How to Green Your Laundry Routine

(Bloomberg) – Buying fewer clothes is a key part of the sustainability equation: According to estimates by consultancy McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, the number of clothes made annually has at least doubled since 2000.

But changing the way you look after your clothes is also an effective lever. Here are six tips on how to reduce the environmental impact of your favorite outfits.

A better washing machine could be a front loader

The good news is that washing machines are keeping up with the latest innovations in efficiency. Energy Star certified machines use approximately 25% less electricity than older models. You could save even more if you’re into European design: consider swapping out a top-loading machine, America’s most popular type of washing machine, for the front-loading machines more popular across the pond. The latter not only use less electricity, but also less water. Top-loaders rely on parts that twist and turn to keep clothes moving, while front-loaders use the tub’s rotation and gravity to toss things around. Front loaders use water more efficiently by spraying clothes instead of soaking them. Energy Star estimates that there are approximately 59 million top-loaders in the United States. If they were replaced with front-loaders, the savings would be roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of 1.3 million homes per year, according to the energy efficiency program’s website. It would also reduce water use by 170 billion gallons.

Recycle hot air with a heat pump dryer

While advances have been made in the efficiency of washing machines, dryers remain largely unchanged. The devices were only included in the Energy Star efficiency program in 2014 – and are therefore one of the last large devices ever. A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that while the average washing machine used 75% less electricity in 2014 than it did in 1981, dryer electricity use changed little over the same period. Because most are sold in washer-dryer sets, the main focus was just making sure they looked like the washing machine, the NRDC said. Some efficiency improvements have been made recently. A heat pump dryer recycles hot air instead of venting it, but it’s among the most expensive models on the market. For those on a tight budget, it is less energy intensive to use a regular dryer at a lower temperature setting for a longer period of time. Also, try to use your dryer when mains demand is low – midday if you’re in a place with lots of sun, otherwise late at night.

Breathe in free air

Nevertheless, the cheapest and most environmentally friendly solutions almost always come from nature. Why not hang your clothes to dry? The savings add up quickly. Dryers in the US consumed 57.4 billion kWh of electricity in 2015 – more than the entire nation of Bangladesh. For the US as a whole, this equates to about 5% of household energy use and 1.4% of total electricity use. The carbon footprint of dryers is equivalent to that of 9 million cars on the road every year.

Beware of microplastics

According to estimates by consulting firm McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, the number of garments manufactured annually has at least doubled since 2000, and many of those garments are made from petroleum-based fibers such as polyester. Every time we wash these fabrics, especially when they’re new, tiny pieces called microfibers break off and float away.

Research suggests that microplastics reduce the ability of oceanic plankton to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This could severely disrupt the vital role these tiny organisms play in maintaining the ocean as a carbon sink. Oceans have historically absorbed 30% to 50% of CO2 emissions from human activities.

Buy a filter

From 2025, France will require manufacturers to install filters in their washing machines to capture microplastics – a measure the European Commission is also considering. Even if your machine doesn’t have a filter, you can hack it. Companies like PlanetCare and Filtrol make filters that you can snap onto an existing machine. Although it takes a bit of work to install and costs more than some garment bags designed for filtering laundry, the results are effective, the products’ makers claim. Filtrol says its reusable mesh filter removes 89% of fibers that become shed from clothes during washing.

Say no to fast fashion

You can also help control microfiber pollution by being more selective when buying clothes. Natural fibers like cotton seem like a good choice, but they’re often heavily processed and release chemicals. A simple solution is to get off the fast fashion hamster wheel. Buy clothes in a style and fabric that looks good for longer. It’s not just consumers who need to act, but manufacturers too, according to Harmen Spek, innovation and solutions manager at the Plastic Soup Foundation, a non-profit marine conservation organization dedicated to addressing plastic waste. “The problem comes from the fashion industry,” he says, “so the fashion industry should provide the solutions.”

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