What You Need To Know About Microplastics and Textile

The company is the world’s best microfiber fabric roll supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

We are increasingly surrounded by plastic in our daily lives. It’s the clothing we wear, it’s the containers we eat from, furniture we sit on, and toys our children play with. Plastic has an enormous presence in mass-manufactured textiles, meaning that everything from our clothes to our curtains to our sheets are often petroleum-based. But it doesn’t have to be this way…

And it hasn’t always been this way. Plastic production has increased exponentially over the past several decades. In 1990, 1.74 billion tonnes of plastic was produced globally. That number jumped to 3.39 billion tonnes in the year 2000, and in 2015, global production of plastic reached 7.82 billion tonnes. Production of polyester, a plastic-based synthetic textile, has also skyrocketed, increasing by nearly 900% between 1980 and 2014.

Most of us are at least somewhat aware of plastic’s outsized negative impact on our planet, ecosystems, and health. Plastic is a product of the petroleum industry—which is responsible for enormous environmental harm—and up to 10% of humanity’s oil supply goes toward making plastic each year. Once manufactured, plastic continues to be hazardous both because of its longevity and the way it breaks down. A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill, and as most of the plastic we produce is single-use, our plastic addiction is literally piling up all over the planet. All plastic that has ever been manufactured (unless toxically incinerated), is still present within our Earth’s biosphere and ocean.

Petroleum-based plastic is dirty and extractive from start to finish. One major concern lies in the proliferation of microplastics, which are plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimeters but often microscopic. While many people are aware that microplastics can result from the breakdown of larger plastic (macroplastics) and from tiny plastic spheres used in manufacturing and personal care products, most people don’t realize that a majority of microplastic pollution is fiber, primarily derived from clothing and textiles. These small plastic particles travel through our air, soil, and waterways.

Why are microplastics in our environment such a huge problem? First, they’re easily ingestible by many organisms thanks to their small size, and ingestion of the chemicals in microplastics can lead to serious health problems. Microfibers are also capable of absorbing additional harmful pollutants. Because some of the smallest members of our food chain ingest these toxic chemicals, and because microplastics are floating in the air around us, avoiding the effects of microplastic pollution is extremely difficult.

A primary source of microplastic pollution is synthetic fibers, produced and promoted by the apparel and textile industry.

Microplastics and the Textile Industry

Plastic in textiles takes the form of synthetic fibers—most often, polyester. The majority of textiles manufactured today make use of synthetic fibers, and if we continue with the current economic and regulatory incentives, these fibers will be even more prevalent in the future. That increased reliance upon petroleum is a major environmental concern, in addition to the contribution of synthetic textiles to worldwide microplastic and microfiber pollution.

Textiles made from plastic fibers are responsible for microplastic fiber shedding at every stage of their lives: when they’re worn, when they’re washed, and when they’re disposed of. These microplastics enter the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They’ve been found in some of the deepest depths of the ocean, in the placentas of unborn babies, in Arctic snow and Antarctic ice, and in our rainwater.

A study of microplastic pollution around the North Pole recently found that more than 73% of microfiber pollution can be traced back to polyester fibers that resembled PET from textiles.*

*PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is the chemical name for polyester, a clear, strong plastic used in food and beverage packaging and synthetic fibers.

The popularity of synthetic fabrics has made this concern even more pervasive. Yet, we often see synthetic fiber and textiles underemphasized when it comes to conversations about the systematic shifts required in the clothing industry to start truly addressing the microplastic pollution crisis.

However, there is a growing movement of individuals recognizing the threat of microplastics and more specifically, evaluating individual consumer choices in order to combat this challenge. Synthetic fibers and textiles are one of the main sources of microplastic pollution, making the choice an easy one.

How We Can Solve the Microplastics Problem

While some brands and organizations are celebrating innovations said to reduce microplastic pollution, many of these ideas are merely Band-Aid fixes that don’t address the full scale of the issue. Laundry filtration can address only a fraction of the microplastic emissions generated by clothing. Textiles manufactured from recycled plastic, such as recycled polyester, are no better from a microplastics perspective. In fact, these textiles actually increase the prevalence of environmental microplastics, as recycled polyester has been shown to emit more microplastics than new polyester.

