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Polyester, nylon, and acrylic are essential in the fashion industry; more than half of your clothes are made up of such materials. Without them, clothing would lack elasticity, strength, and comfort. Consumers would stop purchasing if their clothes didn’t have these important elements. But these, and similar materials, are not environmentally friendly due to their constructed make up. Particles used to produce polyester, nylon, and acrylic are not fundamentally harmful to living things; however, once clothing apparel starts to break down (during washing and drying cycles), the microfibers that shed from the clothing’s fabric can trigger an alarming series of effects. For starters, a single washing cycle can produce an unhealthy amount of microfibers. Such tiny shreds of plastic can travel and ultimately poison popular water ways and cause problems in the food chain. So, what should you know about microfibers and their effect on the planet? Basic microfiber production Washing your clothes regularly is a normal thing to do. Many of us designate one day a week to complete the dreadful chore known as laundry. Even at that rate, our clothing breakdown ratio increases drastically. On average, approximate 4,500 microfibers can be released per gram of clothing per wash cycle. That’s insane. And, even though microfibers are technically less than 5 milliliters in length, that doesn’t lessen the damage these little threads of plastic can do. If you look into materials a little further, you’ll find that acrylic is the worst offender of them all. Clocking in at approximately 730,000 synthetic particles per wash, acrylic sheds 5x more microfibers than polyester-cotton, and 1.5x more microfibers than polyester. What happens when you put your clothes through the washing cycle? Microfibers begin their travels after the washing cycle is complete. These tiny plastic particles travel directly to the wastewater treatment plants nearby, to then get trapped or released. If released, the microfibers continue their travels to rivers and lakes, and eventually hit oceans. But the amount of microfibers that make their way to the wastewater treatment plants always differs. That’s probably because every washing cycle differs. Can microfiber pollution be calculated? Emissions are effected by a series of antagonists, including the length of time you wash your clothes, the filter designs that your washer inherently has, and the spin speeds you set your wash to. It’s very difficult to calculate an exact amount of plastic pollution when considering the following: Clothes construction Material selection Water temperature per load Detergent type selection Fabric softener selection How full the washing machine is Why should we care about microfiber pollution? Research has been conducted and new studies have been found directly stating why microfiber pollution is not good for our planet, and it’s simple; the plastic fibers in our clothes are potentially, and likely, poisoning our waterways and food chain altogether. Researchers have shown the public that microfibers can, and potentially are, contaminating the food we eat (e.g. fish, crabs, etc.). By freely floating around in lakes, rivers, and oceans, these plastic particles are getting into animals’ digestive tracts without them even knowing and noticing. In some studies, animals’ digestive tracts have changed over time, drastically affecting wildlife, specifically crabs. And, measuring in at under 5 milliliters gives these fibers the opportunity to sneak their way into fish, too. Contamination of our food leads to our own unknowing personal consumption of microfibers. What’s more, is that these plastic particles begin to act as sponges the second they hit the ocean – they almost immediately start to attract pesticides, industrial chemicals, and motor oil. The fibers are being found in coastal, marine, and freshwater; this gives the small plastic pieces an advantage for contamination and a disadvantage to all living animals/people. And the effects won’t go away overnight; plastic takes hundreds and hundreds of years to degrade. What are we doing about it? The general planet population looks at the big picture – cutting out plastic cups and shopping bags is beginning to reverse the effects of plastic pollution. Even banning plastic straws in certain areas has proven to be a positive effect. However, there are many other areas of plastic pollution that need to be addressed before we can claim that we are moving in the right direction. For starters, we can’t ban microfibers like we