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WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES?

MICROPLASTICS RELEASED AFTER WASHING, WHAT SOLUTIONS?
WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES?

The damage that microplastics cause to the environment is inversely related to their size. But what are microplastics? They are tiny pieces of plastic material, usually measuring less than 5 mm. The main culprits responsible for releasing microplastics are synthetic fabrics made of microfibers. These fabrics shed these minuscule filament-shaped fragments during manufacturing, use, disposal, but especially during washing. Microfibers are often bound to chemical additives such as phthalates and bisphenol A, but also to other substances like dyes, which are particularly toxic and harmful to human health. From washing machines, microplastics end up directly in wastewater, which, if properly treated by latest generation water purification plants, can remove up to 99% of microfibers from the water. Fast fashion, disposable clothing, and cheap, low-quality garments are some of the main responsible. How can companies involved in both manufacturing machinery and producing professional cleaning solutions help reduce water pollution, which threatens public health?

CHRISTEYNS ITALIA

We meet Ruggero Sammarco, Operations Director Laundry at CHRISTEYNS ITALIA, who emphasizes, “the European Union, or rather the European Commission, had already issued a recommendation by the end of 2023 regarding the imposition of certain limits on the intentional addition of microplastics to products regulated by the EU REACH legislation on chemicals. This includes all synthetic polymer particles smaller than five millimetres that are organic, insoluble, and resistant to degradation. Among the common products affected by this restriction are detergents, fabric softeners, glitter, etc. The deadline for using these products has been set for 2027. As for microplastics in detergents, there has never been significant proliferation. The issue is that detergents are required to clean fabrics daily that contain microplastics, such as nylon, polyester, acrylic fabrics, etc., but the chemical washing process cannot degrade microplastics. Wastewater treatment companies are researching synthetic bacteria that could “consume” plastic polymers, which is also under the European Union's attention. It is clear that reducing a polyester or nylon molecule to zero in a washing bath is practically impossible due to insufficient concentrations and the associated implications. Therefore, the contribution detergency can provide is limited to the removal of microplastics, particularly through the use of fabric softeners. After that, efforts must focus on ensuring that microplastics expelled from fabrics do not circulate again through filtration processes or post-treatment bacterial degradation. The microplastic issue is parallel to that of PFAS, as the latter bind to microplastic molecules, creating a macro problem because they become very difficult to filter in this manner. Any fabric containing plastic fibres in its composition will create this type of issue, but if the fabric is adequately finished, with long fibres and proper twisting, it will release fewer microplastics. However, the problem persists. Synthetic fabrics that do not emit microplastics, though this is still to be proven, include the monofilaments used in clean rooms, which are so specialized that they cannot necessarily be used on a daily basis”, concludes Sammarco.

IMESA

“Imesa has been addressing this issue for some time now, particularly regarding wastewater discharge and its environmental impact”, says Enrico Allario, Chemical Manager at IMESA. “Our research and development department is evaluating several options, and we believe we will have a solution as soon as possible. There is an ongoing debate about microplastics. If we install a filter to a machine, it must have a fine filtering mesh that effectively captures microplastics without causing blockages in the discharge system. The key is to develop a self-cleaning filter, but how can we achieve this without releasing microplastics back into the environment? Controlling the spread of microplastics from washing machines is a crucial first step in wastewater treatment. However, as mentioned, there are technical challenges related to discharge functionality, and overcoming these challenges is the primary hurdle. The company that successfully solves this problem will gain a competitive advantage. In France, from the 1st of January of this year, the manufacturers of domestic washing machines are obliged to include a filter. I assume this obligation could be soon extended to professional and industrial machines as well. The issue of costs is significant, as very few companies are willing to invest in this technology voluntarily. A mandate from national and European legislative authorities would likely be necessary. Do companies in the wastewater industry see this as a priority? Their stance is similar to that of washing machine manufacturers, at present, beyond the lack of cost-effectiveness, there is no regulation enforcing specific actions. However, in our opinion, within the next three to five years, there will need to be a turning point or at least the establishment of clear legislation addressing the issue of microplastics resulted from washing”.

