Setting Sail for Microfiber Solutions in the San Francisco Bay
Expeditions are a significant part of 5 Gyres’ DNA, having explored 50,000 nautical miles on 19 research expeditions since the organization’s inception. We’ve sampled waters in all five subtropical gyres in the ocean and many of the world’s lakes and rivers. We discovered microbeads in the Great Lakes, leading to a national campaign and subsequent federal legislation that banned these plastics in personal care products. We published the world’s first Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution in 2014 and updated it almost a decade later with new data – revealing 171 trillion plastic particles are now floating at sea.
Our nearly 15 years of ocean-focused research and expeditions now leads us to a new goal: understanding specific sources, or sectors, that generate plastic pollution to develop more effective solutions. The plastic pollution we see worldwide isn’t from a singular source. While most people are familiar with common single-use plastic items, like straws and bags, there’s also fishing gear, construction, and agricultural waste. And there are the pervasive microplastics you can’t even see that shed from clothing and car tires, making their way around the globe and into our own bodies. Better understanding the science around these key sectors will help to design more targeted, effective interventions that reduce the harmful impacts of plastic pollution.
Currently, 5 Gyres is focusing our sector-specific work on textiles. We know that textiles are the second most commonly discarded plastic, and microfibers are among the most common microplastics found in the environment. While there are downstream interventions that can help reduce microfiber emissions, like washing machine filters, solutions need to be developed along every stage of a garment’s life cycle.
To shine a light on the seemingly invisible issue of microfibers and workshop a range of possible solutions, 5 Gyres is partnering with Materevolve to lead a mini expedition in the San Francisco Bay this fall. The goal is to bring cross-sector leaders together, representing companies, brands, manufacturers, scientists, and innovators, to conduct scientific research and foster open discussions about potential solutions.
Dr. Erdle sampling during Materevolve’s Ocean Connector Sail in 2022
Materevolve, a sustainable textiles consultancy, has deep expertise in textile science, ocean conservation, and microfiber pollution-focused initiatives. With the shared mission of supporting sustainable progress in the textile space, 5 Gyres and Materevolve are perfectly suited to set sail for microfiber solutions together.
The scientific research onboard, led by Dr. Lisa Erdle, will help to understand the sources, pathways, and fate of airborne microfibers. This research builds on our 2019 study of San Francisco Bay, which reported microfibers were the most common particle type in surface water, wastewater, sediment, and fish, and were observed in every single fish sampled. Participants onboard the sail will support in collecting air samples in San Francisco Bay and on shore, as well as water samples, to compare concentrations of microfibers in water and in air and help uncover how microfibers are transported via air. Following the sail, we will analyze the samples in the lab to determine the fiber material type and chemical makeup, which helps us understand their sources and the effects of these particles in the environment.
In addition to sampling, the sail will encompass workshops and programming to encourage participants to think deeply about the issue, solutions, and different levers that can drive impact, from legislation and filtration to sheddability standards and product design. Attendees will support in building an agenda for 5 Gyres’ upcoming Microfiber Symposium to chart a course for a new microfiber pollution and textile solutions roadmap.
Participants joining the sail include sustainable brands that are committed to being part of the solution, including Lululemon, Patagonia, Grove Collaborative, Liquid Death, and Ecomedes; materials experts from Mango Materials and Cotton Incorporated; microfiber researchers from Ocean Wise, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, and Dalhousie University; innovators working on microfiber filtration at Xeros and Baleena; resale representatives from Goodwill of the San Francisco Bay; and storytellers, artists, and activists who are bringing this issue to the forefront.
All attendees share a common goal: to find and support science-based solutions to the microfiber problem. We’ll be sharing updates and key learnings from the sail, so keep an eye on our social media channels or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know.
Until then, fair weather and following seas!