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<p>The Plan for Water outlined our position that we will expect industry to develop
low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machine and encourage their effective
use. With the plan being published only just last month, we are now considering the
best actions for its implementation. As a first step, we will look to manufacturers
to reduce costs and to provide appropriate evidence of the value of microfibre filters
to persuade consumers to invest in them and use them correctly.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
funds Textiles 2030, a voluntary initiative with over 110 signatories from the fashion
manufacturing industry covering 62% by sales of the UK clothing market. Signatories
are committed to circular economy principles such as agreeing good design principles
so that their products are durable and recyclable.</p><p> </p><p>Our landmark Environment
Act 2021 also provides general powers on design standards and requiring information
on the resource efficiency of products. We are, therefore, exploring the best mix
of policy measures to tackle the environmental impact of textiles.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
supports a range of research including the UK Water Industry Research project (performed
by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) which reported in April 2022 that wastewater
treatment plants remove 99% of microplastics by number and 99.5% by mass. The Water
Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) includes over £7.39 million of commitment
from the water industry to further research microplastics removal through wastewater
treatment processes to sludge, which may be a source of microplastics to final effluent
discharges.</p><p> </p><p>Technical experts from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries
and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have been leading the Convention for the Protection
of the Marine Environment to develop a new indicator for microlitter (including microplastics)
in seafloor sediments. This will help us to track progress in reducing plastics in
the environment at a regional scale.</p><p> </p>
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