Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle microplastic fibre pollution.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Plan for Water outlined our position that we will expect industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machine and encourage their effective use. With the plan being published only just last month, we are now considering the best actions for its implementation. As a first step, we will look to manufacturers to reduce costs and to provide appropriate evidence of the value of microfibre filters to persuade consumers to invest in them and use them correctly.
Defra funds Textiles 2030, a voluntary initiative with over 110 signatories from the fashion manufacturing industry covering 62% by sales of the UK clothing market. Signatories are committed to circular economy principles such as agreeing good design principles so that their products are durable and recyclable.
Our landmark Environment Act 2021 also provides general powers on design standards and requiring information on the resource efficiency of products. We are, therefore, exploring the best mix of policy measures to tackle the environmental impact of textiles.
Defra supports a range of research including the UK Water Industry Research project (performed by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) which reported in April 2022 that wastewater treatment plants remove 99% of microplastics by number and 99.5% by mass. The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) includes over £7.39 million of commitment from the water industry to further research microplastics removal through wastewater treatment processes to sludge, which may be a source of microplastics to final effluent discharges.
Technical experts from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have been leading the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment to develop a new indicator for microlitter (including microplastics) in seafloor sediments. This will help us to track progress in reducing plastics in the environment at a regional scale.
Mentions:
1: Lennon, Monica (Lab - Central Scotland) For example, items of so-called fast fashion are frequently bought in Scotland and they end up in landfill - Speech Link
2: Lennon, Monica (Lab - Central Scotland) A couple of weeks ago, I sponsored Fashion Revolution Scotland to have a stand near the chamber. - Speech Link
3: Boyack, Sarah (Lab - Lothian) As Britain and Scotland have moved out of supplying fashion, a global question has developed that we - Speech Link
4: Golden, Maurice (Con - North East Scotland) As I know from first-hand experience from the stopping of the textiles programme, people become worried - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Slater, Lorna (Green - Lothian) I thank the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee for its stage 1 report, and the Finance and Public - Speech Link
2: McArthur, Liam (LD - Orkney Islands) the legislation that we are considering is both clear and challenging.In customary fashion, I add my - Speech Link
3: Lennon, Monica (Lab - Central Scotland) textiles, and with food waste being exported. - Speech Link
4: Choudhury, Foysol (Lab - Lothian) repair.I recently co-sponsored with Maggie Chapman a circular economy showcase fashion show outside - Speech Link
Jun. 14 2023
Source Page: Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review: Creative IndustriesFound: and design and fashion design contributing over £2.5 billion in 2021.
Found: WRAP • Catherine Gemmell – Marine Conservation Society • Michelle Scott – ENVA • Meg Pirie – Fashion
Jun. 14 2023
Source Page: Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review: Creative IndustriesFound: waste The government should consult with the fashion industry o n regulatory options to manage textiles
Aug. 09 2023
Source Page: Scottish Annual Business Statistics 2021Found: Fashion and textiles20083152.82.6[c][c]90.344.851.8[c]3269916203187335.
Mentions:
1: Lord Hendy (Lab - Life peer) Agreement and in the amendment. - Speech Link
2: Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab - Life peer) Many textiles supply chains go into, for example, Bangladesh. - Speech Link
3: Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD - Life peer) These are two people whom I like and trust, and they are very good friends. - Speech Link
Mar. 27 2024
Source Page: Green claims: CMA secures landmark changes from ASOS, Boohoo and AsdaFound: Green claims: CMA secures landmark changes from ASOS, Boohoo and Asda
Oral Evidence Feb. 05 2024
Committee: Scottish Affairs Committee (Department: Scotland Office)Found: Youth Parliament, Scottish Youth Parliament, Scottish Youth Parliament, Scottish Youth Parliament, and