Why doesn't the microfiber drain from the bag itself?
That's because the fabric is made of monofilament (short fibers = yarn made up of one fiber). Monofilament consists of just one endless thread, like a rod with a stable structure, rather than a lot of yarn being lost.
Why is it possible to catch fibers smaller than the gap in the bag?
The fibers that fall off the clothes are small and can theoretically slip through the small gaps in the "GUPPY Friend Washing Bag".
But it doesn't work that way. In order to pass through the gaps, the fibers need to pierce the fabric vertically. However, due to the water and movement in and around the bag, the fibers are never placed vertically and are always slightly bent. Therefore, it is not possible to break through the mesh. In the unlikely event that the fibers fly out of the fabric, they will be pushed back into the bag.
Where was the test conducted?
The bag was tested over a three-year period by scientific institutions, universities, representatives of the outdoor and textile industries, as well as retailers.
- German Textile Research Center Northwest, DTNW
- Fraunhofer Institute for Environment, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT)
- As part of the Patagonia Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
result
The #1 Guppy Friend Washing Bag dramatically reduces the number of plastic fibers that break through.
Tests from the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT showed that, on average,
a) 79% reduction in synthetic mixed garments
b) 86% reduction with 100% synthetic garments
#2 Washed microfiber will not contaminate the drain because it will be retained in the bag. In all tests, more than 90% of the fibers were retained in the bag, and in most cases 100%.