We don’t necessarily know it, but washing clothes is an extremely polluting activity. Of course, we think of the release of chemicals from detergents or fabric softeners, but we often forget about plastic pollution. Because if we wear wool, cotton or linen, our clothes are also made of synthetic materials from the petrochemical industry. During washing, stirring, the action of detergents and the heat of the water tear off microparticles of plastic which will inevitably end up in the sea where they will be ingested by plankton, then by their predators. To limit these emissions, from 2025, all new washing machines sold in France must be equipped with a device responsible for retaining microplastic fibres.
Like all other manufacturers, Samsung will have to comply with this requirement. Nevertheless, the South Korean anticipates this directive by releasing a microplastic filter at the end of August. And since we are not all owners of a Samsung washing machine, this model (made of recycled plastic) can be easily connected to all appliances on the market, whatever their brand.
If we are to believe the communication from the firm, this system makes it possible to capture 98% of the plastic particles released during laundry thanks to the fineness of the mesh of the filter, from 65 to 70 micrometers. The waste collected in this way is compressed and the user must empty the tank approximately every 30 cycles. The most airheads can pair their microplastic filter to a smartphone equipped with the SmartThings home app, which will remind them that it is time to empty.
Samsung seems to take this microplastic pollution very seriously since the most recent Bespoke washing machines already have a cycle designed to reduce this type of emission using EcoBubble technology. This system adds air to the detergent/water mixture to create a fine foam, even at low temperatures, and allows ultimately to wash clothes with colder water and a gentler brew.
The fight against microplastic pollution, the next battleground for manufacturers?
One would be tempted to believe it, because Samsung is far from being the first manufacturer to embark on this niche. Electrolux also released its microplastic filter a few months ago. Grundig has even gone further with the GW7P79419W, a washing machine directly equipped with such a recovery system (Fiber Catcher technology), therefore without an external appendage to connect.
We don’t yet know the price of Samsung’s microplastic filter, but it should be around 90/100 € and will be available at the end of August.