An ecologist studying the shorelines of the country has claimed what could be a massive threat to marine life and beaches is a problem that is being widely ignored.
Mark Browne found that, in a simple act of washing our clothes, up to 1900 individual fibres can be rinsed from the synthetic fabric of one garment and washed into the ocean.
These microfibres contribute around 85% of human-created waste on the shoreline.
Mr Browne contacted several major clothing manufacturers and retailers in the hopes to gain support from the offending industry.
"We want to look for new, more durable materials that do not emit so much microplastic," said Browne, speaking on his intentions for co-operation with the manufacturers.
However, his approach was rejected by companies such as Nike and Polartec.
Microplastics are defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as plastic fragments 5mm or smaller.
