Reducing Microfiber Release From Denim Through Graphene Functionalization During Industrial Washing

Laundering of textiles, including those used to create functionalized textile substrates, is a significant source of microfiber and microplastic pollution, and the performance of these substrates under different industrial wash protocols is poorly understood. To this end, the microfiber release behavior of graphene‐functionalized denim (Y2) and conventional denim (Y1) has been compared following five standardized industrial washing protocols. Postwash filter membranes were used to collect microfibers and were analyzed gravimetrically for quantification, whereas representative membranes were analyzed by optical microscopy to characterize particle morphology. The graphene‐treated fabric (Y2) released between 0.24 and 1.48 g of microfiber per wash cycle, whereas the control fabric (Y1) released significantly more microfiber (0.48–2.46 g), an increase of 41.07% on average. Graphene‐treated fabrics showed fewer microfiber particles than nontreated fabrics, and a much more recognizable structure of those particles. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the first wash cycle, but in the second wash cycle, the differences were significant ( F = 5.18, p < 0.05) and higher, with an overall treatment effect for cumulative emission of a large magnitude. The results suggest graphene surface functionalization as a technically and regulatorily feasible approach to meet compliance with the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and targets of the Zero Pollution Action Plan.