CORNISH start up, Cleaner Seas Group, have a patent pending prototype that will tackle microfibre pollution, aiming to stop 100% of the microplastics from entering the water system and back into the oceans.

With up to 700,000 microfibres being released into the water system every time people wash their clothes, it’s no surprise that microplastics have become one of the ocean’s biggest polluters. Water treatment works are unable to filter out these microfibres so it’s estimated that more than 1.4-million of them are currently polluting the oceans with the problem increasing rapidly. The damage caused by these microplastics is far reaching with a devastating effect on sea life, ocean habitats and coastal environments.

Cleaner Seas Group founders are environmentalists, Dave Miller and Avril Sainsbury of Cleaner Seas Project; technology entrepreneurs, Heather Sirmon and Graham Skelton and inventor, James Sirmon. Their challenge was to create a washing machine filter that not only removed 100% of the microfibres, but does so in a closed looped system that wouldn’t block up but would allow them to collect and safely dispose of the fibres. The filter can be retro fitted and where possible, made from recycled materials which will then be fully recycled at end of life.

Marketing director Avril said: “Microplastic fibres are now dangerously present and pervasive in our environment. Having worked on Cleaner Seas Project since 2013, I’ve become increasingly aware of just how massive a problem this issue is.

“That’s why the next part of Cleaner Seas journey is to tackle this problem head-on, using our washing machine filters. Yes, this will prevent 100% of the microfibres from entering the water system via washing machines, but it’s also imperative that consumers are educated about the circular economy. Our recommendations would be, that as a society, we not only reduce the amounts of clothing we buy, but also cut down on the amount of times we wash the items that we do have.”

The team have received support from Acceleration Through Innovation and Marine-i to connect them with Plymouth University who have been working with them on the project.

On Tuesday, February 25, they launched a kickstarter to take the product to market, with the ambition of starting manufacture by October 2020 and in so doing, providing further job opportunities for the local community.

For more information visit www.cleanerseasgroup.com