can ban plastic straws; microfibers are a byproduct of washing clothes, it’s not that easy to get rid of them. A few probable solutions have surfaced over the years, though. Waterless washing machines  Colorado-based Tersus Solutions may be on their way to finding a viable solution by using pressurized carbon dioxide as a way to wash clothes Cutting out fast fashion  Cheaper fabrics shed fibers easily, and when clothes are made cheaply, the fibers aren’t as long and do not take as much effort to release Purchase better quality clothing  Applying anti-shred treatments to cheap clothing may help the situation Potential inventions  A device or additive could capture plastic fibers before they get to the wastewater pipeline What can we do to potentially make the microfiber pollution problem subside? It’s hard to believe that, after knowing all of this microfiber pollution information, we can make a difference to sustain the environment. But every little bit helps. As an individual trying to make a difference, you can do all of the following to lessen your microfiber release rate: Wash your clothes only when necessary Use colder wash settings – high temperatures release more microfibers Wash full loads of laundry at a time – it causes less friction between clothes Use laundry soap, not laundry powder Purchase clothing made from natural fibers like cotton, wool, and linen Remember, microfiber pollution is harmful to the environment as a whole. It does not pick and choose its victims. And if we continue to ignore it, the effects may become more severe and catastrophic years down the road. Let’s do our best to beat this and lessen the ‘side effects’ now opposed to later. Originally posted by Honest

Red hearts, red roses, chocolates with red decorations— the deep hue is everywhere you look this time of year. But there’s still room for a touch of green to your Valentine’s Day plans! Read on for our tips on celebrating sustainably with your sweetheart this year. Green Your Greetings According to Hallmark, approximately 145 million cards are exchanged on Valentine’s Day. And that’s not even including those children give in school classrooms! That’s a lot of paper…and a lot of trees. Think about sending valentines electronically or making them from materials you already have around the house, like old magazines and fabric scraps. You can also use seed paper to craft cards, which, when planted, biodegrade in soil and grow wildflowers. Talk about two gifts in one! Choose Local, Organic, or Fair-Trade Chocolates Does your Valentine have a sweet tooth? Pick out the perfect treat for them all while doing good for the planet by selecting responsibly sourced chocolate. Shop from a local business or look for organic and fair-trade confections. Also, be mindful of packaging. As tempting and pretty as those heart-shaped chocolate boxes are, they’re often filled with unnecessary plastic. Instead, opt for candies containing less packaging but that are just as thoughtful. Pick Pesticide-Free Blooms A bouquet is certainly a grand gesture of love on Valentine’s Day…except when the flowers have been heavily doused in pesticides. You can easily order organic florals online or consider creating your own arrangement. Gather greenery from your garden or head over to your local farmers market to buy fresh blooms from a chemical-free grower. If your true love has a green thumb, a potted plant is another great alternative. Plants do wonders for air purification, plus it will last much longer than cut flowers! Give the Gift of an Experience It’s wonderful to give, but when we give things, sooner or later, they’re disposed of, often ending up in a landfill. Giving an experience can be equally romantic, without doing harm to the environment. Set out for a picnic or hike to a place in nature you both enjoy. Snag tickets to a show happening nearby. Throw on a couple aprons and take a cooking class. The possibilities are endless as long as you’re spending time with one another! Wine and Dine with the Earth in Mind A candlelit dinner for two—is there anything more romantic? Just as long as your reservation is at a farm-to-table restaurant! From field to fork, the average dinner travels more than 1,500 miles. Eating at a restaurant promising farm-to-table practices means their offerings are locally sourced and support area farmers. If you’re unable to get a table out on Feb. 14, whip up a meal of your own at home! Pick up ingredients at the farmers market and tap into your inner chef to make a feast that’s sure to impress your significant other. Or make a V-Day memory and cook together!

