Table 3 Key recommendations to improve the sustainability of polyester garments during the use phase of the value chain
| Issue | Goal | Measure | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resources | Phase out fossil fuels as source of energy | Incentivize use of renewable energy in the household |
|
| Reduce energy consumption | Improve machine efficiency |
| |
| Wash at lower temperatures |
| ||
| Avoid tumble drying when possible |
| ||
| Reduce freshwater consumption | Switch to horizontal-axis washing machines |
| |
| Improve and encourage greywater recycling systems within households or laundry stores |
| ||
| Detergents | Produce more sustainable detergents |
Determine which type of detergent is more sustainable considering: Production Packaging Effects on the environment upon release Effects on microfiber release |
|
| Microfibers | Prevention of microfiber release from clothing | Wash at full load to avoid high water volume to garment ratios |
|
| Standardization of quantifying methods to facilitate more informative research |
| ||
| Retroactive solutions for microfiber release from clothing | Use filters to capture microfibers in washing machines |
| |
| Develop air filtration systems to remove airborne microfibers indoors |
| ||
| Bioremediation: can enzymes or whole microorganisms be added to agricultural soils to degrade PET without disturbing soil properties or causing other side effects? |
|
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Legislation 
Economic incentive or funding 
Education or communication