MicroPlastGuard:

Mitigating Microplastics Pollution through Advanced Baltic Cooperation

MicroPlastGuard

The MicroPlastGuard project is specifically designed to confront the urgent and pervasive issue of microplastic pollution, with a primary focus on the Baltic Sea region. The project’s central objective is to address the significant threat posed by microplastic originating from synthetic textiles, which persist in the marine environment, posing a substantial risk to both marine ecosystems and human health.

Start date: 2024-10-01

End date: 2026-11-30

In collaborating with key stakeholders in the textile production sector from Lithuania and Poland, the project seeks to bridge the scientific gaps related to the establishment of standardized test methods for quantifying the release of microplastic fibres during washing.

Furthermore, the project will target the knowledge deficit among fashion brands and factories regarding the release of dry-state microplastic during the production, processing, and recycling of synthetic textiles. Recognizing the lack of widespread public awareness regarding these critical issues, the project underscores the essential role of scientific and social awareness, international expert networking, and discussions among businesses and policymakers in addressing these changes.

Moreover, in addition to its focus on scientific and social awareness, the project also aims to develop innovative coatings and finishes to mitigate the emissions of microplastics from synthetic fabrics.

External links

Dissemination events

Project Seminar and Workshop “Microplastic from Textiles”, 16 May 2025, Kaunas, Lithuania, a project team and industry representatives.

A presentation “Influence of yarn twist on microfibre release” and an article in the 12th international young researchers’ conference “Industrial engineering 2025” (15 May 2025, Kaunas, Lithuania)
Sadauskaitė, Emilija; Poškutė, Ieva; Biswas, Tuser; Daukantienė, Virginija; Persson, Maria; Laureckienė, Ginta. Influence of yarn twist on microfibre release // Industrial engineering 2025: 12th international young researchers’ conference: conference proceedings / G. Laureckienė, L. Gegeckienė, I. Venytė (eds.). Kaunas: Technologija. ISSN 2783-6363. 2025, p. 64-68.
Available at ebooks.ktu.edu, accessed 2025-07-11
Small Particles, Big Consequences. Workshop during Borås Textile Days 2025, 12-13 November 2025, Borås, Sweden.
Virginija Daukantienė delivered two lectures titled "Causes, Research Methods, and Problems of Microplastics (Microfibers) release from textiles" (In Lithuanian: „Mikroplastikų (mikropluoštų) išsiskyrimo iš tekstilės priežastys, tyrimo metodai ir keliamos problemos“) for gymnasium students (total number of students who participated in the lecture was 90 students (2 lectures × 45 students) at the conference "SUSTAINABILITY CODE: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND OUR FUTURE" (in Lithuanian: „TVARUMO KODAS: MOKSLAS, TECHNOLOGIJOS IR MŪSŲ ATEITIS“) organised and hosted on 30 April, 2025 by:
STEAM LT Tauragė and Tauragės Švietimo centras (in English: Tauragė Education Center)
Virginija Daukantienė delivered a poster presentation titled ”An Original Method to Assess Microfiber Release from Dry-State Textiles” at the International Textile and Colour Conference 2025 on 25th – 26th June 2025, University of Leeds, UK.

Exchange student projects

Effect of spun yarn twist parameters on microfibre release during laundry washing of polyester fabrics, by Ieva Poškutė and Emilija Sadauskaitė from Kaunas University of Technology.
Digital printing of Chitosan and PVA on polyester and polypropylene fabrics to mitigate microplastic release during washing, by Agnieszka Ziętkowicz and Izabela Bobek from Lodz University of Technology.