There are many myths created about cleaning garments and also some good advice too. I think I have tried or heard of every way possible to clean woolens and other sweaters. From using net bags in the washing machine to hand washing and drying on a bin liner for four days and from silk wash programs to laying in a greenhouse after washing! But there is more to perfectly preserving your pullover than cleaning alone. Choosing the right program for your woolen… if it exists! Some people will use the wool program on their domestic washing at home and sometimes it works. There is also an expectation that when you wash an item, eventually it will lose color or shrink. Sometimes that’s fine for a standard pullover… but not necessarily for a high-end cashmere. Most programs will wash at a certain temperature, spin, and repeat. There is little consideration for the amount of detergent or water for that load, the optimal mechanical action or how to get it dry afterward. Dry cleaning machines do at least allow for the type of garment by having specific programs that allow for the correct flow during the cleaning process, the weight of the load and how to dry to correct level – setting a max temperature and having a built-in ‘dry control’ capability that will prevent the items being over-dried. Also, when it comes to machine washing at home there are so many detergents and softeners that will promise cleaning capabilities, softness and smells of a summer meadow but they themselves can have a negative impact on the garments. Many products will contain optical brightening agents (OBA) which can be great on keeping whites white but not good for colors, causing the color to fade. There are non-biological detergents, which be better that OBA products for specialist items. Liquids can be better, especially when soaking for long periods, although this will depend on the colorfastness of the garment. But still, the user is still left with the issue of drying and pressing. Using a domestic iron can get rid of creases but there is often too much heat and not enough steam. And how many times has the pattern of the ironing board appeared on the garment?! And of course, placing a hot iron onto a wool garment can cause ‘glazing’. But the biggest difference is the GreenEarth difference. Dry Cleaning has a bad reputation but not all dry cleaning is the same. GreenEarth is not petrochemical-based. GreenEarth is made from liquified sand (Siloxane). Liquid silicone degrades into sand (SiO2) and trace amounts of water and carbon dioxide if spilled or released to the environment. It is recognized as safe for air, soil, and water, not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC) by the U.S. EPA. Not only is it good for the planet but for clothes too! Liquid silicone is chemically inert, meaning it does not chemically react with textile fabric or dyes during the cleaning process. This minimizes abrasion to and/or swelling of fabric fibers, eliminates traditional issues with the removal of dyes and optical brighteners, helps maintain the soft hand of garments, and prevents shrinkage. Therefore, a wider variety of clothes can be safely cleaned with GreenEarth. Woolens, delicate silks, suede and leather trims, beads, sequins, painted garments, specialty buttons and trims, couture garments, heirloom fabrics, and other “problem” items are no problem at all. Our own experiences can be so valuable in terms of how we clean garments in the future, be they mistakes or trying great newly discovered ways. GreenEarth has 20 years of experience and also, it’s employees and 6,000+ affiliates have seen pretty much every scenario, making our ‘cleaning family’ one of the most knowledgeable in the world of aftercare. For the ultimate guide, GreenEarth has a technical handbook available that we helped create. To find out more, click here.

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience clothes moths, you’ll want to read this article. If you haven’t experienced clothes moths, but enjoy wearing wool, fur, silk, leather, or any other animal fibers, you’ll want to read this article. Clothes moths are pests that feed exclusively on animal fibers and can destroy your favorite garments. At GreenEarth Cleaning, as a leader in the garment care industry, we receive all sorts of questions related to caring for clothes. Clothes moths are a concern that has been brought to our attention countless times—and for good reason. These things are nasty. Taking a proactive approach to warding off clothes moths is always the best course of action. Simply monitoring your garments is key. It’s so easy to let a drawer full of wool sweaters sit boxed in for a year, but that is a recipe for disaster. You really need to be taking them out to inspect and clean at least three times per year, even if you haven’t worn them. Dry cleaning them using a GreenEarth cleaner is the best way to care for them safely. Other ways you can help prevent clothes moths would be to periodically clean your home in areas that aren’t easy to clean and oftentimes do not get cleaned, like under heavy furniture and along baseboards and cracks. Also storing your off-season clothes in airtight containers will prevent infestations. What to do if it’s too late and you’ve already discovered an infestation? Remove everything from the infested area, place all clothes in a tightly tied bag, and take them to your nearest GreenEarth cleaner. Next, you will need to thoroughly clean out