ÈCOSÌ

“Microfibers are among the most common forms of pollution, with impacts on human health and the environment that are still not fully understood”, explains Prof. Tania Martellini, Associate Professor at the University of Florence. “Their thready structure makes them easily ingestible by marine organisms, disrupting nutrition and accumulating along the food chain. Furthermore, their polymeric composition makes them an ideal carrier for toxic contaminants”. To address this emergency, ÈCOSÌ has started a collaboration with the University of Florence, co-financing a Ph.D. project entitled “Pollution from micro and nano plastics: mitigation strategies to reduce their release from synthetic fabrics during washing processes and their ecological impact” by Dr. S.B. Cabigliera, under the PON – Research and Innovation program. “We are developing innovative solutions, such as advanced filtration systems and the use of magnetic nanomaterials for microfiber removal”, continues Prof. Martellini. “We are also studying the bacterial degradation of plastic polymers, with promising results published in scientific journals”. “Our mission is to anticipate regulations and develop sustainable solutions”, says Dr. Daniele Cantagalli, R&D Manager of ÈCOSÌ. “Thanks to this collaboration, we are able to integrate innovative technologies into our products, reducing microfiber release and promoting increasingly responsible chemistry”. The European Union is already implementing measures against microplastic pollution, but according to Prof. Martellini, a broader approach is necessary: “Only by combining regulation, research, and industry we can effectively tackle this challenge with practical solutions”. With this initiative, ÈCOSÌ reaffirms its commitment to responsible innovation, transforming scientific research into tangible technologies for a more sustainable future.

ALLIANCE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

“The market is not yet receptive, nor prepared to address the need to reduce microplastics”, says Vittorio Maglione, the Country Manager for Italy at ALLIANCE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS. “Except for Northern Europe, other countries are lagging behind. We have equipped our washing machines with a filtration system that includes a tank. I won’t hide the fact that customer demand for this filtration system is very high, especially for MOP washing, as microfiber releases a significant amount of microplastics, leading to high levels of water contamination. How do you see the future of the efforts to reduce microplastics? In our opinion, this is a matter that should primarily be handled by those involved in wastewater treatment. The ideal approach would be to centralize the filtration system by setting up a sort of “collector filter” where the discharges from different machines converge. As is often the case, a strong and decisive push from companies can only come from European regulations and the implementation and compliance of individual national laws. At the moment, it is primarily a marketing topic and a sales issue. To make it a general concern for machinery manufacturers, we will need to not only increase awareness but also grow interest and educate the market on this subject. For our company, we also receive requests from large facilities that, for ethical reasons, require proper filtration on washing machines. This requires a very precise and detailed study, along with a financial investment in research and development, and for that, companies need a clear economic development perspective. Currently, companies cannot even define an investment budget, as they don’t know whether European regulations will exist or what form they will take, nor do they understand the national provisions on this matter. It's essential to clarify the regulatory parameters, such as what the minimum amount of microplastics residue to retain should be, what size the microplastics should be, and what the limits for the filtration and purification of microplastics are. Defining these rules is crucial in this case”.

RENZACCI

As a manufacturer of washing machinery, what have you considered and, if applicable, implemented to address the issue of microplastics resulted after washing? We ask this to Marco Niccolini, the General Sales and Mkt Director of RENZACCI. “Renzacci company is once again at the forefront of sustainable and circular economy, thanks to the exclusive PLASTIC GUARD filtration system, which contributes in a very strong way to the fight against plastic pollution thus making washer extractors not only an indispensable tool at the service of the professional of our industry, but also a powerful aid to prevent plastic pollution in the environment surrounding us. PLASTIC GUARD is simple and advanced at the same time, since it is based on an operating principle that sees first of all the presence of a special filter that prevents the discharge of plastic particles that are released from the garments, thus preventing them from polluting our rivers and seas by entering the human food chain. A practical monitoring system alerts the operator when there is a need to clean the special filter, an operation that can be carried out in an extremely simple and rapid way without losses in work productivity. The plastic particles can thus be recovered and recycled!! The advanced RENZACCI PLASTIC GUARD system therefore allows you to combine the efficiency and profitability of your business with the implementation of a production process at the service of sustainability and the circular economy”.

