CLEANR and The 5 Gyres Institute Partner to Fight Microplastic Emissions from Washing Machines—A Major Source of Microplastic Pollution

CLEVELAND and SAN FRANCISCO; March 28—CLEANR, a microplastics filtration technology company, and The 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit organization known for its pioneering research on plastic pollution, have entered into a strategic partnership to raise awareness and promote science-based solutions to one of the leading sources of microplastic pollution—washing machine wastewater.

Synthetic textiles account for 35% of marine microplastic pollution, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Up to 18 million microfibers are released into the environment with every wash cycle, entering our waterways, agricultural lands, and bodies. Filtration is a proven, cost-effective, and near-term technology that can have a significant impact.

“Washing machines with filters are a proven solution that can dramatically reduce the amount of microplastics entering our environment,” said Sara Mais, Development Director at The 5 Gyres Institute. “We are proud to partner with an innovator like CLEANR that is making this technology accessible while also supporting our mission.”

CLEANR’s breakthrough microplastic filtering technology, known as VORTX, efficiently removes over 90% of microplastics as small as 50-microns. CLEANR’s unique filter-design was inspired by the specialized gill structures of manta rays and basking sharks, which allow them to glide through the water and feed passively without clogging their gills. Instead of forcing particles against a filtering surface like conventional filters, CLEANR for Washing Machines uses their VORTX technology to create vortices that suspend and isolate microplastic particles and channel them away to be captured and properly disposed of with the CLEANR Pod.

“We share The 5 Gyres Institute’s goal to reduce and ultimately eliminate microplastic pollution through innovation, and we deeply value their expertise and advocacy in this area,” said CLEANR. “5 Gyres has provided trusted analysis to the scientific community, policymakers, and industry for 15 years. It’s an honor and privilege to support and collaborate in their work.”