A groundbreaking facility tackling the hidden menace of microplastic pollution has opened in Bude, Cornwall in England.

The Cleaner Seas Group (CSG) has launched the world’s first dedicated microfibre recycling centre, supported by a £1-million grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.

Microfibres – tiny strands that are shed from synthetic fabrics during washing – are a major contributor to marine microplastic pollution. Each laundry cycle can release up to 1.5 million fibres, most of which escape filtration systems and enter waterways. CSG’s new facility aims to change that.

At the heart of the solution is the firm’s “plug and play” filter, which fits any washing machine without plumbing. The filter captures the tiny strands in cartridges, which can last around 100 washes. These cartridges can be posted to the recycling plant, where the contents are processed and repurposed into materials for construction, packaging and even new cartridges.

The environmentalist group estimates that once the facility is fully operational, it can potentially recycle up to 86 tons of microfibres annually. British cruise line, Marella Cruises, already uses the technology, and each ship is capturing around 500 kilograms of fibres per year.

CSG CEO Dave Miller says the initiative proves that environmental protection and commercial viability can go hand in hand: “That’s a genuine circular economy in action – not theory, not greenwash, but something tangible, scalable and right here in Cornwall.

“You can do both. And in a world crying out for climate action and practical solutions, we’re proud to be offering one. This is just the beginning.”

The centre not only aims to combat pollution but also promises local economic benefits, including job creation, positioning Cornwall as a leader in environmental innovation.

Image Credit: Source