6 Reasons Why Norwex Microfiber Is the Best Choice for Cleaning

6 Reasons Why It Is

As an outdoorsy girl from Colorado, I’m passionate about our environment and minimizing our impact to it. One issue that I’ve been tracking for quite some time now is the topic of microplastic pollution. It’s a big problem and that’s why I want to spend some time talking about it here, especially in light of Norwex products.

Hard to believe, but tiny little plastic pieces that are less than 5 millimeters in length are a bigger concern to our water pollution problem than larger plastic pieces like buoys, water bottles and plastic toys. In fact, an estimated 94% of the 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is microplastic according to National Geographic.

So, Where Does Microplastic Come From?

Here’s what I can tell you. While research is ongoing, environmental microplastic seems to come from a variety of sources, including:

Existing, larger plastic pieces, like plastic bags, that break down in the environment over time into smaller and smaller pieces.
Microbeads from personal care and beauty products that are washed down drains into waterways.
Textiles, especially synthetic fleece fabrics, that can “shed” tiny fibers called "microfibers" when they're laundered.

Biofuels Digest estimates that as much as 35% of microplastic pollution comes from synthetic clothing during the wash cycle. And most of this microplastic comes from clothes made of acrylic, nylon and polyester, with more loosely woven items shedding the most, according to one study.

A Question I Get Asked Sometimes Is, "Does Norwex Microfiber Shed?"

The fact that I even get asked this question makes my heart happy because it means that people are becoming more educated about the topic and the impact of microplastics on our environment.

So here's the short answer…because Norwex Microfiber is made from polyester and polyamide (both synthetic materials), any breakdown of these materials in the wash can cause it to shed.

When I first started learning more about this topic, I wanted to find out just how much our Norwex Microfiber shed. And here's some good news! Because Norwex Microfiber is so tightly woven it actually sheds very little.

In fact, testing shows that after 200 washings an EnviroCloth® loses only .026 of an ounce. That’s less than the size of a plain M&M (or so I'm told)!

When compared with the weight of the plastic packaging of most typical cleaning products, Norwex Microfiber is a much more sustainable option.

Here's why I believe that Norwex still offers a better choice.

Even with minimal shedding, cleaning with Norwex Microfiber and water helps avoid some of the main environmental and health concerns that come with traditional cleaning methods. Just to name a few:

Cotton cloths/rags:

Cotton cloths/rags Sadly, more chemical pesticides are used for traditionally grown cotton than any other crop. This not only pollutes the fibers themselves but also the groundwater runoff, streams, rivers, lakes and oceans that these chemicals wash into.

Paper towels:

Because of our paper towel usage in North America, over 50,000 trees are cut down daily and that contributes to an estimated 3,000 tons of waste a day. To make matters worse, the pulp and paper industry is the largest industrial user of water, and typical paper towels are manufactured using chlorine, which is a known toxin.

Disinfectant wipes:

Disinfectant wipes These are also known as wet wipes and often contain chemicals that can cause skin reactions, headaches, and eye and throat irritation. These one-use wipes are also very slow to break down, and even “flushable” wipes can linger for years in sewers and oceans.

Chemical cleaners used with cotton and paper towels:

Chemical Spray Cleaner Unfortunately, harmful chemicals in traditional cleaning products impact health and pollute indoor and outdoor environments. Not to mention paper towels, which waste precious resources and overburden landfills.

One of the things I love about Norwex is that together we are making a huge impact on reducing pollution and conserving our planet.

Here are a few ways…

Cleaning with Norwex Microfiber and water drastically reduces the use of cleaning supplies and chemicals that can end up in our water supplies.
It helps cut back on the 13 billion pounds of paper towel waste created in the U.S. every year.
Each Norwex Microfiber product comes with a two-year guarantee so it can be used over and over, rather than tossed.
Our antibacterial agent BacLock®, is designed to inhibit bacterial odor, mold and/or mildew growth within our products so they don’t need to be laundered as often. Washing microfiber less often reduces any shedding and saves water and energy too!
With our ongoing innovation plans, several of our most popular microfiber products are now made of up to 70% recycled materials. Which means that anywhere from 2 to 5 plastic bottles are reused in these products when they are manufactured.
Through our Microfiber Recycling Program discarded microfiber is converted into clean, renewable energy.

I am so grateful that safe, sustainable products are important to you. Together, we can turn back the hands of time and make our planet greener for our families and for generations to come.

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