Global Plastics Treaty failed. Canada must still act to protect our environment

With the failure of the recent Global Plastic Pollution Treaty negotiations in Busan, (Republic of Korea), one can be forgiven for feeling a shade downcast. After a string of bad news stories about the health of our world, there were high hopes that a new treaty could tackle the scourge that delivers visible blights to otherwise pristine beaches, as well as invisible microplastics that are being found in all reaches of the world.

As scientists who have spent the past decade researching the sources, impacts and developing technologies to address plastic pollution, we believe that bold action is needed to confront this rapidly escalating pollution priority. 

Plastic pollution takes many forms, but the slow physical degradation of larger plastic items guarantees a future with smaller and smaller pieces — culminating in microplastics (defined as smaller than five mm.) 

Our research, and that of others, has discovered tiny microfibres from textiles account for approximately 80 per cent of all microplastic particles found in Canadian lakes, oceans and wildlife. With a few key interventions, we can reshape how textiles are designed, made, used and disposed. Innovation and leadership at different steps along the life cycle of textiles can dramatically reduce the scourge of microfibre pollution.

What is the problem?

Over two decades of scientific research reveals that microfibres are the predominant form of microplastics contaminating virtually all of our planet. There is growing evidence that these tiny particles are being ingested by people and wildlife, and posing troubling health risks. Microfibres in the environment largely come from clothing and other textiles, and can be made with semisynthetic (treated wool, cotton and cellulose) or synthetic polymers from petroleum (e.g. polyester and nylon). They are resilient and often laden with dyes and chemical additives. Microfibres enter the environment in various ways, but evidence points to home laundry as a significant source, with subsequent release to the environment through wastewater discharge and biosolid application to farms and forests. 

Microfibres a key pollution challenge for Canada

Our new report reveals how laundry introduces 1,920 tonnes of microfibres to wastewater treatment plants every year. Despite the good performance of Canada’s wastewater treatment systems, 264 tonnes of microfibres find their way into our rivers, lakes and oceans. Meanwhile, 795 tonnes are captured by treatment facilities, only to be spread onto farmlands, forests and land reclamation sites in the form of ‘beneficial’ (nutrient-rich) biosolids. 

A further 371 tonnes of microfibres are released into the atmosphere each year through electric clothes drying. These figures don’t account for other sources for which we have no data: commercial laundry, ship activities and manufacturing. Without changes, by 2030 we estimate that Canadian households will have released a total of 6,558 tonnes of microfibres to the environment — the equivalent weight of 44 million t-shirts.

Canada microfibre pollution blueprint 

Canada has an opportunity for leadership nationally and internationally. Canada should adopt a comprehensive strategy that identifies and tackles microfibre sources at each step of the textile value chain, including design, manufacturing, trade, laundry and waste management.  Given that microfibre pollution is still largely unregulated in Canada, strong policy and regulatory leadership will be key in enabling the solutions at three key stages:

1. Upstream, where establishing textile design and manufacturing standards could drastically limit microfibre losses to the environment. Since Canada imports 95 per cent of its textiles, and microfibre pollution knows no borders, international agreements and global efforts will be essential to foster sustainable practices across the industry.
2. At the consumer level, microfibres from laundry can be captured before they reach the environment through built-in filters in both domestic and commercial washing machines. Filters available for after-market washing machines can reduce up to 90 per cent of microfibres at home. If adopted across Canada, they could prevent 953 tonnes of microfibres from entering the environment. France is implementing an obligatory installation of filters in all new washing machines sold on the market by 2025, setting the stage for a step that Canada should implement.
3. The waste management level, where improvements in wastewater, stormwater and biosolid management provide us with a final chance to prevent environmental contamination by microfibres. Canada can develop monitoring tools and Environmental Quality Guidelines that can be applied to waste management operations.

Fast fashion has played an important role in the growth of textile consumption in Canada, with items being produced more frequently, worn less and discarded more rapidly. The time to act is now. Canada can create a far-reaching, ‘made-in-Canada’ plan that demonstrates leadership in innovation, policy and best practices. Then we can contribute meaningfully to a re-launch of global plastic pollution treaty negotiations. 

Peter Ross is Senior Scientist and Program Director of the Healthy Waters Program at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. 

Anna Posacka is an ocean scientist specializing in microplastic pollution and a Strategic Advisor to Ocean Diagnostics.

Ethan Edson is a marine scientist, conservation technologist, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Ocean Diagnostics.