MERMAIDS

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the project is to contribute to the mitigation of the impact caused by micro and/or nanoplastic particles resulting from laundry waste water on European seas’ ecosystems, by demonstrating and implementing innovative technologies and additives for laundry processes and textile finishing treatments. Policy recommendations will be set in order to promote the widespread implementation of technologies that will contribute to reach a Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020.

The multidisciplinary consortium of the MERMAIDS project is aiming to mitigate the environmental impact of micro and nanoplastic particles resulting from laundry wastewater on European (sea) ecosystems. It does so by demonstrating and implementing innovative technologies and additives for laundry processes and textile finishing treatments. MERMAIDS is not dealing with developing new technologies, but aims to apply already developed scientific-technological knowledge.

Fibers discharged from washing synthetic cloths are a major contributor of the plastic soup. Microplastics concentrate persistent organic pollutants that can be ingested by marine biota, introducing toxic pollutants to the food chain.