Fresh Works: Hybrid Hydro-cyclonic Filtration System, reducing washing machine microfibre pollution

A typical domestic washing machine load will generate around 700,000 tiny microfibres that are discharged along with the wash and rinse water. These fibres are too small to be filtered at conventional water recycling treatment plants and end up being discharged into rivers and ultimately the sea. The cumulative effect of millions of washes each day is that washing machines discharge an estimated 0.5 million tonnes of plastic into the marine environment each year.

These fibres and particles are recognised as doing lasting damage to the environment; ingested by microorganisms who mistake them for food, providing an effective transport mechanism for industrial toxins which end up in the aqua cycle and food chain.

Fresh Works Ltd through this project, seeks to research, develop and deliver a novel microfibre filtration unit suitable for fitting to washing machines and textile processing equipment, as well as having other industrial applications.

Building upon patented technology, this project will develop the technology required to dramatically reduce the volume of microfibres entering the marine environment.