Fibre fragmentation (also known as microfibre pollution) is an increasingly material nature and biodiversity risk for the fashion and textiles industry. Fibre fragmentation contributes to environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and potential human health impacts, with growing scrutiny from policymakers, NGOs and investors.

This webinar forms part of UKFT’s Nature Series and will explore microfibres not just as a wastewater issue, but as a systemic nature challenge that requires shared responsibility and coordinated action across the value chain.

Designed for brands, manufacturers and suppliers, the session moves beyond awareness to focus on practical, data-led solutions that businesses can begin implementing now.

The webinar will cover:

• What microfibres and fibre fragments are, and how they are released across the product lifecycle
• Why both synthetic and natural fibre fragments matter
• Environmental, biodiversity and climate impacts linked to fibre fragmentation
• Why fibre fragments should be treated as a nature and biodiversity issue, not solely a wastewater concern
• Roles and responsibilities across the supply chain – from brands to material suppliers and manufacturers and EU regulatory and policy landscape
• How measurement, data and collaboration can drive meaningful progress
• Practical actions, tools and “easy wins” businesses can implement in the short to medium term
• The Microfibre 2030 Commitment and how organisations can engage at different stages of maturity

The session will support businesses in embedding fibre fragmentation into sustainability strategy, product decision-making, supplier engagement and nature risk management.

Speaker Bio

Elliot Bland- Science Lead

Elliot is Science Lead at The Microfibre Consortium (TMC), where he leads analysis of data housed within the Microfibre Data Portal and oversees wider research into fibre fragment pollution from textiles. He is responsible for translating research findings into practical insights for TMC’s signatory community. Elliot has a background in R&D and over five years’ experience researching fibre fragment pollution from textiles.

Saqib Sohail- Head of Engagement

Saqib is Head of Engagement at TMC – bringing 25+ years of fashion and textile industry expertise to help unite the sector in tackling fibre fragmentation.

Anna Bateman- Senior Stakeholder Ambassador

Anna’s role at TMC is to engage, support and coordinate global stakeholders across the fashion and textile industry to take meaningful action against fibre fragment pollution.

About The Microfibre Consortium (TMC)

The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) is a science-led non-profit that leads the Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap, to mitigate fibre fragment loss and release from all textiles to the natural environment, through global multi-stakeholder collaboration. It is the first and only organisation solely dedicated to this issue and works on behalf of its signatory base, which comprises of brands, retailers, suppliers, researchers, laboratories and affiliated organisations.

Since 2018, TMC has worked to connect and translate deep academic research with the reality of commercial supply chain production. Driven by science, with industry change at its core, TMC addresses fibre fragmentation through interventions in design, development and manufacturing, taking a holistic approach in creating change for the lifecycle of textiles.

Find out more about the work of TMC at www.microfibreconsortium.com .

ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY 101 SERIES

To go alongside its Sustainability 101 Series, the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) is hosting a programme of webinars focused on sustainability topics such as standards, Green Claims, Greenwashing and Due Diligence. This is part of UKFT’s goal to simplify the journey towards sustainability and help companies make the right choices by providing unbiased, industry-specific guidance.

Note:This webinar can be watched back on demand and is accessible to UKFT members only