You know that feeling when you pull your kid's wetsuit out of the wash and the water looks a bit... murky? You assumed it was sand. Maybe leftover sunscreen. Possibly whatever that mystery substance was they found at rock pools.
It might also be thousands of microscopic plastic particles that just shed off the fabric, flowed through your washing machine's filter, and are headed back into the ocean your kid was swimming in yesterday.
Fun times.
Microplastics are one of those problems that sounds abstract until you realise they're in the clothes your children wear, the water they drink, and the fish fingers on their plate. And swimwear — specifically the synthetic kind — is part of the story.
Here's what's going on, and what you can do about it.
What Are Microplastics, Exactly?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres. Some are manufactured small on purpose (the microbeads that used to be in face scrubs before they were banned). Most are fragments of larger plastic items that have broken down over time — bottles, bags, packaging, fishing nets.
But there's a third category that doesn't get enough attention: microfibers. These are tiny synthetic threads that shed from our clothes every time we wash them, wear them, or even sit on the couch. Polyester, nylon, acrylic, neoprene — if it's plastic-based fabric, it's shedding.
A single load of synthetic laundry can release up to 700,000 microfibers into the water system. That number comes from a 2016 Plymouth University study, and it's been confirmed by researchers since. Seven hundred thousand. Per wash.
These fibres are so small that most wastewater treatment plants can't catch them. They pass through filters, flow into rivers, and end up in the ocean — joining the estimated 14 million tonnes of microplastic already on the sea floor.
How Swimwear and Wetsuits Contribute
Here's where it gets personal for anyone buying kids' swimwear.
Traditional wetsuits are made from neoprene — synthetic rubber derived from petroleum, typically laminated with polyester or nylon fabric. Every component is plastic-based. Every component sheds.
Research has found that neoprene wetsuits release significant microplastic particles during normal use and washing. The rubber degrades and fragments. The laminated fabric sheds fibres. The seams break down. It's shedding when your kid wears it in the surf, and shedding again when you rinse it at home.
Rashies and board shorts made from virgin polyester or nylon have the same problem. A 2017 IUCN study found that synthetic textiles are the single largest source of primary microplastic pollution in the ocean, accounting for approximately 35% of the total.
And these particles aren't just floating around harmlessly. Microplastics absorb toxic pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals, concentrating them at levels up to a million times higher than surrounding seawater. When marine life ingests them — everything from plankton to whales — those toxins enter the food chain.
Where Do They End Up?
Short answer: everywhere.
Microplastics have been found in Arctic sea ice, the Mariana Trench, the summit of Mount Everest, and Antarctic snow. They're in tap water, bottled water, table salt, honey, and shellfish. A widely cited 2019 WWF study suggested the average person could ingest up to five grams of plastic per week, though subsequent research has questioned that figure. Even at lower estimates, the presence of microplastics in our food and water is well established.
In 2022, researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam detected microplastics in human blood for the first time. They've since been found in human lungs, placental tissue, and breast milk. Early research links microplastic exposure to inflammation, cellular damage, and potential endocrine disruption.
For kids, whose bodies are still developing and who spend a lot of time in and around water, this isn't a distant environmental concern. It's right there in the rockpool.
The Scale of the Problem (and What's Being Done)
Every year, an estimated 500,000 tonnes of microfibers enter the ocean from textile washing alone - the equivalent of over 50 billion plastic bottles. The textile industry is one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution globally.
Australia isn't immune. CSIRO researchers found significant microplastic pollution in Australian waters, with deep-sea sediment samples containing far higher concentrations than previously expected - suggesting the problem reaches even remote ocean environments.
Regulation is slowly catching up. France became the first country to mandate microfiber filters on all new washing machines from 2025, and the EU is considering similar rules. Australia hasn't followed yet, but the conversation is happening. In the meantime, the solutions available to households are simple — they just require knowing the problem exists.
