There is plastic hidden in our clothes! Disguised as polyester, elastane, lycra and other forms, it leaches microplastics into our water supplies, our food chains, and into our bodies. So how did it get there and why is it affecting soil health and our health?

Clothing and textiles are one of the primary sources of microplastics. As pressure was put on clothing to become cheaper, manufacturers and suppliers started blending polyester and other plastic fibers with natural fibers. When these partially or fully plastic textiles are manufactured, worn, washed in the laundry, and dried, they release tiny plastic fibers into the water and the air. Traditional water filtration systems are not set up to filter out these tiny plastic particles, leaching them into our water and soils. They eventually end up in our bodies. In fact, it’s estimated we eat one credit card of plastic a week. Plastic has even been found in human blood. 

Microplastics from clothing are more dangerous than what we thought for a few reasons. Plastics, including plastic-blended fabrics, contain EDCs, or Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. These chemicals interfere with the way our bodies’ hormones work. They’ve been linked to adverse health outcomes like infertility and cancer.

Over a third (35 percent) of all microplastics released into the world’s oceans are from synthetic textiles. Between half a million and a million tons of plastic microfibres are discharged into wastewater each year from the washing of synthetic clothes. These microplastics ultimately release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other water sources, and the rest of the ecosystem, including our food sources. 

Environmental contamination by microplastics is considered a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Soil ecosystems, particularly agricultural land, have been recognized as a major risk. It was found that when types of microplastics, and microplastic clothing fibers were added to soil, fewer seeds germinated, shoot height was significantly smaller, there was a decrease in soil pH, and the size distribution of water-stable soil aggregates was altered, suggesting potential changes in soil stability. The ACS study provides evidence that microplastics, and synthetic fibers affect the development of plants and crops, with potential further impacts on soil ecosystem function.

What to avoid in your clothing to help cultivate water and soil health:

You may never have checked the content label on the inside of your clothing. Each time you consider buying a piece of clothing, give it a look. When you do, you will find words like “polyester,” “nylon,” “polyamide,” “acrylic,” “elastane,” and others. These are examples of plastic materials very commonly used in clothing. Avoid clothing with these materials whenever possible and choose natural fibers like cotton, hemp, linen, wool, etc. By making the switch to plastic-free clothing, you are helping to mitigate the amount of microplastics that enter our environment, our ecosystems, and our bodies. This change shifts dollars and focus towards sustainability and away from the unethical practices of fast fashion.

Other Steps to Take: 

1. 1. Wash your clothing at cold temperatures so that it is less likely to wash out plastic fibers.
2. 2. Wash your clothing in a special bag like this one from Guppyfriend, which collects microfibers in the wash and prevents them from entering rivers and oceans.
3. 3. Try air drying. Tumble drying is more aggressive and can cause your clothes to shed more plastic. 
4. 4. Keep your clothing for longer. Your clothes are likely to shed more plastic in the first few washes. Frequently changing your wardrobe will increase the amount of plastic you’re putting in the environment. 

Do you know who grows your clothes?

Have you ever considered where clothing originates? Not who designs or sews it, but where it actually starts? Were the fibers grown, sprouting from the ground or off the backs of cute farm animals (natural fibers), or were they created from chemicals in a lab (artificial/synthetic fibers)?

Synthetic fibers such as spandex, nylon, polyester, lycra, etc. make up the majority of the clothing you see online and in stores because they are inexpensive to produce. These fibers are made of plastic and other toxic chemicals that are extremely harmful to our environment. Each time you wash an article of clothing made from synthetic fibers, microplastics are released into our waterways. These microplastics pollute the water and soil and harm sea life, land animals and humans. A recent study published in the journal Environment International found that 80% of the people tested had microplastic in their blood!

