Consumers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Products Preventing Microfiber Pollution in Aquatic Environments as a Result of the Domestic Washing of Synthetic Clothes

Laure Herweyers, Camilla Catarci Carteny, Linda Scheelen, Regan Watts and Els Du Bois
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Laure Herweyers: Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Camilla Catarci Carteny: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Linda Scheelen: Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Regan Watts: Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Els Du Bois: Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Microfibers released by synthetic clothes have a significant negative effect on the environment. Several solutions have been proposed and evaluated for their effectiveness, but studies have failed to address the human-centered aspects of these products. In this research, the possibilities and needs from a consumer perspective for a new filtering system for domestic washing machines were examined. First, a quantitative (questionnaire) and a qualitative (interviews and observations) exploration were done to understand the desired requirements from a user perspective. Next, the acceptance of various existing solutions for microfiber catching was investigated. To verify these requirements, a new concept was designed and evaluated with a questionnaire. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. It can be concluded that the problem of microfibers is not well known, and the impact of people’s washing behavior is underestimated. Since microfibers are almost invisible, the effectiveness needed to be proven. Effectiveness is seen as the most important characteristic of a product that captures microfibers, followed by durability. Both factors ensure long-term usage. However, changing washing habits is not evident, and usage should be straightforward and user-friendly to save time, especially considering the new cleaning actions, which should be clear and unambiguous.

Keywords: microfibers; plastic pollution; laundry and maintenance; awareness; microfiber filter; consumer perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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