MONTEGA®

CAs we have also seen in the previous discussions of this in-depth analysis, the issue of microplastics requires every company to base its actions on thorough and - ideally, scientific studies and evaluations. We discuss about this with Samuele Sansoni, Research and Development Director at MONTEGA®. “When it comes to microplastics, we identify three key categories: those intentionally added to products, those generated from the wear and tear of materials during use, and those resulting from the degradation of improperly managed waste at the end of its life cycle. As professionals in the cleaning industry, we are particularly concerned with the first two types of microplastics. The amount of intentionally added microplastics in detergents is actually very small. The chart below shows a general estimation of the origin of intentionally added microplastics in various products. If we consider that the 11,8% attributed to detergents refers more to surface cleaners, it becomes clear that the focus should be on microplastics released from the wearing and tearing of washed materials rather than those from the cleaning products themselves. Another key statistic reinforces this: a 2020 European Commission study estimated that washing clothes releases 13.000 tons of microplastics annually only in Europe. How can this figure be reduced? Washing conditions and the products used play a central role in controlling microfiber release. As detergent manufacturers, we cannot influence the quality of textile fibres or consumer choices. However, it is reasonable to assume that more aggressive washing conditions accelerate textile degradation, leading to greater microfiber release from synthetic fabrics. But is it possible to achieve an effective yet gentle wash for polyester tablecloth after a catering service? The challenge is open, and Montega® has embraced it by developing a detergent that guarantees excellent performance at a balanced pH - neither too acidic, nor too basic. Most importantly, these detergent features highly selective action, targeting stains specifically rather than using an aggressive washing process that affects both the stain and the fabric. As detergent manufacturers, this is our commitment and our perspective. Each player in the supply chain has a role to play, from machinery manufacturers to textile producers, all the way to consumers, who must rediscover the intrinsic value of natural or artificial fibres over synthetics or, at the very least, choose highquality textiles and detergents”. •

Come abbiamo visto anche dai colloqui precedenti in questo approfondimento l’argomento microplastiche induce ogni azienda a prendere le mosse da studi e riflessioni particolarmente accurate o meglio scientifiche ne parliamo con Samuele Sansoni, Direttore Ricerca e Sviluppo di MONTEGA®. “Sul tema microplastiche ci rifacciamo a 3 importanti divisioni: le microplastiche intenzionalmente aggiunte ai prodotti; le microplastiche derivanti dall’usura di materiali in corso d’opera; le microplastiche derivanti dalla degradazione di materiale il cui fine vita non è correttamente gestito. Ai fini di ciò che rientra nella nostra competenza come professionisti della detergenza, sono le prime due tipologie a interessarci. La quantità di microplastiche intenzionalmente aggiunte rintracciabili nei detergenti in realtà è molto esigua: nel grafico che riportiamo si vede una stima generale della provenienza delle microplastiche intenzionalmente aggiunte nei prodotti. Se consideriamo che quel 11,8% riservato ai detergenti fa riferimento più che altro ai detergenti per superfici, è chiaro che sono le microplastiche derivanti dall’usura di ciò che laviamo il focus e non quello con cui laviamo. Per farlo è utile un altro dato: un progetto datato 2020 della Commissione Europea ha stimato l'entità dei rilasci annuali di microplastiche emesse dal lavaggio degli indumenti in 13.000 tonnellate all'anno solo in Europa. Come ridurre questo dato? Le condizioni di lavaggio e i prodotti usati rivestano un ruolo centrale nel controllo di questo fattore visto che non possiamo, come produttori di detergenti, andare ad incidere sulla qualità delle fibre da lavare né sulle scelte dei consumatori. Possiamo ragionevolmente pensare che tanto più sono aggressive le condizioni di lavaggio, tanto più alta sarà la degradazione del tessile lavato e quindi il rilascio di microplastiche dai tessuti sintetici. Ma è possibile immaginare un lavaggio efficace e al tempo stesso non aggressivo su, ad esempio, un tovagliato in poliestere reduce da un servizio di catering? La sfida è aperta e Montega® l’ha raccolta puntando sullo sviluppo di un detersivo che può garantire performance eccellenti a pH né troppo acidi né troppo basici e, soprattutto, un detersivo con una altissima selettività di azione rivolta specificatamente alla macchia, e non una generale condizione di lavaggio aggressiva che attacca sì la macchia, ma anche la fibra. Come produttore di detersivi questo è l’impegno e la prospettiva. Poi ad ogni attore della filiera compete la sua parte: dai produttori di macchinari ai produttori di articoli tessili fino ai consumatori che devono riscoprire il valore intrinseco della fibra naturale o artificiale a discapito di quella sintetica o comunque orientarsi su articoli, e detergenti, di qualità”. •

DETERGO MAGAZINE # MARCH 2025

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MICROPLASTICS RELEASED AFTER WASHING, WHAT SOLUTIONS?WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES?