How Yorkshire-based Xeros is helping to stop plastic pollution in oceans and rivers

Xeros Technology Group's filtration technology has been independently verified by scientists at the University of Plymouth as being a leading device for reducing microplastic pollution released from washing machines.

Xeros’ in-machine filtration technology, XFiltra, was tested at the university’s Marine Litter Research Institute, alongside products from other companies to measure their effectiveness at capturing microfibres, released from clothes during wash cycles, and preventing their release in wastewater.

In a statement, Xeros said: "The published data states that XFiltra performed significantly better than all other products evaluated.

"The tests, which were designed to capture microfibres in a mixed wash of synthetic and synthetic/cotton blend garments, show that XFiltra captured 78% of microfibres released during each wash cycle.

Similar tests conducted by Xeros on purely synthetic garments show that XFiltra captures more than 90% of the microplastic fibres released from them.

The University of Plymouth test data has been peer reviewed and is published today in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

Around 500,000 tonnes of microplastics flow into the world’s oceans every year from washing clothes and textiles containing synthetic fibres, accounting for 35% of all primary microplastics entering the ocean.

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Mark Nichols, the CEO of Xeros commented: “The pollution of our rivers and oceans with discarded plastic waste is happening at an alarming rate. It’s harming wildlife and our precious and finely balanced ecosystems, with microplastics from washing our clothes being a significant source of contamination.

“XFiltra was developed with the objective of eliminating this form of pollution and with the belief that every household and commercial washing machine needs to be fitted with low cost, easy to use filtration.

“We’re delighted that the efficiency of our filtration technology has now been confirmed by independent researchers as a world leading solution which provides every washing

machine manufacturer with the ability to make a major contribution to the sustainability of garment lifecycles and our planet.”

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