Reducing or eliminating our overreliance on synthetic textiles and reducing our textile consumption and waste overall, while strengthening infrastructure and support for healthy natural fiber textile systems, is the best method for a holistic solution. Textile producers and consumers must prioritize the use of natural fibers. Not only do natural fiber systems not release microplastics into the environment, they require less washing, and, with the proper support, they also can address key issues including biodiversity enhancement, climate stability, and right livelihoods.

Consumers have enormous power in this movement. By choosing 100% natural fibers such as wool, alpaca, cotton, and hemp, and avoiding plastic-based synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, shoppers can vote for a cleaner environment with their pocketbooks. Seeking untreated fibers and natural dyes (while not easy to do given current market choices), is also a critical element when it comes to protecting our oceans, biosphere, and health.

We know that natural fiber systems need significant investment to become truly land regenerating and non-toxic. Natural fibers, dyes, and cleaner chemistries have had to compete with fossil carbon based plastics industries. Fast fashion and performance-based textile industries continue to drive the use of inexpensive plastics within our clothing. The continued push to compete with synthetic fibers has driven natural fiber agricultural systems to either disappear or follow suit and maximize earnings while externalizing costs. The only way to secure investments in natural fiber and dye systems that can regenerate land is to support their existence and develop incentives that strengthen the infrastructure that delivers them to the marketplace.

Critically, big players in the textile industry must be held accountable. State and federal policies supporting reductions in synthetic textile production and consumption, taxes on virgin plastic manufacturing, incentives for natural fiber and textile producers, and holding textile producers and manufacturers accountable for costs of management and end-of-life treatment for their products are all potential steps in the right direction.

Finally, everybody who is concerned about microplastic pollution can push this movement forward by talking about it; talk to friends, post on social media, and ask questions of your local leaders. Even brief but targeted comments to policymakers will have a large impact.

Resources

Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made | ScienceAdvances

Preferred Fiber & Materials Market Report 2021 | TextileExchange

Big Oil’s hopes are pinned on plastics. It won’t end well. | Vox

Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment | ACS Publications

Microplastic fibers — Underestimated threat to aquatic organisms? | Science Direct

Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful? | Nature

Pervasive distribution of polyester fibres in the Arctic Ocean is driven by Atlantic inputs | Nature Communications

Single clothes wash may release 700,000 microplastic fibres, study finds | The Guardian

1. What is microfiber synthetic leather?

Microfiber synthetic leather is considered the highest quality material with a high performance of synthetic leather. Microfiber is animal-friendly leather, artificial, and considered vegan.

With improvements in synthetic fabrics and growing support for treating animals humanely, it might come as little surprise that the quality and quantity of leather alternatives are increasing. You might need a program to keep up with the different players.

One recent innovation is microfiber leather. It has a reputation for durability and a realistic feel. The question is whether that reputation is warranted; also, just where does microfiber fit alongside real leather and traditional alternatives.

We put together this guide to help answer those questions. We took a look at microfiber leather and what it’s made out of and compared it against the rest of the field.

2. What is microfiber leather made of?

Microfiber leather is a microfiber non-woven fabric coated with a layer of high-performance PU (polyurethane) resins combined.

For years, synthetic leathers have been something of a joke. You could tell they were fakes by just looking at them. They didn’t look, smell, or even feel like animal skin.

As demand for better synthetics grew, manufacturers figured out ways to improve those synthetics. Today, they have created microfiber leather, the best synthetic yet.

Other synthetics start by laying down strips of fabric and coating those with polyurethane resin. Microfiber leather starts with what is more accurately called a mat of synthetic fibers woven together and bound together with polyurethane.

That closely mimics the construction of real leather, which substitutes skin fibers for microfiber.

As good as it is, overall, be aware that some microfibers are better than others. Take a close look at both sides of the fabric if possible. The harder it is to distinguish it from leather, the higher quality it is.

3. Is microfiber leather eco-friendly?

The full name of microfiber leather is microfiber reinforced leather. It has the environmental protection effect now advocated, as well as excellent wear resistance, excellent breathability, aging resistance, softness, comfort, and strong flexibility. Microfiber leather is an environmentally friendly product now advocated. It is the best recycled leather. It feels softer than real leather. Microfiber leather belongs to a newly developed high-end leather in synthetic leather and belongs to a new type of leather.

