Consumers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Products Preventing Microfiber Pollution in Aquatic Environments as a Result of the Domestic Washing of Synthetic Clothes
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Microfibers
1.2. Tackling Microfiber Pollution
1.3. Influence of Household Laundry
1.4. Outline
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Explorative Research Approach
2.1.1. Quantitative Study with Survey
2.1.2. Products Included in This Research
- The Cora Ball (Vermont, USA) is inspired by the ability of corals to capture tiny particles from the water. It is placed in the washing machine tub with the clothes, where it captures released fibers. After washing, the fibers must be removed from the Cora Ball by hand. The products costs 29.99 euros, and independent research concluded it captures on average 26% of microfibers [26].
- The Guppyfriend (Germany) is a laundry bag in which the synthetic clothes are put during washing. A fine polyamide mesh captures the fibers. The fibers must be removed by hand after every wash cycle. The product costs around 30 euros.
- The Filtrol 160 (Maine, USA) is an external filter located at the drain of the washing machine. Every 8 to 15 washing cycles the filter bag must be cleaned by turning the bag upside down, after the residue has had time to dry first. The manual suggests emptying the bag outside, thus spreading the microplastics into the environment. The bag will last 1–2 years. The complete product with one filter bag costs 120 euros and is only available in the United States of America. The main purpose of the Filtrol 160 is protecting the septic tank: capturing microfibers is an extra feature.
2.1.3. Qualitative Observation and In-Depth Interview
2.2. Design and Synthesis
2.3. Evaluation
3. Results
3.1. Explorative Quantitative Study
3.1.1. Consumer Awareness Regarding Microfiber Pollution and the Impact of Their Washing Habits
3.1.2. Evaluation of Existing Products
3.2. Explorative Qualitative Study
3.3. Preliminary Conclusion Based on the Exploration
- Besides providing a product, also information should be given. People need to be made aware of the problem and expand their knowledge.
- The most important property is visible effectiveness and proof that the solution works. Therefore, the visibility of the fibers and/or the contact of the users with the fibers seemed to be given as crucial arguments.
- Usability is the second most important factor, with a specific focus on convenience—(i) people should be able to wash all their clothes with the product, so they do not need to think about the textile material; (ii) people do not easily change their washing behavior; as such, if the effort would be too large, they would probably abandon the product and revert to their old washing routine.
- As the cleaning process is a new step in their washing habits, this phase should be easy and clear. People should not be able to do it the wrong way - as their first reaction is often to rinse it under the tap, which will allow the fibers to enter the wastewater again. Next, the process of cleaning should not require too much time or should not be necessary every time.
- Many respondents also want to know where the fibers will go after disposal, showing that the impact on the environment is very valuable, as can be concluded from the survey.
3.4. Synthesis and Design of the Product Concept
3.4.1. User-Related Design Requirements
- The operating and cleaning processes should be short and unambiguous;
- The product or marketing of the product should raise awareness of the problem;
- The product should be accessible from the front of the machine;
- The impact should be visible for the user(s), to keep them motivated;
- The scientifically proven effectiveness should be communicated objectively;
- The product should be durable and last for several years;
- The cleaning process should not rely on the visibility of the fibers;
- The location of the fibers should be clear to support optimal cleaning;
- Synthetic materials should not have to be selected or separated first;
- The product should be perceived as sustainable by itself (energy consumption, …);
- The product should allow a full load to be washed.
3.4.2. Concept Design
3.5. Evaluation of the Concept
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
Ethical Statement
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Herweyers, L.; Catarci Carteny, C.; Scheelen, L.; Watts, R.; Du Bois, E. Consumers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Products Preventing Microfiber Pollution in Aquatic Environments as a Result of the Domestic Washing of Synthetic Clothes. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2244. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062244
Herweyers L, Catarci Carteny C, Scheelen L, Watts R, Du Bois E. Consumers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Products Preventing Microfiber Pollution in Aquatic Environments as a Result of the Domestic Washing of Synthetic Clothes. Sustainability. 2020; 12(6):2244. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062244
Chicago/Turabian StyleHerweyers, Laure, Camilla Catarci Carteny, Linda Scheelen, Regan Watts, and Els Du Bois. 2020. "Consumers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Products Preventing Microfiber Pollution in Aquatic Environments as a Result of the Domestic Washing of Synthetic Clothes" Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2244. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062244