Microplastics, Macro Problem: The Outdoor Industry Has a Shedding Dilemma
Your synthetic gear deposits tiny plastic fibers into the environment. Here’s how brands are addressing the issue.
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In outdoor gear, plastic is king. Nylon tents, polyester fleeces, EVA boot midsoles, and polypropylene apparel all offer standout performance for the activities you love, but these plastic-based products come with serious environmental downsides. Synthetic gear sheds microplastics (which include an even smaller and more insidious form known as microfibers) during its production, use, and disposal; that means that minuscule pieces of it are making their way into the environments we recreate in, as well as our bodies. Here’s a primer on what those microplastics are, why they’re a problem, and how the outdoor industry is working toward addressing plastic pollution.
What Types of Outdoor Gear Shed Microplastics?
First, let’s start with a few key definitions. Microplastics are pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a pencil eraser (although the most harmful microplastics are much, much smaller). The most common form, secondary microplastics, comes from larger pieces of plastic debris that break down into smaller and smaller fragments through mechanical degradation from stressors like sunlight, wind, and wave action. Primary microplastics, such as microfibers, plastic pellets, and microbeads, are released into the environment at already microscopic sizes.
In the outdoor gear world, microplastics are created through production, washing, drying, and physical wear and tear. As gear is used—when you wear your favorite fleece or hike in your go-to boots, per se—it gradually breaks down, shedding tiny plastic particles into the environment. This doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and, unfortunately, even taking a seemingly benign hike can hasten the process: A study conducted in New York found a higher microplastic load at a lake easily accessible by trail compared to a similar lake accessible only by bushwhacking through difficult terrain. Discarded plastic outdoor gear can also break down over time, with items like ski pole baskets, water filter components, and ski boots slowly fragmenting into microplastics. Where these plastic fragments end up depends on disposal practices, but many end up in oceans, rivers, and streams.
As mentioned, primary microplastics are already smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter when released into the environment, and one type, known as microfibers, is particularly troubling. Synthetic microfibers are tiny, fibrous, and shed by materials like polyester, nylon, polypropylene, and acrylic during production, use, and disposal. Polyester, a staple of technical outdoor apparel, is the most common offender, accounting for almost 60% of global fabric production. Every piece of synthetic outdoor apparel, when produced, used, washed, and dried, sheds microfibers into the environment, but some fabrics (like fleece) shed more than others; on average, tight-weave fabrics shed less than looser weaves. Fleece generally sheds more synthetic microfibers than other types of fabric because its brushed, fuzzy surface and loosely bound fibers break off during mechanical agitation (like washing).
Synthetic microfibers are the most common type of microplastic pollution in the environment, accounting for 50% to 70% of the total microplastic load in wastewater globally. Some fabrics break down into microplastics more easily than others, but nearly all synthetic outdoor apparel (think fleece jackets, running shorts, and technical tees) sheds microfibers as fabrics are manufactured, dyed, washed, used, and disposed of at the end of life. Although it is difficult to account for the outdoor total contribution to the microplastic problem, in total, it is estimated that 11-44 million ton of microplastics are released into the environment each year.
Microplastics Persist in the Environment
If the idea of tiny pieces of plastic floating around in the environment makes you feel uneasy, your concern is warranted. Plastic-based fabrics and fibers can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, meaning that when we release microplastics into the environment, they persist in water and soil. And microplastics are, of course, extremely small, making them difficult to remove from the environment once released. (The smaller they are, the more difficult they are to capture and remove, which is why synthetic microfibers are so dangerous.) Because they take so long to break down and are difficult to remove from waterways and soil, microplastic pollution is challenging to clean up.
The most effective way to address microplastic pollution is to prevent it from entering waterways and soil in the first place, but synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon aren’t going anywhere in outdoor gear. Brands are working to reduce microplastic shedding by designing tighter-weave fleeces, using continuous filament polyester (which sheds less), and applying anti-shed and anti-pilling finishes. Innovative companies like CiCLO have also developed biodegradable polyester fibers that degrade in under 4 years (rather than hundreds), thereby reducing the persistence of plastic microfibers in the environment. Additionally, many—but not all—manufacturers use wastewater capture and filtration systems to remove microfibers and other harmful pollutants from water before releasing it into the environment, but most systems are less than 100% effective.
