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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

XFiltra (formerly Project Sea Change) - a washing machine filtration system to remove microparticles, including microplastics, from laundry effluent

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Private sector
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#OceanAction40866
    Description
    Description
    To design a highly effective filtration system, suitable for all washing machines, to prevent the release of microplastic fibres shed from clothing during laundry cycles.
    Washing clothes and textiles made from synthetic fibres is a major source of microplastic pollution in the world's oceans. Around 500,000 tonnes of this type of microplastic are released into the oceans in this way every year. However, no washing machines are currently designed with filtration systems capable of preventing the release of microplastic fibres. We believe they must be.
    Our goal is to design a product to improve the sustainability of household and commercial laundry cycles which meets a need for washing machine manufacturers, apparel manufacturers and consumers to minimise their impact on aquatic, including ocean environments, by eliminating or significantly reducing the release of microplastic fibres from laundry.
    Partners
    No partners
    Nature
    Eliminate discharge of microplastics from laundry effluent

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    To provide a market-ready microplastic filtration technology, available to all washing machine manufacturers, capable of eliminating or significantly reducing to release of microparticles from laundry effluent.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Xeros research and development team
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2020-05-04 Completed
    Partnership Progress 2017-12-20 On track
    Partnership Progress 2017-11-06 On track
    XFiltra (formerly Project Sea Change) - a washing machine filtration system to remove microparticles, including microplastics, from laundry effluent
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    Action Network
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    Timeline
    01 March 2017 (start date)
    01 June 2020 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Xeros Technology Group
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Sheffield, England
    Other beneficiaries
    Consumers, Washing Machine Manufacturers, Apparel Suppliers, Legislators, NGOs
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution
    More information
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Christian Cullinane, Managing Director, Consumer Brands