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Dear Dot,
Should we be concerned that fabric made from recycled plastic shed microplastics during washing?
– Tes
The short answer: Yes — recycled plastic sheds microplastics just like virgin plastic, and some research suggests it may shed even more, smaller (and thus more harmful) particles. Your best bet is sticking to natural fibers, washing less often (and in cold water), and air-drying.
Dear Tes,
Dot often talks about how recycling has become the breakout star of our eco-conscious trilogy. Of “reduce,” “reuse,” and “recycle,” we largely ignore the first, are tepid about the second, but adore tossing items into our blue bins and sending them off with a wave to our municipal recycling facilities, certain of their reincarnation into another consumer product and equally confident in our own environmental virtuousness.
But though we now know that much of recycling is a scam, old habits die hard. And so when we see that something is made of recycled materials, we categorize it as eco-friendly, as a “better than,” choice. And sometimes we’re right!
Dot, for instance, is a huge fan of toilet paper made from recycled post-consumer waste. We should not be wiping our derrieres with the Boreal Forest (or any forest, really)! The same goes for almost all paper products — printer paper, books, wrapping paper: Look for recycled versions.
Whereas aluminum is (almost) endlessly recyclable and maintains its integrity, thus keeping its value as a material, plastic is the problem child. It’s cheap, which is what makes it so appealing as a material for consumer products, but it’s not as easily recycled and degrades, both during its original life and following recycling, limiting its usefulness in other applications.
Nonetheless, we’re seeing more and more products made from recycled plastics. You’ve likely already seen water and soda bottles, fleece jackets, towels, athletic gear, and more, all made from recycled plastic.
And here’s where we ask our brains to hold two competing truths: On the one hand, using recycled plastic as a material is a good thing because it incentivizes plastic recycling; but on the other, using recycled plastic creates a veneer of eco-friendliness when plastic in and of itself is anything but. The Plastic Pollution Coalition reports that the recycling process for plastics burns large amounts of fossil fuel, emitting harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases, producing waste, and contaminating water, all while creating microplastics and nanoplastics. “The small plastic particles are then melted down, and manufacturers must mix in a large amount of newly made (virgin) plastic and/or toxic additives to restore some of its useful properties. Recycling increases the toxicity of plastic; there are hundreds of additional toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals, in recycled plastic. And that’s in addition to the mix of more than 16,000 chemicals in newly made plastic.”
Which brings us to the same conclusion we reach any time Dot addresses plastic pollution and recycling: We absolutely must reduce the amount of consumer plastic we produce and purchase in the first place. Plastic is ultimately trash. (You can decide for yourself if Dot means that metaphorically or literally, or, most likely, both.)
But let me respond to your specific question, Tes: Does recycled plastic shed microplastics? Yes. Just like virgin plastic, recycled plastic sheds microplastics, which get into our soil, our water, birds, animals, marine life, and, of course, us. In fact, some research indicates that recycled plastic might actually shed more microplastics. The Changing Markets Foundation released a report in December of 2025, concluding that “Recycled polyester sheds around 55% more microfibres than virgin polyester, which is less brittle.” What’s more, they said, “The particles were nearly 20% smaller, meaning they travel farther, penetrate deeper into lungs and tissues, and are more readily ingested by aquatic and soil organisms.” Changing Markets Senior Campaign Manager Urska Trunk noted that “Real solutions mean slowing and phasing out synthetic fibre production and stopping the diversion of plastic bottles into disposable clothing.”
Whether or not you accept Changing Markets’ insistence that recycled plastic produces more microplastic shedding, we know it doesn’t produce less. And fewer microplastics is what we should all be aiming for.
Dot’s advice? Stick to natural fibers (yes, they also shed, but they don’t produce the same degree of environmental harm), and wash clothing less often and in cold water. Hang it to dry. Not only will you create less microfiber pollution, but also, your clothes will last longer, and you’ll save money on utilities. A clean win for you and the planet.
Laundrily,
Dot