What Parents Can Actually Do
You're not going to solve global microplastic pollution by changing how you wash your kid's wetsuit. But you can meaningfully reduce your household's contribution. Here's what the research supports:
Choose plant-based or recycled materials. This is the single biggest lever. A wetsuit made from Yulex natural rubber (plant-based, made from renewable materials) doesn't shed petroleum-based microplastics because it isn't made from petroleum. Swimwear made from ECONYL recycled nylon diverts existing ocean waste and reduces demand for new plastic production. AVALY uses Yulex for our wetsuits and ECONYL for our rashies and swimwear for exactly this reason — same performance, fundamentally different impact. Wash less frequently. Wetsuits and rashies don't need to go through the machine after every use. A thorough rinse in cold fresh water after each swim removes salt and chlorine. Save the machine wash for when it's genuinely needed — every few weeks, or when the smell situation becomes untenable. Use a Guppyfriend bag or microfiber filter. The Guppyfriend is a mesh laundry bag that captures synthetic microfibers during washing. Independent testing shows it catches around 86% of fibres that would otherwise enter the water system. Affordable, simple, measurable difference. Wash cold, wash gentle, skip the dryer. Higher temperatures and aggressive spin cycles break down synthetic fabrics faster, releasing more fibres. Cold water, gentle cycle, hang dry in the shade. Your swimwear lasts longer and sheds less. Everyone wins.The Alternatives That Actually Work
The good news is that genuinely better materials exist now, and they don't require any performance trade-off.
Yulex natural rubber is harvested from FSC-certified rubber trees. Same warmth, flexibility, and durability as neoprene, but up to 80% less CO2 in manufacturing and made from renewable, plant-based materials. It doesn't shed petroleum-based microplastics because there's no petroleum in it. When AVALY developed our kids' wetsuit range, Yulex was the obvious choice. ECONYL regenerated nylon takes waste nylon from the ocean and industrial sources, breaks it down to its molecular base, and rebuilds it into new yarn. Chemically identical to virgin nylon — same stretch, durability, chlorine resistance — but it diverts existing plastic waste and eliminates the need for new petroleum extraction.Neither material is a magic solution. But both are a meaningful step away from the status quo, available right now in products kids will actually want to wear.
The Takeaway
Microplastics are a genuinely big problem, and swimwear is a genuine part of it. But this isn't a story about guilt — it's a story about choices that are already available.
Choosing plant-based or recycled swimwear, washing it thoughtfully, and using a Guppyfriend bag won't fix the 14 million tonnes of microplastic on the ocean floor. But it means the next time your kid bellyflops into the surf, the gear they're wearing isn't making the problem worse.
Small choices, made by a lot of families, add up. And your kid still gets to bellyflop.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do all wetsuits shed microplastics?
Traditional neoprene wetsuits shed microplastics because they're made from petroleum-based synthetic rubber, typically laminated with polyester or nylon fabric. Every synthetic component can release microfibers during use and washing. Wetsuits made from plant-based materials like Yulex natural rubber don't shed petroleum-based microplastics, as the rubber is made from renewable, plant-based materials. The fabric lining may still shed some fibres depending on the material, but the overall microplastic contribution is dramatically lower.
How many microplastics come from washing clothes?
A single load of synthetic laundry can release up to 700,000 microfibers into the water system, according to research from Plymouth University. Globally, textile washing releases an estimated 500,000 tonnes of microfibers into the ocean each year. Using a microfiber-catching laundry bag (like a Guppyfriend) can capture around 86% of these fibres, and washing on cold, gentle cycles with less frequency also significantly reduces shedding.
Are microplastics in swimwear harmful to my child?
The microplastics shed from swimwear enter waterways and ultimately the ocean and food chain — they're not directly harmful to your child while wearing the garment. The broader concern is cumulative environmental and health exposure. Microplastics have been detected in human blood, lungs, and breast milk, and early research links exposure to inflammation and cellular damage. Choosing swimwear made from plant-based or recycled materials reduces your family's contribution to this growing problem.
What is a Guppyfriend bag and does it actually work?
A Guppyfriend is a specially designed mesh laundry bag that captures synthetic microfibers released during washing. You place your synthetic garments inside, zip it closed, and wash as normal. Independent testing shows it captures approximately 86% of microfibers that would otherwise flow into the water system. It also reduces fibre breakage by providing a smoother washing environment. It's one of the most practical, affordable steps households can take to reduce microfiber pollution.
Is recycled swimwear better for microplastics than regular swimwear?
Recycled synthetic fabrics like ECONYL (regenerated nylon) can still shed microfibers during washing and wear — the physical properties of the fibre are the same as virgin nylon. The key benefit is that recycled materials divert existing plastic waste from oceans and landfill and eliminate the need for new petroleum extraction. So while a recycled nylon rashie may shed similarly to a virgin nylon one, it hasn't added new plastic to the system. For the lowest microplastic impact, plant-based materials like Yulex (used in AVALY wetsuits) are the strongest option, as they are made from renewable resources rather than petroleum.