the infested area with a vacuum. Throw the vacuum bag away. If there are rugs or carpet in the infested area, that will need to be cleaned professionally as well. Clothes moths are nasty and probably a bit scary. But there is no need to panic. With the help of a GreenEarth cleaner, you can remove them and have your closet back to normal in no time. This may seem like we’re just pushing GreenEarth cleaners, but it’s simply the truth. Dry cleaning has been researched and learned to be the best way to not only remove moths but bed bugs, mold, and other pathogens like bacteria and viruses. GreenEarth is also gentle on garments and will not damage delicate fabrics like wool and silk. Not to mention, it’s is the only environmentally non-toxic, odorless, allergen-free dry cleaning method available. thewirecutter.com ipm.ucanr.edu entomology.ca.uky.edu

As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, we look back at our achievements for the last twenty years, with a particular focus on 2019 and how we can build to an even stronger 2020 for our global affiliate network and brand partners. Testing became more important than ever for brands and manufacturers and GreenEarth facilitated testing in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA. In particular, as we have seen adoption growth of the Activated Clay Filtration (ACF) system, we see an increase in brands who want to see the results of its cleaning performance and benefits as far as garment dimensional stability are concerned. And the results have been most favourable in particular, spray rating tests for waterproofed garments. And of course, seeing great test results for GreenEarth as a whole, has led to more care labels featuring the GreenEarth logo than ever before. And what does this mean for our affiliates? More garments over the counter, from more new global brands. And it’s not just labels – GreenEarth is now featured on Packaging, Point of Sale and Websites for new adopter brand partners. We are also being encouraged to hold forums at brand’s workplaces to talk about the GreenEarth difference. This means that there is a greater knowledge about GreenEarth at every customer touchpoint. Recent brands to recommend GreenEarth include Whistles, ASOS, Missguided, River Island and John Lewis. They do so across a large number of their product lines as opposed to just the odd item. At GreenEarth, we continue to drive the sustainable aftercare message to fashion brands and manufacturers, to make the GreenEarth family larger than ever before. Here’s to an even better 2020!

Environmental scientists define sustainability as “the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.” And, of course, there are times when we can all see obvious objects or events that are harmful to the environment. Recently an article appeared in a local magazine in which Tom Coffman, the manager of Waste Management’s Shawnee, KS recycling plant, is quoted as saying that while “8,000 tons of ostensibly recyclable trash is brought to them each month, there are 1,500 tons per month that can’t be saved.” And while some of it is “off the wall” items that are thrown into dumpsters, like bowling balls and bear carcasses and a live python, there is also an unending tsunami of plastic shopping bags, garden hoses, clothing and anything else that tangles up in the sorting machinery. But while these large objects are easy to spot as being challenges to the recycling effort and thus harmful to sustainability, we in the world of garment cleaning face sustainability challenges that can’t be seen. For those items that we dry clean, we ensure that none of the chemicals being used in the closed-loop process are harmful to either people, the garments being cleaned, or the atmosphere when the small amounts of unseen residual chemicals left on the clothes are released to the air. However, we face a different sustainability challenge that can’t be seen when we launder clothes in water rather than in liquid dry cleaning chemicals. All garments made with synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylics, shed thousands of microplastic fibers during the washing cycle. And when the wash water from the washing machines is dumped down the drain, they dump these microplastic fibers with it, with much of it ending up in our oceans where it becomes part of the marine food chain. Recently the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 800 to 950 tons of microplastic from textiles is released with laundry water annually in Sweden. And while a portion of the microplastic is removed from the water in wastewater treatment plants, another portion remains in the water and is released directly to freshwater and marine water bodies. Additionally, the wastewater treatment plants reintroduce the microplastics removed from the wastewater to the land, and ultimately the air, since the sewage sludge containing the microplastics is spread on agricultural land, used in soil production, or used in landfill cover materials. We at GreenEarth have joined with the Plastic Soup Foundation in the Netherlands and PlanetCare in Slovenia in testing microplastic filters in our GreenEarth Cleaners’ locations. It is our hope that we can remove most of the microplastics from the laundry process before they are released to the wastewater collection system and stop a small unseen sustainability challenge from happening before it starts! For maximized sustainability is our ultimate goal.

