Ocean-friendly washing machine.
Chemicals and plastics are required to manufacture clothing made of synthetic materials, and they also deteriorate, releasing enormous amounts of microplastic particles into the oceans that destroy wildlife and flora. In the near future, washing machine manufacturers will be forced to equip their appliances with a filter. The household appliance brand Grundig has taken the lead by releasing a FiberCatcher®-equipped washing machine. Everything is disclosed to you.
In summary:
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Our washing machine emits this plastic
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FiberCatcher® technology in the new Grundig washing machine
We are releasing plastic into the environment when we wash our clothes
Plastic microparticles (of which synthetic clothes are composed) are lost when washing clothes made of synthetic materials, such as acrylic and polyester. In the washing machine, these plastic microparticles leave the water for the pipes, then to the treatment plant (which doesn’t retain such fine particles), and finally to the ocean.
Each year, 14 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans. It is estimated that 35{8911b186dc8eb68cf7477c00c897a45e728d69107c116b7a555a42ac961b72cc} of the microplastics found in the oceans are the result of clothing degradation during washing. France consumes a great deal of plastic. Plastics are a major source of pollution. In the ocean, plastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics are ingested by animals, which usually die from them. It damages marine fauna and flora since plastic does not biodegrade and always breaks down into smaller particles (until it becomes nanoplastic).
Defend yourself against this phenomenon by buying clothing made from natural materials, such as cotton, linen, wool, and hemp. Avoid washing clothes made of synthetic fabrics too often (because they generate bad odors quickly). Wash them in a special wash bag if you need to.
Plastic microparticles are retained by the Guppyfriend washing bag and are prevented from leaving the ocean by it. In the 1970s, two Germans, Alexander Nolte and Oliver Spies, who were passionate about surfing and keen to protect the oceans, invented the Guppyfriend (a colorful tropical fish).
In addition, new regulations are scheduled to take effect from 2025 on this topic. Indeed, from 2025, washing machine manufacturers will be required to equip their appliances with microfiber filters, which will thus retain microparticles of plastic and prevent them from ending up in the oceans.
It features FiberCatcher® technology, a new technology from Grundig
Grundig is taking the lead and launching the first washing machine with FiberCatcher® technology that filters micro-plastic particles before they reach the ocean.
With FiberCatcher® filter cartridges, made from 98{8911b186dc8eb68cf7477c00c897a45e728d69107c116b7a555a42ac961b72cc} recycled plastic, Grunddig’s new GW7P79419W washing machine retains plastic microparticles and keeps them. Changing the cartridges of your washing machine should take place every six months (more or less, depending on the number of washes you perform). Grundig collects used cartridges and turns them over to an organization that recycles and recovers them.
The Grundig GW7P79419W porthole washing machine also features WaterCare technology which provides gentle washing for laundry with a cascading spray of water and detergent from the top of the drum. As a result, the textiles are preserved because the movements are less energetic.
It is available at Boulanger as a preview since April 2022 (indicative retail price: €699).