Microfiber leather is environmentally friendly. There will be no pollution from production to use, and the environmental performance is superior. The microfiber leather does not contain aldehyde, benzene, non-toxic, zero pollution, low carbon and environmental protection, good water resistance and strong adhesion. Because of its abrasion resistance, cold resistance, breathability, aging resistance, soft texture, environmental protection and beautiful appearance, it has become the most ideal choice to replace natural leather.

Related links:
Knit Basics

Contact us to discuss your requirements of microfiber multipurpose mops factory. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

As we all know, dermis is animal skin, which is not environmentally friendly and is prone to pollution in post-processing. Microfiber leather is the artificial leather with the highest technological content at present. The microfiber leather is environmentally friendly. The main raw materials are nylon and polyurethane. The polyurethane is added with microfiber to further enhance the toughness, breathability and abrasion resistance. High-quality microfiber leather is even stronger and more durable than real leather, and has a high utilization rate.

Practice has proved that the excellent properties of microfiber leather cannot be replaced by natural leather. According to market analysis, microfiber leather has also largely replaced natural leather with insufficient resources. The use of microfiber leather for the decoration of bags, clothing, shoes, vehicles and furniture has been increasingly affirmed by the market. Its wide range of applications, large quantities, and many varieties cannot be satisfied by traditional natural leather.

4. Which is better leather or microfiber?

Shopping for and ultimately buying a sofa is a big deal and a large investment. There are many things to take into consideration as you prepare to purchase a couch such as quality, comfort, and style. Because a couch is such an investment, you’ll want to make sure you choose one that will last a long time.

The couch that is considered the better option will fully depend on your needs and wants, so the better option might vary from person to person. As you prepare to buy a couch consider the following:

Will the couch be in direct sunlight? If your couch will be in a sunny area receiving a lot of direct sunlight, then a microfiber or faux leather couch will be the better option for you as microfiber isn’t as affected by UV rays as leather is. A microfiber or faux leather couch will continue to hold it’s color regardless of sunlight, while a leather couch will fade over time.

The best way to protect a leather couch from the sun is to simply keep it out of the sun; however if you are unable to keep your couch out of the sun, do your best to keep the blinds or curtain closed and consider covering your couch with a blanket during the hottest part of the day.

What look are you going for? If you want a more traditional or sleek look, a leather or faux leather couch will probably be the better option for you, whereas if you prefer a couch that has the potential to be a bit more eccentric either by its color or pattern, then microfiber will be the better option, as it is available in many colors and/or patterns.

However, it is possible to find faux leather in a variety of colors.

Who will be using the couch? If you’re buying a couch that will be used by a larger family and maybe some pets, leather or faux leather will be the easiest to clean, while leather or microfiber will be the most durable.

What is your budget? A couch can be a big investment, and how much you want to spend will help you better determine which couch will be best for you. Leather, especially full-grain, will be the priciest option and require the largest budget; a microfiber couch will be the “middle” option price-wise and still guarantee durability; a faux leather couch will be the most affordable option, but the least durable of the three.

It’s important also to take quality into consideration. If you’re wanting to purchase a couch that will last you several years, it will probably cost more. Where if you’re looking for a couch that you may want to replace within the next few years because you’re family has grown or you’ve moved into a bigger house, you can opt for a lower price point.

How much care do you want to put into your couch? A leather or faux leather couch is pretty simple to keep clean as they can be wiped down with a damp cloth and need to be conditioned about once a year. However, a microfiber couch tends to attract dust, dirt, and pet hair, so the cleaning process requires both a dry clean, damp clean, and time to dry.

If you opt for a microfiber couch and are concerned about the cleaning process, consider slipcovers to add an extra layer of protection.

Answering these questions prior to shopping will help you best determine which couch will be better for you and your home. Just like you would test drive a car before you buy it, you should test drive a couch as well. Go to a furniture store and take your time looking around and testing a variety of couches and how they feel to the touch and to sit and lounge on. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have regarding durability, care, and quality.

Because a couch can be such a big investment, you absolutely want to make sure you’re investing in a piece of furniture that is going to last you a while.

A quality leather couch should last 25+ years, a microfiber couch typically lasts 7 – 10 years and a faux leather couch will last roughly 3 – 5 years.

