Figure 1: Microplastics captured with CLEANR for Washing Machines (left) and water filtered through the CLEANR filter (right)
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.”
About CLEANR
CLEANR builds best-in-class microplastic filters for washing machines that effortlessly remove the largest source of microplastics into the environment. Its technology, VORTX, represents a breakthrough in filtration, with a patent-pending design that is inspired by nature and proven to outperform conventional filtration technologies by over 300%. The company is building a platform filter technology that enables product manufacturers and business customers to materially reduce their microplastic emissions from impacted in-bound and out-bound fluid streams, including residential and commercial washing machine wastewater, in-home water systems, wastewater treatment, textile manufacturing effluents, industrial wastewater, and other sources. www.cleanr.life
About The 5 Gyres Institute
The 5 Gyres Institute (5 Gyres) is a leader in the global movement against plastic pollution, with 15 years of expertise in scientific research, engagement, and education. With the original goal to answer a few key scientific questions about ocean plastics, co-founders Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins led 19 research expeditions in all five subtropical gyres, as well as many of the world’s lakes and rivers. 5 Gyres continues to lead with scientific research to drive upstream solutions through education, advocacy, and community building. Learn more about 5 Gyres by visiting https://www.5gyres.org/.
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