The Impact of Microplastics
Because microplastics degrade so slowly in the environment, they accumulate in oceans, soil, lakes, and rivers, impacting the organisms that live there. In aquatic ecosystems, organisms like plankton, sea turtles, fish, and seabirds mistake microplastics for food and ingest them. Often, ingestion of microplastics harms these organisms, either by physically blocking the digestive tract or by introducing the persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals that build up in plastic into their bodies. Even if ingesting plastic doesn’t cause direct harm, microplastics can travel up the food chain, ending up in fish, shellfish, and eventually, human beings.
Humans can ingest microplastics by eating seafood, but they are also found in air, drinking water, and foods such as sea salt, honey, and beer. Although most microplastics enter the body through ingestion, synthetic microplastic fibers can also enter the body through the respiratory system (notably, plastic fibers have also been found in lung tissue). Once ingested, microplastics can be absorbed by the liver, kidneys, and intestine, causing a variety of health problems, ranging from intestinal inflammation to endocrine and immune system disruption. Although we don’t yet know all the adverse effects microplastics may have on the human body, a growing body of research shows their impacts are far-reaching. As a result, microplastic pollution is both a human health issue and an environmental problem.
Brands Working to Reduce Microplastic Pollution
Textile manufacturing is a major source of microplastic pollution, and although the outdoor industry comprises a small fraction of this industry, many technical fabrics (like fleece) shed significantly. Because microplastic pollution is an emerging issue in the outdoor industry, over 100 organizations have joined the Microfibre Consortium, a group working to reduce plastic microfiber pollution (which constitutes the outdoor industry’s single largest contribution to the microplastic problem). Participants include Adidas, Arc’teryx, The North Face, REI Co-Op, Fenix Outdoors, Mammut, and other sports and apparel manufacturers. Some brands are also piloting new technologies and materials to reduce their impact. Here are some that have made notable efforts to reduce their microplastic footprint.
Polartec
Polartec developed Power Air, a fabric designed to reduce microfiber shedding without sacrificing thermal efficiency. It works by encapsulating insulating fibers within the fabric structure, limiting the fibers that are shed. Compared with baseline fabrics, Power Air sheds 80% fewer fiber fragments during at-home laundering. A handful of brands, including Title Nine and Houdini Sportswear, have incorporated the material into select products.
Black Diamond
Black Diamond partnered with CiCLO Technologies to develop a fleece jacket made with biodegradable polyester, designed to address microplastic pollution. When released into the environment, these fibers are engineered to break down within four years rather than persisting for hundreds. To learn more, check out our deep dive on CiCLO.
Patagonia
Patagonia first learned about synthetic microfiber pollution in 2015, and since then, the brand has improved its product engineering to reduce shedding and invested in Matter, a startup developing filtration systems to capture microfibers from textile manufacturing. It also sells the Guppyfriend Washing Bag, which can reduce microfiber pollution during washing at home.
Icebreaker
One of the most effective ways to limit microplastic pollution is to avoid plastics altogether. In 2024, over 97% of the fabrics used in Icebreaker's apparel were plastic-free, in an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The brand primarily uses merino wool, Tencel Lyocell (made from wood pulp), and plant-based dyes to limit microplastic pollution.
How You Can Help Reduce Microplastic Pollution
Most microplastic pollution occurs during textile production, placing the onus on brands to reduce pollution through low-shed materials, wastewater treatment systems, and more. Still, there are actions you can take at home to help reduce downstream pollution.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon shed tiny fibers when agitated in a washing machine, which can pass through wastewater systems and enter waterways—making laundry a major source of microplastic pollution. As a result, washing outdoor clothing less frequently can help reduce shedding. The rule of thumb? Wash clothes only when necessary. Additionally, hotter wash cycles lead to greater fiber fragmentation and, thus, more microplastic pollution. Washing clothes on cooler, shorter cycles with less mechanical agitation can drastically reduce shedding.
You can also buy Guppyfriend bags or a PlanetCare laundry machine filter to wash your gear, both of which can reduce microplastic shedding by 98%. If you prefer to limit your total plastic consumption, in some cases, you can consider opting for plastic-free outdoor gear and apparel: think merino wool base layers and fleeces, hemp hiking pants, and cotton tees.
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