Did you know that the plastic problem might be hiding in your wardrobe? Synthetic clothing fibres such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, or elastane are made from plastic polymers. These plastics can shed and break down into microplastics when clothes are made, washed, or thrown away - even just simply wearing the product can shed microplastics.
In our joint letter we call on Members of the European Parliament to not delay implementing the Euro 7 framework for heavy-duty vehicles brake dust and tyre abrasion, a major source of both air pollution and microplastics. Any delays would weaken EU efforts to address microplastic and particulate air pollution, create regulatory uncertainty for manufacturers investing in cleaner technologies, and send the wrong signal to innovators
Connect with leading marine scientists and join an interactive policy exchange on the European Parliament esplanade in Brussels for EU Ocean Week 2026! In collaboration with Seas At Risk and The Pew Charitable Trusts, we invite you to join scientists and experts on textiles and microplastics to discuss solutions for microplastic pollution from textiles. Come and find our giant whale outside the European Parliament and add your messages of support to curb microplastic pollution!
ECOS is looking for experts in the field of plastic pellet pollution and more specifically on methods to estimate plastic pellet losses to represent and defend environmental interests in the development of standards and related policies.
Fast fashion is leading the microplastic pollution trend. After World Environment Day, ECOS highlights that synthetic textiles are one of the major sources of microplastic pollution – they have dominated the fibre market in fashion since the mid-1990s.
When you hear ‘car pollution’, what is the first thing that comes to mind? People usually think of exhaust emissions – the truth we can’t deny! But there is another major hidden polluter – tyres.
ECOS is co-funded by the European Commission and EFTA
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
