<span style="color: #999999;">The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) announced the details of a microfibre shedding test method to its membership including Adidas, Arc’teryx, Dynafit, Helly Hansen, Jack Wolfskin, Lululemon, Nike, Norrona, The North Face, and Puma, to name a few.
Developed by the University of Leeds on behalf of the Consortium, the test is the first thoroughly tested, validated and internationally aligned method for measuring microfibre material loss from textiles. The launch will enable Consortium and its members to accelerate and deepen research that leads to product development change and a reduction in microfibre shedding in the textile industries. A wider release is planned after members provide feedback.
Founded in November 2018, TMC facilitates the development of practical solutions for the textile industry to minimize microfibre release in the environment from textile manufacturing and a product’s life cycle. The Consortium connects members and provides the academic research and aligns it with the realities of commercial supply chain production, to offer solutions to members and ecosystems.
TMC membership has grown substantially and now includes 40 members from across all major textiles, with a combined turnover of over €250 billion. TMC also has research and affiliate members from around the world, boosting the consortium’s international scope to support greater global topic alignment, collaboration and research understanding.
Ahead of the release, the Consortium began the next phase of its wider work with the University, supporting product development change at the brand and retail level, by funding a full-time research technician. The work focuses on building a database of understanding the impact of different fibers, yarns, fabric constructions, and process steps with regard to fiber shedding at the material level.
“This is the crucial bridge from deep academic work to the reality of commercial product development that the industry is crying out for and building it is exactly why The Microfibre Consortium was founded.” —Sophie Mather, Chair, The Microfibre Consortium
To learn more go to microfibreconsortium.com.
Photo courtesy TMC
