Türkiye
Bangladesh
Việt Nam
Indonesia
پاکستان
中国
close

Determination of fibre release during textile care and in waste water

Up to 500,000 tonnes of microplastic fibres enter the world's oceans every year. During the production of textiles as well as through use and washing, fibre fragments are released from synthetic textiles. If these are not effectively removed by downstream cleaning processes, they enter rivers, inland waters and oceans via wastewater.

Measure – Understand – Reduce

We support you in making the textile input into the environment measurable, understanding it and reducing it in a targeted manner. Our services for you:

DIN SPEC 4872

This is how we measure the impact of textiles when they are washed.

Test methods

This is how we de­ter­mine the fibre con­tent in pro­cess and waste wa­ter.

DIN SPEC 4872

The new DIN SPEC 4872 is a standardised test method for determining and classifying the environmental impact of textiles during washing. The test method examines how many fibres are discharged when textiles are washed, how well these fibres degrade in wastewater and how harmful the fibre residues are to the environment.

Once the test has been completed, we assign a classification code as a result, which reflects the degree of fibre discharge, the biodegradation rate and the ecotoxicological potential of the textile product under investigation.

Download DIN SPEC 4872
 

We perform these tests for you

Fibre discharge

Fibre discharge

With the help of a suitable analysis system (DIA), textiles are classified in terms of fibre release during the washing process.

Biodegradability

Biodegradability

With regard to environmental impact, the biodegradability of fibres in wastewater plays a key role. The degree of degradation of the fibres is determined after a defined period of time in the wastewater according to DIN EN ISO 14851.

Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology

The ecotoxicological potential of the fibre residues is analysed according to DIN EN ISO 20079 using a particularly sensitive model organism for higher aquatic plants, the duckweed.

Download factsheet

Your benefit as a customer

  • Objective measurement of fibre discharge during washing, biodegradability and the ecotoxicological potential of fibre residues
  • Competent and independent evaluation, comparison and improvement of your sales articles
  • Determination of the environmental benefits and risks of your products

The aim of our assessment is to provide you with reliable data for an optimisation of your product portfolio and a more targeted product development, which allows you to actively and consciously control or avoid environmental pollution.

Our test methods

With our analytical methods, we determine the fibre release behaviour from textile surfaces and the fibre content in process and waste water for you.

  • Quantification of fibre release and fibre length distribution with the Hohenstein method: Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA)
  • Gravimetric measurement of total abrasion by filtration according to the University of Leeds / Microfiber Consortium (UoL/TMC) method or AATCC TM212

Don't miss this advantages.

  • Analyses of textiles and waste water (various sample types from a single source)​
  • Determination of amount, type and shape of released fibres by Hohenstein method DIA​
  • Objective measurement of fibre release​
  • Quality control of waste water, optimisation potential of existing processes and processing steps


Download factsheet

Hohenstein is driving textile sustainability forward with intensive research.

When considering the environmental impact of textiles, there is no way around microplastics. Hohenstein has been at the forefront of this research since 2016.  Benefit from our active involvement in research and standardisation committees.
 

Award-winning research on microplastics (German)

Downloads

Contact
Customer Service Laboratory Testing