Inhaling the microplastics': what is in British children's school uniforms?

"Hugo Keane's investigation into polyester began at home. He had just started year 7 but, thanks to Covid, he was stuck knocking about at home in Camden, north London. It was kind of a family pandemic project, said his mother, Alexandra Milenov. He sat down with my husband and did the calculations on the microplastic release of three items of his uniform: the blazer, the PE T-shirt and the shorts. What he found out was to significantly affect his school career."

"They are not a legal requirement, but the Department for Education insists they promote the ethos of a school, provide a sense of belonging and identity and set an appropriate tone for education. But the widespread use of uniforms has a hidden cost: most of them are made from polyester, the synthetic, petroleum-derived fibre that is one of the world's most significant environmental pollutants, leading some to question our reliance on it, and whether it is a suitable fabric in which to dress our children."

"Polyester, the miracle fabric, was invented in Britain in the 1940s as a new synthetic fabric that followed the popularity of nylon in the 1930s. Thanks to its durability, economy and ease of production, it has come to dominate the global garment industry, and by 2023, 71.1m tonnes of polyester were produced around the world 57% of global textile production."

Hugo Keane calculated microplastic release from three uniform items—blazer, PE T-shirt and shorts—and found results that affected his schooling. Almost every child in England spends about 195 days a year in uniform. Uniforms are not legally required, but the Department for Education says they promote school ethos, belonging and an appropriate tone. Most uniforms are made from polyester, a synthetic petroleum-derived fibre that contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Polyester was invented in Britain in the 1940s and, because it needs no agricultural fibre and is cheap, durable and easy to produce, it reached 71.1m tonnes by 2023, about 57% of global textile output.

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