We've been looking into the messy depths of our wardrobes to stop expanding the amount of clothes in circulation, but let's take a deeper look at what happens when we wash them.
Discover how to freshen up your clothes without stinking up the planet.
Doing your washing is an essential (if tedious😉) part of our daily lives, but it can have a significant environmental impact. From the water and energy used to the chemicals released during the washing process, the impact of washing our clothes can add up quickly.
First up, let's save on our bills and the planet: energy & water usage
Let's start with water usage. On average, a single load of laundry uses around 40-50L of water, depending on the machine's efficiency and load size. This amount can vary depending on the type of fabric and washing cycle chosen.
When it comes to energy usage, washing machines are one of your most electricity guzzling appliances (about 6 or 7 on the list of most electricity used in a year for common household appliances - but we'll get into that more in March's posts). The actual energy consumed is going to depend on the size and energy efficiency rating of your washing machine and which cycle you choose. Hot water washes use more energy to heat the water and more energy overall than a cold water wash.
If I do 2* loads of washing a week for the year in my 10kg Fisher & Paykel CleanSmart washing machine, which uses 102L of water a wash and is 4 ⭐ energy efficiency rated:
In warm water (40°C) that's going to generate ¬332.8kg of CO2e emissions.
If I swap to cold water (20°C), then my emissions come down to ¬41.6kg of CO2e a year.
Thats around a 0.29tCO2e saving a year, just from changing to cold water. DONE.
Regardless of hot or cold temp, I'm using around 10,608L of water a year for washing.
I'm usually chucking a load in on a Saturday morning between chores, pressing START on a pre-set 'normal' load. All I have to do is change my settings to cold wash and I can really make a difference over the course of a year.
OK, so how am I getting away with two loads of washing a week in a house with two school children? First up, their clothes are still small and we don't wash shorts / skirts after every wear if they don't look dirty. I also wear some corporate wear / suits that don't need washing every time (drycleaning is another issue!). I've got a 10kg washer - meaning I can get away with a load of clothes & towels, and one of sheets.
The Dirty Truth About How Our Washing Habits Affect Waterways
Another environmental impact of washing clothes is the release of chemicals into the water supply. Many laundry detergents contain phosphates, which can lead to an overgrowth of algae in waterways (an awful problem we've seen in rivers in Aus), depleting oxygen levels and harming fish and other aquatic life. Many detergents contain synthetic fragrances, which can be harmful to human health and the environment. In fact, a single load of laundry can contain as much as 0.5g of phosphorus, which can be enough to cause problems in water systems.
OK so what can I do? First up, check your laundry powder or detergent contains no phosphates, you can also look for a big NP symbol on the back that means negligible phosphates (<0.5% phosphates).
Here is a list of phosphate free laundry powders available in Australia:
Ecostore Laundry Powder - free from synthetic fragrances, phosphates, and other potentially harmful ingredients. Made from plant and mineral-based ingredients and suitable for both front and top loading washing machines. Available at Chemist Warehouse and Woolworths, $10/L at time of print. B Corp certified
Abode Laundry Powder - free from phosphates, enzymes, and synthetic fragrances. Biodegradable and made from natural ingredients, and suitable for both front and top loading washing machines. Available Health food shops or online from stores like HealthyLife or BuyNatural, $14.95/L at time of print. B Corp certified
Earthwise Ultra Sensitive Laundry Powder - free from phosphates, no added fragrances, suitable for sensitive skin types. It’s also biodegradable, grey water and septic tank safe. Available online from stores like HealthyLife, Australian organic or Nature's Wonderland $11.95/kg at time of print but also comes in 4kg box. B Corp certified
Koala Eco Laundry Liquid - made from natural, plant-based ingredients, and free from harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances. 100% recycled, recyclable and refillable bottles. It's also greywater safe and biodegradable. Available from Koala as one-off purchase or as a subscription, and from HealthyLife, $29.95/L at time of print or $20.97 on the subscription model. Pending B Corp certified
The Source Bulk Foods Laundry Powder - free from phosphates, petrochemicals, zeolites, and optical brighteners; and allergy free. Uses plant based natural ingredients, is 100% Biodegradable and is safe for septic systems. Suitable for top loaders. Available online or in store at Source, $11.90/kg at time of print.
Aware Sensitive Laundry Powder - designed for people with sensitive skin, and is free from phosphates, enzymes, and fragrances. Made from natural ingredients and suitable for both front and top loading washing machines. Available at Coles and Woolies, $10/kg at time of print.
B Corporation certification is an independent, third-party assessment of a company's social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
The big one. Microfibers released from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon during washing can enter waterways and harm marine life. These microfibers can persist in the environment for decades, accumulating in the food chain (aka marine animals, other animals and humans eventually eat them😢).
From my previous post, The Big Problem with Fashion, we already know on an estimated 35% of all microplastics in the marine environment come from textiles, with much of this from washing. Why are microfibers so bad? In the water they can be mistaken for food by marine organisms, including fish and plankton, and can accumulate in their digestive tracts, causing physical damage or even death. They can also absorb toxic chemicals and pollutants from the water (say, after the fabric dying process), and then become carriers of these harmful substances. This can lead to bioaccumulation, where the toxins accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms, becoming more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
We eat 5 g of microplastics every week. It's as if you ate a credit card 💳. [Planetcare]
So how do we stop releasing microfibers?
Don't wash as much. Ok, stick with me here. A lot of the time we are washing clothes much sooner than we need to. Essentially, if it isn't dirty or smelly, you don't actually need to wash clothes after every wear. Let's go old school here and have an airing rack. I like to hang my work dresses outside on a hanger if there are no obvious marks on them, to air before returning to the wardrobe. Also, most households have at least one member who is sensitive to smells (for us, that's my daughter). She will let you know if there is any smell going on that necessitates a wash.
Get a washing machine with an in-built filter. Not so readily available in Australia yet, with the National Plastics plan to work with industry to install in all washing machines by 2030. Um, really? Globally, there has been much lobbying and movement to make these compulsory in places elsewhere with countries started to make more ambitious targets. These are led by front-runners France who were first to commit to requirements for filters to be fitted by 2025.
Add an external filter. These are relatively new to the market with only a few providers out there. Planet Care is one that I started looking into - until I realised the shipping cost was $72!! Thats the same for similar filter systems you attach external to the washing machine on your hose like the Filtrol - ships from US for a lot! I gues sits not horrendous to pay $100-$160 for a filter to stop polluting the earth, but then add the shipping costs and ongoing filter cartridges or replacement bags and it can add up. We need local shippers and suppliers of similar products. There's an option called a CoraBall that can be purchased from New Zealand for $64 and shipped for $14 that gather fibers in the wash but its not as effective as a filter would be so you would need to buy multiple for a wash. There are also filter bags you chuck your clothes in, like the German guppybag which is available at select online stores like biome for $45. This is the product I'll be testing once it arrives!
The recap
So, what can we do to reduce the environmental impact of washing clothes? Here are a few tips:
Reduce energy & water usage by:
Use a washing machine with a high energy-efficiency rating
Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot
Protect waterways and our own foodchain!
Use a detergent that is free of phosphates and synthetic fragrances
Consider using a microfiber filter bag when washing synthetic fabrics
And most of all, prevention:
Only wash clothes when necessary; avoid washing after just one use
So, what will Mid Green Family do differently on our road to #netzero?
Only wash in cold (not warm water) cycles
Use phosphate free laundry powders (check out my Source review in the next post)
Use a filter bag to reduce microfiber pollution (guppybag on its way)
Wash only when we need to!
Keep reading all the February tips and tricks on getting the family wardrobe towards #netzero.
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