Nonwoven Fabrics: The Giant of Micro(nano)plastic Pollution Hidden in the Corners of Life

Figure 1. Schematic diagram for nonwoven products as an extremely important source of MNPs. (a) Different types of nonwoven products can generate numerous MNPs in human bodies and the environment. (b) Brewing teabags and coffee bags produces large amounts of MNPs. (c) Possible weathering process of nonwoven products (face mask, window curtain, nonwoven bag, etc.) exposed to the environment. Source reduction. Innovative degradable alternative materials must be explored to overcome the current limitations of existing materials in environmental degradation kinetics and sensitivity to mechanical damage. Biobased polymers combined with nanoscale cellulose reinforcements (enhancing tensile strength) or enzyme-embedded coatings (accelerating degradation) should be prioritized. For nonbiodegradable nonwoven fabrics, their manufacturing processes should be optimized to enhance structural integrity and mitigate MNP shedding. Process control. Targeted digital campaigns (e.g., social media) should be launched to improve the public’s understanding of nonwoven-derived MNPs. For nonwoven products already produced, industries should introduce “MNP leakage index” certifications based on standardized abrasion/UV aging tests and provide regulated washing protocols. End-of-pipe solutions. Governments must enact regulatory frameworks, including standardized thresholds for MNP emissions, ISO-certified monitoring protocols, and strict enforcement measures. Academia and industry require breakthroughs in the efficiency of recycling technologies to enhance waste nonwoven fabric utilization. Yaping Zhao is a professor in the School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University. Her primary research focuses on the interfacial behaviors of micro(nano)plastics and waste plastic recycling. She developed a dual-mode adsorption model dominated by hydrophobic partitioning of environmental endocrine disruptors at microplastic interfaces. On the basis of the aging process of microplastics and their adsorption of environmental endocrine disruptors, the role of microplastics as sources and sinks of bisphenol A was discovered. Via the support of NSFC (2024–2027), she has also carried out studies on the preparation of nanoplastics, their aging behaviors, and their potential ecological risks. The upgrading of waste plastics as large-specific surface area porous carbon materials, catalysts with high conductivity with carbon carriers, and the recovery of high-value degradation products are also her current focus. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42377372). This article references 5 other publications. This article has not yet been cited by other publications.