one person for more than two years. The subsequent pollution as a result of textile dyes and synthetic chemicals has been researched, documented and explicitly shown to be one of the causes of ecosystem deterioration and disease in communities living and working in areas with high industrial activity.
Water treatment plants have been identified as a potential source for the transfer of microplastics and fibres into water environments. Recent studies show well-designed and maintained water-treatment facilities can remove almost all of the microplastics in the untreated water, but that efficiency will decline in plants not functioning properly.
SA relies on surface water and groundwater sources for industry and domestic needs. It is therefore imperative that the necessary research is conducted to unequivocally determine the extent of the problem and implications of microfibres, and microplastics broadly, on ecosystems and human health. This research is important as it will ensure a balanced discussion on universal action plans required for dealing with microplastic pollution and informing public debate on the issues.
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