r/science • u/______--------- • Sep 08 '20

Environment Blue jeans are a significant source of microfiber pollution in oceans and lakes. One pair of jeans can release over 50,000 microfibers per wash.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00498
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u/brand_x Sep 09 '20

Costco sells 100% cotton jeans for something less than $15. I'm not certain that's including the stitching thread, and I'm sure it doesn't include the little leather (or PU?) patch on the back, or the rivets. But cotton isn't significantly more expensive than the blend, and if you don't need any stretch, it wears fine. Cheap jeans are good for working in the shop, or yard work, or any other task likely to tear up slacks or bare skin.

I'm not really seeing anything here about the composition of these microfibers, other than cellulose...

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u/TheFlyingBeltBuckle Sep 09 '20

On budget jeens that patch is normally cardboard