A free textile education series to help build and share knowledge for a regenerative world

Textiles are our earliest and most enduring form of technology, more ancient than bronze and as current as digital currency. Highly resource intensive, textiles are both a priority and an opportunity when it comes to reaching our climate commitments.

So we are bringing in the specialists, the scientists, the fashion lovers, the movers and the shakers and the quiet grafters. To help build and share knowledge that merges the well designed with the green and wild and explores how textiles can remake our world. 

Tex-Ed Class #1: Microplastic Pollution and Textiles

3 November 2021 | 2pm | Online

In 2019 a Scion team of researchers sampled the waterways and coastlines of Auckland to get a snapshot of the plastic microparticle problem in New Zealand’s most populated city. The research ‘Turning the tide on plastic microparticles’ found that most of the microparticles in Auckland’s waterways are fibres (88 per cent in fact) the findings were consistent with other areas in Aotearoa.

Join our panelists of experts: Marc Gaugler and Jamie Bridson from Scion, Jennifer Trittschuh from Fisher and Paykel and Vanessa Crowe from the Environmental Protection Authority, as we discuss this complex problem and share new insights.

Marc Guagler and Jamie Bridson - Scion

In 2019 a Scion team of researchers sampled the waterways and coastlines of Auckland to get a snapshot of the plastic microparticle problem in New Zealand’s most populated city. The research ‘Turning the tide on plastic microparticles found that most of the microparticles in Auckland’s waterways are fibres, the findings were consistent with other areas in Aotearoa.

Marc and Jamie present the research findings and introduce us to the New Plastic Economy.

Marc’s question to everyone is “What are you doing towards a more sustainable, regenerative or low-carbon future?”

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Jennifer Trittschuh - Fisher and Paykel

Jennifer is Senior Technical Leader in Product Development designing washing machines and dryers and is part of the team investigating microfibres for Fisher & Paykel. Fisher & Paykel have been researching synthetic microfibres for several years, including the lifecycle of microfibres: fibre, fabric and garment manufacturing; microfibre release during wear and laundering; and waste water treatment outcomes. They are part of the international community that is working to identify and develop solutions to this very complex problem. Jennifer shares her deep dive into micro plastics and shares some surprising insights.

Jennifer offers the following advice “Launder your clothes when they are dirty, not just because you’ve worn them.”

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Vanessa Crowe - Environmental Protection Authority
Vanessa Crowe and the team from the Environmental Protection Authority have been piloting a community science programme “Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao – Open Waters Aotearoa”. The programme offers environmental DNA testing kits to community groups, iwi/hapu and kura. The test detects the DNA in our waterways then analyses it to reveal what creatures live in and near the waterway. Building knowledge of the living creatures in our waterways helps us to monitor and understand impacts on our environments, and how we can help protect them.
 
Vanessa offers “eDNA is a tool that can complement microplastic research, by providing evidence of what’s happening in our unseen environment, to better understand the impacts of microplastics on an ecosystem. It is an accessible and easy tool that can offer community groups a positive way to connect with and better understand their local environment. If anyone is interested in finding out how the Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao programme could benefit their local community, and/or inform research of the impact of microplastics on the environment please get in contact”
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