Microplastics have become one of the defining environmental stories of the decade. They've been found in the deepest ocean trenches, in Arctic sea ice, in the blood of sea turtles, in drinking water — and in human blood, lungs, and placentas.

One of the most significant sources of microplastic pollution is one that most people haven't considered: washing synthetic clothing. And the category most responsible? Activewear.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5mm — often much smaller, down to nanometre scale. They come from multiple sources: the breakdown of larger plastic items, plastic pellets used in manufacturing, and — crucially — the shedding of synthetic textile fibres during washing and wear.

Textile-derived microplastics (sometimes called microfibres) are shed from synthetic fabrics: polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane, and their blends. These are the core materials in the vast majority of activewear sold globally.

How Much Do Clothes Actually Shed?

The numbers are striking. Research cited by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) found that a single wash cycle of synthetic clothing can release hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibres. A 2017 study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that a standard washing machine load of synthetic clothing released an average of 700,000 microfibres per wash.

Across millions of households washing synthetic clothes multiple times per week, this adds up to an enormous quantity of plastic particles entering wastewater systems — and then the environment.

Where Do They End Up?

Most wastewater treatment plants filter out a significant proportion of microplastics from laundry water — studies suggest between 70% and 99% capture rates depending on the technology. But even at 99% capture, the volume of fibres shed means significant quantities pass through. Those that do reach waterways accumulate in river sediments, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems.

Marine organisms ingest microplastics. These particles then accumulate up the food chain. Microplastics have now been detected in fish intended for human consumption, in shellfish, in sea salt, and in tap water in many countries.

The health implications of microplastic ingestion and inhalation in humans are still being studied, but the accumulation of plastic particles in human tissue — including blood, lung tissue, and placentas — suggests the concern is not theoretical.

Why Activewear Is a Disproportionate Source

All synthetic garments shed microplastics, but activewear is a particularly significant source for several reasons:

• Washing frequency: Most people wash synthetic activewear after every use, meaning it goes through far more wash cycles per year than, say, a winter coat.
• Fabric structure: Performance activewear often uses finer, looser-knit fabrics engineered for stretch and wicking — these shed more fibres than tightly woven materials.
• Mechanical action: The tumbling action of the washing machine breaks fibres. Activewear's stretch fabrics are subject to significant mechanical stress in both use and washing.

What Can You Do?

1. Choose Natural Fibre Alternatives

Natural fibres — cotton, linen, wool, and Lyocell — don't shed microplastics. They shed natural fibres, which biodegrade rather than persisting in the environment. The most straightforward way to reduce your contribution to microplastic pollution is to reduce the proportion of synthetic fibres in your wardrobe — particularly in items washed frequently, like activewear.

2. Wash Less Frequently

Fewer washes means fewer microplastics shed. Activewear made from naturally odour-resistant materials — particularly Lyocell with plant-based anti-odour treatment — can typically be worn multiple times between washes without smell, directly reducing wash frequency and microplastic output.

3. Wash at Lower Temperatures and Shorter Cycles

Research has found that higher temperatures and longer wash cycles increase fibre shedding. Washing at 30°C on a shorter, gentle cycle reduces both energy consumption and microplastic release compared to hot, long washes.

4. Use a Microfibre Filter or Bag

Products like the Guppyfriend washing bag and aftermarket washing machine filters can capture a proportion of the microfibres shed during washing before they enter the water system. These aren't complete solutions, but they reduce the problem.

5. Air Dry When Possible

Tumble dryers shed microplastics into the air — and these can be released through dryer vents. Air drying eliminates this entirely, while also preserving garment quality and reducing energy use.

The Bigger Picture

The microplastic problem from textiles won't be solved by individual consumer choices alone — it requires changes in industry materials, washing machine filtration standards (several countries are moving toward mandatory microplastic filters in new machines), and wastewater treatment technology.

But individual choices do have cumulative effect. The shift from synthetic to natural fibre activewear — driven by consumer demand for better materials — creates the market signal that drives industry change. Every brand that builds an activewear line around Lyocell rather than polyester demonstrates that it's commercially viable. That matters at scale.

APRÍ's Approach

APRÍ's collection is built on TENCEL™ Lyocell — a natural fibre that sheds no microplastics. Combined with plant-based anti-odour technology that extends the time between washes, APRÍ garments produce a fraction of the microplastic output of conventional synthetic activewear over their lifetime.

This isn't positioned as the solution to global microplastic pollution. It's a meaningful reduction from one category of product, made by a brand that started from a clear principle: there's a better way to make activewear than the industry default of petroleum-derived synthetics.