I was shocked to learn that many of the smallest shreds of plastic found in sea water samples come from our clothing. These " macrofibres' come from washing our clothes. They are shed through the friction of the wash and then go into the sewage system and out to sea, where they can have a huge impact on marine life. While clothes made of plastic-based fibres may be durable, these microfibres will pollute our seas for generations. 

Future washing machines will need to have better filters now that we know about this problem. But meanwhile, you can get fine mesh bags to put your clothes in during the wash, which will capture the shreds and keep them out of oceans. 

This is another good reason to look for natural, ethically produced clothing in the shops. 

Seek out the following fibres where you can. 

Hemp - this crop needs very few nutrients and can be grown organically in most areas of the worlds. The fibres can be made into a wide range of fabric weights and plant also produces oil and seeds for food.

Bamboo - this is a type of grass and is incredibly fast-growing, needing no artificial fertilizers in most areas. Bamboo can be used for many household articles and can also be made into hard-wearing fabrics

Wool - if produced organically, this comes from sheep that are not dipped in chemicals and raised on land that is not overgrazed, ensuring that organic wool has a very low environmental impact. 

Cotton - unfortunately cotton is a very resource-intensive crop, responsible for 12 per cent of global pesticide use. Many poor cotton farmers suffer the effects of agricultural chemicals yet don't make a fair living. Bringing fair trade and organic approaches to the cotton industry has the potential to improve the lives of huge numbers of people and protect the environment. Because of the high impact of cotton production, I always buy organic cotton where I can. 

Article by: Sian Berry, Book Title : 50 Ways To Help The Planet