International cotton industry platform CottonWorks by Cotton Incorporated recently hosted a webinar examining textiles’ contribution to global plastic leakage and the contrasting behaviour of natural and synthetic fibres once they enter the environment.
The session, Plastic Pollution and Textiles: What the Science Says and Why It Matters, featured:
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Jesse Daystar, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Cotton Incorporated
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Dr Richard Venditti, NC State University
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Dr Julien Boucher, Earth Action
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Sam Lythgoe, Plant Not Plastic
The webinar explored current research and industry discussions around textile-related plastic leakage, including how leakage is measured across complex supply chains, the role of end-of-life textile waste, and how different fibre types behave in environmental conditions.
What you will learn:
- Research demonstrating that cotton and other cellulose-based fibres biodegrade rapidly in environments
- Industry efforts to better understand and measure plastic leakage across the textile value chain
- Discussion around textile waste, microfibre shedding, and broader environmental considerations
- Plastic leakage metrics developed under the Plastic Footprint Network are revealed
- Perspectives on how organisations are approaching awareness, communication, and material innovation within the industry
A recording of the webinar is available online, along with additional supporting resources.