It’s important to keep in mind that the longevity of a couch will depend on how well it’s taken care of. A high-quality leather couch that sits in direct sunlight and is never conditioned may not last as long as a microfiber couch that is cleaned as directed routinely.

5. Microfiber Leather VS Real Leather

Leather and microfibers are two completely different things, although the support fabric for false leather is sometime made of microfibers.

A microfiber is simply a fiber which weight less than 1 denier, i.e. 1 gram per 9000m. Originally, the textile industry was only capable of producing fibers above 1 denier. At one point, very thin fibers, i.e. microfibers, were developed as a cheaper alternative to silk. They are now used in many more applications than silk imitation.

Microfiber is also used as a generic term to describe:

Polyester microfibers, the most common microfibers (but there are other microfibers, such as polyolefin microfibers, and silk is also a microfiber);

A fabric made of microfibers, once again usually polyester microfibers .

A woven fabric made microfibers, although microfibers are also commonly used in knitted fabrics.

If we were to compare leather to “microfiber”, we should consider microfiber means in this context a woven fabric made of polyester microfibers. In that case:

Leather is more or less waterproof, depending how it is treated. On the opposite, a microfiber fabric usually has a high capillarity, except of course if it has been treated or coated specifically to stop the capillarity.

Microfiber fabrics are usually much more flexible than even the thinnest leather.

Thin leather is somewhat elastic, usually the same in all directions. Microfiber woven fabrics, as any woven fabrics, have almost no elasticity in the width and length, but are much more stretchable than leather in the diagonal direction. Knitted microfibers fabrics, on the other hand, are usually much more stretchable than leather.

Microfiber woven fabric are more durable than leather of the same weight range, except for some forms of abrasion.

1. Microfibrer leather is high-class synthetic leather which perfectly replicates features of real leather such as the handfeeling, breathability and moisture absorption etc.

2. The performance of microfiber including chemical and abrasion resistance, anti-crease, aging resistance etc are better than genuine leather.

3. Because the real leather is animal skin, so it has a strange smell. If the formaldehyde and heavy metals exceed the standards in the production process, usually the real leather would has a pungent odour. However, the microfiber is anti-odour.

4. Based on the quality distribution on natural hide, the amount of usable leather is about 60 to 80% only. However, the microfiber is not limited by this, it is produced in roll form, also the quality of microfiber is very stable.

● Texture: Faux leather is a superior quality artificial leather that nearly replicates all the features of real leather, such as the texture, durability, ability to absorb moisture, and breathability.

● Performance: However, if we talk about the features of faux leather, like its chemical, abrasion, and aging resistance, then microfiber is better than real leather.

● Odor: Real leather is created using the animal skin; therefore, it has a peculiar smell that can only be removed if it undergoes an appropriate process; however, minor negligence can result in the real leather having a pungent smell. In contrast, artificial leather is odorless as it is made up of premium quality polyurethane resins and fine fiber base cloth.

● Price: Lastly, if we compare the price and quantity of microfiber leather vs real leather, then the price of real leather is relatively higher than microfiber leather as it is made out of genuine animal skin; however, it is not produced in bulk like microfiber leather.

6. Microfiber Leather VS PU Leather

Microfiber leather itself is made using polyurethane (PU), so aren't they the same things? No, they are entirely different kinds of leather with different prices, structure, and performance.

● Structure: The base fabric of Ordinary Polyurethane (PU) is made up using knitted, woven, or non-woven fabric. Then the base is coated with polyurethane resins. In contrast, faux leather has a three-dimensional structure. The base fabric of artificial leather is made of non-woven fabric, which is then coated with top-notch quality polyurethane resins.

● Performance: Despite having the surface of polyurethane resins, both the microfiber and PU leather have distinct performance. Microfiber leather has better color fastness, texture, hydrolysis, abrasion, acid, and alkali resistance than ordinary PU.

● Market prospects: PU has been in the market for a while; hence it is popular and has more color options than artificial leather. But recently, the recognition of microfiber leather has increased, causing it to take over the leather industry.

● Price: The price of Ordinary PU is lower than microfiber leather.

If you want to learn more about microfiber information, please contact us.

For more microfiber cloth bulk buyinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.