Less commonly found in stores, yet much safer for our environment are garments made from 100% natural fibers (fibers from either plants or animals). You may notice that clothing made from 100% natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, etc.) are significantly more expensive than clothing made from synthetic fibers. This is because the process of growing natural fibers for textiles is labor intensive and costly. Plant fibers like cotton, linen and hemp must be planted and grown in nutrient rich soil, then harvested and processed before they can even get to the spinning stage to become yarn. Animal fibers such as alpaca, wool and mohair require great care and effort from their farmers in order to cultivate quality fibers that can be sold once the animal is sheared and the fibers are properly cleaned. This includes everything from breeding to diet and living conditions.

When shopping it is best to look for clothes made from 100% natural fibers. Not only are they
significantly less harmful to the environment than synthetic materials, they’re also biodegradable, breathable, and long lasting. Natural fibers like wool and linen even adjust to your body temperature to keep you comfortable! If you see something you believe to be “overpriced”, take into consideration the fiber content, how much effort and resources went into making the garment and how it will or already has impacted our planet.

A great way to support farmers in your community and the local economy is by purchasing clothing made in the same area or state it is sold. The state of Pennsylvania has many fiber farmers including alpaca, wool, mohair, flax(linen), hemp, and angora. You can see some of the farmers and people making fiber and clothing in the state of PA here.

All Together Now PA is an affiliate of Fibershed, a non-profit organization that develops equity-focused regional and land regenerating natural fiber and dye systems. Their work expands opportunities to implement climate beneficial agriculture, rebuild regional manufacturing, and connect end-users to the source of their fiber through direct educational offerings.

Development, plowing, landfilling, excessive pesticide and fertilizer use, microplastics from clothing, and more are putting soil health at risk. Soil health is vital for human health and the health of the planet.

Healthy soil is made up of billions of microscopic organisms. Just one teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microbes than there are people on the planet! Soil microbes are constantly feeding on organic matter, like cotton underwear, which is why All Together Now PA is teaming up with The Big Favorite, Lancaster Water Week, The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Stroud Water Research Center, PA Soil Health Coalition and The Chesapeake Bay Foundations to ask you to SOIL YOUR UNDIES!

Here’s how to participate:

Step 1: “Plant” a pair of 100% cotton underwear by digging a hole 3 inches deep. Lay your undies flat inside the hole, and cover with soil. You can do this in your backyard, farm or large garden bed. Don’t forget to mark the spot you planted! 

Step 2: Wait at least 60 days before gently unearthing them. This gives the microbes in your soil time to do their job.

Step 3: Dig up your undies and snap a photo! Make sure to tag us on instagram @alltogethernowpa @thebigfavorite @stroudcenter @pasafarming @chesapeakbayfoundation @lancasterconservancy @soilyourundies with hashtags #soilyourundies #soilhealth #donttreatsoillikedirt or send a picture to rachel@alltogethernowpa.org.

Step 4: Store your undies in a sealed plastic bag with a small sample of your soil.

Once participants dig up their undies, the findings will be collected, measured and accessed by the State of Pennsylvania to find out just how healthy our state’s soil really is!  Once the data has been submitted, participants will receive information on how to improve the health of their soil. Stay tuned for more info on where to send your soiled undies.

Watch below for video instructions!

Need a pair of undies to bury (or 2)? Please consider purchasing them from ATN-PA Clothing &Textile Coalition member, The Big Favorite. Use the code SOILYOURUNDIES at check out to get the second pair free!

Curious to learn more about soil health reporting? Click here to view the latest report from PASA.

To imagine and realize a future where rural and urban communities overcome great division to unite in building a resilient and caring economy, we must remember and honor the history of the land we inhabit.  Going back thousands of years, the places we know of as Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the East Coast of the United States were cultivated and revered by indigenous people.  ATN-PA acknowledges and gives thanks for indigenous people through this land acknowledgement, specifically honoring the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation (nlltribe.com)

The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called ‘Lenapehoking.’ The Lenape People lived in harmony with one another upon this territory for thousands of years. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. In our acknowledgment of the continued presence of Lenape people in their homeland, we affirm the aspiration of the great Lenape Chief Tamanend, that there be harmony between the indigenous people of this land and the descendants of the immigrants to this land, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine.”

– Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation