WARREN, ARKANSAS
At the forefront of sustainability in the apparel industry, Cotton Incorporated has dedicated decades to building a scientific foundation that supports cotton as a superior alternative to synthetic fibers. With more than 40 years of research, the organization leads efforts in promoting the environmental benefits of cotton while defending its reputation against the rising tide of plastic pollution.
Recent studies reveal a startling fact: individuals could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic each week1, akin to the weight of a credit card. Plastics have also been found in human blood2, reproductive organs3, and brain tissue4, an issue that has garnered significant headlines and concern from the masses.
A significant portion of this plastic originates from microfibers shed by synthetic clothing. Recent estimates indicate that synthetic clothing is responsible for approximately 35% of the global release of primary microplastics into the world’s oceans, making it one of the leading contributors to microplastic pollution.5
Cotton Incorporated has been researching microplastic and microfiber issues for more than 10 years, collaborating with institutions like Cornell University and North Carolina State University. These studies focus on the biodegradation rates of cotton versus polyester fabrics and microfibers and the impact of textile laundering on microfiber emissions.
As Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Cotton Incorporated, Dr. Jesse Daystar is committed to addressing pressing environmental challenges, particularly plastic pollution.
Hidden Pollution Source
“While single-use plastics have garnered public attention, the hidden plastic pollution from the apparel sector is often overlooked. The global apparel industry creates an estimated 8.3 million tons of plastic leakage annually, primarily from synthetic garments that shed microplastics during laundering and the release of macroplastics at the end of their life cycle6. Macroplastic is a relatively new word to describe larger pieces of plastics, such as a polyester t-shirt that often ends up as waste on the ground,” Daystar said.
The estimated 8.3 million tons of annual plastic leakage is equivalent to 820 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower, more than 23 times the weight of the Empire State Building, and almost 9 times the weight of the Golden Gate Bridge. This substantial contribution is mainly due to inadequate synthetic garment collection and treatment after disposal.
Cotton Incorporated and leading researchers published a groundbreaking study in Nature Communications, titled “The Global Apparel Industry: A Significant, Yet Overlooked Source of Plastic Leakage,” highlighting that synthetic clothing contributes 7.4 million metric tons of plastic pollution each year — 10 times more than cotton7. This leakage largely results from macroplastic waste when synthetic garments are discarded. The report reveals that the apparel industry accounts for 14% of the total plastic leakage into the environment, stressing the urgent need for a shift towards more sustainable materials like cotton.
Moreover, the growing demand for fast fashion exacerbates the issue. Increased per capita sales and the doubling of clothing production over the last 15 years have led to significant plastic leakage8. The leakage includes littering, illegal dumping and inadequately managed landfills, contributing to the ongoing environmental degradation.
Cotton’s Eco-Friendly Role
Cotton Incorporated research indicates that while cotton production contributes less than 1% to total plastic pollution, it could play an important role in helping reduce plastic leakage. Cotton Incorporated was part of a multistakeholder initiative called the Plastic Leak Project, which developed guidelines to help businesses assess and mitigate plastic leakage in their operations. The guidelines were used as the foundation and motivation for the Global Apparel Plastic Leakage study estimating the global plastic leakage footprint of the apparel industry.
At The Cotton Sustainability Summit hosted by The Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated in September, Dr. Jesse Daystar highlighted the research and urgent issue of plastic pollution from synthetic fabrics, covering both micro and macro levels. The summit gathered buyers, designers, and sustainability experts to discuss critical issues in cotton sustainability and the natural benefits of cotton over synthetic fibers. It served as a call to action, urging industry collaboration on innovative, eco-friendly solutions while emphasizing cotton as a sustainable alternative to synthetics and the need to reduce plastic pollution in textiles.
As the fashion industry confronts the challenges of plastic pollution, Cotton Incorporated is stressing how essential it is to embrace natural fibers like cotton. It is leading the way by providing the science, data and guidance to champion a more sustainable future for the apparel industry by using cotton.