Much has been discussed and documented during recent years about microbeads, microfibres and microplastics – be they in cosmetics, fashion or indeed drinking water. Well, now a recent study has reported that plastic tea bags are shedding billions of shards of microplastics into their water. The study has been carried out by McGill University in Canada. The research group examined four different tea bag brands by placing each bag into boiling water. On average a single bag would shed 11.6 billion microplastic particle. In addition, they would release 3.1 billion nano-plastic particles. To put these results into context, the number of microplastics released is thousands of times higher than any other previous food type tested. The team removed the tea from inside the bags to prevent it from interfering with the results, before boiling the bags in water to simulate the tea-making process. Humans eat an average of 5 grams of plastic each week, according to a separate study earlier this year – the equivalent of a credit card’s weight in plastic. In its first review of the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last month that microplastics don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels, but the key finding came with a big caveat – the review said available information was limited and more research was needed on microplastics and how they affect human health. Perhaps we will see a shift back to loose tea in the tea pot, rather than tea bags? To find out more about the work that GreenEarth Cleaning is doing to keep plastic out of our oceans and also our food chain, please take a look at our recent article about current innovation.

Much has been discussed and documented during recent years about microbeads, microfibres and microplastics – be they in cosmetics, fashion or indeed drinking water. Well, now a recent study has reported that plastic tea bags are shedding billions of shards of microplastics into their water. The study has been carried out by McGill University in Canada. The research group examined four different tea bag brands by placing each bag into boiling water. On average a single bag would shed 11.6 billion microplastic particle. In addition, they would release 3.1 billion nano-plastic particles. To put these results into context, the number of microplastics released is thousands of times higher than any other previous food type tested. The team removed the tea from inside the bags to prevent it from interfering with the results, before boiling the bags in water to simulate the tea-making process. Humans eat an average of 5 grams of plastic each week, according to a separate study earlier this year – the equivalent of a credit card’s weight in plastic. In its first review of the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last month that microplastics “don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels,” but the key finding came with a big caveat – the review said available information was limited and more research was needed on microplastics and how they affect human health. Perhaps will see a shift back to loose tea in the tea pot, rather than tea bags? To find out more about the work that GreenEarth Cleaning is doing to keep plastic out of our oceans and also our food chain, please take a look at our recent article about current innovation.

The 2019 GreenEarth Workshop in Kansas City, Missouri was an excellent demonstration of some of the best-in-class dry cleaners from around the country coming together to share their knowledge and learn from one another. No shortage of fun was had both Friday and Saturday night, but without a doubt, the conversations taking place amongst Affiliates in attendance is what it is all about. When presentations are regularly breaking out into open conversations, you know the audience is truly engaged. It’s exciting for us each time we host a workshop to hear back from our Affiliates and what initiatives they are implementing into their businesses to grow sales and improve operations. Some of the best discussions we’ve had to date took place over the course of this workshop and we could not be more happy with the group who attended. Our Affiliates are all rock stars in the industry! The GreenEarth Workshop was held Sept. 21 at the GreenEarth home office in Kansas City, Missouri, where topics spanning technical, marketing, sustainable fashion, building a team, and more were discussed. The evening prior, all attendees were invited to a meet and greet at the AC Hotel in the trendy Westport neighborhood. We also followed up the full day of learning with a good ol’ fashioned Kansas City BBQ feast and photo booth at local favorite Char Bar! We’re already missing our GreenEarth Family and are looking forward to getting prepared for the next workshop! Check out more pics from the weekend here.