Despite the fact EAC chair Mary Creagh had, earlier in the inquiry process, acknowledged: “As politicians we aren’t always the best at being first to market on these things but it’s going to be a very interesting inquiry; it’s certainly taking some of my colleagues to places they didn’t know existed,” it will inevitably sadden many of those involved in this movement that the leader of the United Kingdom has her finger well away from the pulse of this topic.
The question to which May was responding came from environment minister Therese Coffey MP – one of the individuals who had spearheaded the UK’s ban on microbeads – and focused specifically on the issue of microfibre pollution emanating from domestic apparel laundering.
“The 68 million loads of washing done in the UK every week contribute a staggering 9.4 trillion microfibres to the environment,” Coffey asserted to the House of Commons, before asking: “Will the Prime Minister agree that this is a great time to address the issue and carry on this Government’s great record on the environment?”
May’s response left a lot to be desired. It was doubly disappointing when the exchange was continually interrupted by laughing and joking from fellow politicians, with the speaker of the house stating: “I think that by now the wash would have been completed,” in reference to the length of time it took for MPs to calm down.
It seems the environmental risk posed by textile-derived microfibre pollution is not a pressing concern for the majority of UK politicians.
In addition to her work on the microbead ban, Coffey was heavily involved in commissioning the study currently being undertaken by scientists at the University of Plymouth into pollutants – including those derived from textiles – in the marine environment.
It seems that many of her colleagues are still to be educated on what is needed to turn the environmentally- damaging juggernaut of fast fashion around in time to overt disaster.
Whether it’s fitting or ironic, given the importance which action could have to mitigate climate change, much legislation moves forward at a truly glacial pace. Time is of the essence, as Alan Wheeler, director of the Textile Recycling Association, noted: “This report from the Environmental Audit Committee highlights why textiles should be considered urgently and we welcome the recommendation that this evaluation should be completed by 2022.”
Strictly speaking, the audit committee has now power to implement any of its proposals. It can – and presumably will – pressurise the current government to follow its advice and start the ball rolling on implementing new legislature.
The EAC rightly concluded that “we need action before the end of this parliament.” But whether this deadline of 2022 will be heard, and most crucially heeded, by those in the large echoey corridors of power, we can only wait and see.
