Laundry, while it may seem like a mundane task, plays a significant role in microplastic pollution. When synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are washed, they release tiny fibers that can slip through conventional wastewater treatment systems, ultimately ending up in our waterways.
In response to this issue, three engineering graduates from Case Western Reserve University have developed innovative filtration systems for washing machines specifically designed to capture these microplastics. Their Cleanr technology is set to be implemented at three universities and is available for home use at $249.
“We realized that microplastics were becoming a serious problem,” noted Max Pennington, co-founder and CEO of Cleanr. The team has dedicated their free time to further developing this technology.
Microplastics are pervasive, found in everything from personal care products to car tires, and even in the food and water we consume. The potential health risks associated with these microparticles are alarming, with links to various health issues, including certain cancers, heart attacks, and strokes.
Pennington, along with his fraternity brothers David Dilman and Chip Miller, began this project while utilizing one of the largest maker spaces in the U.S. at Case Western. They started creating prototypes but faced initial setbacks, such as when their early models didn’t hold up in a washing machine used heavily by athletes.
This prompted the trio to innovate further, leading to the creation of Vortx—a filtration system that uses vortex dynamics to efficiently filter out waste as water exits the washing machine.
The Vortx device is installed in the washing machine drain hose, resembling a stylish coffee maker, and is designed to capture over 90% of microplastics as small as 50 microns, effectively collecting waste in a removable pod.
The Cleanr team estimates that one filter can prevent the equivalent of 56 credit cards’ worth of plastic from entering waterways each year, and they even have an app that helps users track their impact.
While other filtration options exist, Pennington asserts that Cleanr offers not just technology but also a meaningful consumer experience, allowing users to feel they are contributing to environmental change.
To launch Cleanr, Moore revealed that they secured over $7 million in funding from personal connections and startup competitions, which helped equip them with multiple washing machines for their initiatives.
Currently, they are looking to partner with washing machine manufacturers to incorporate these filters directly into new machines. In the meantime, Cleanr’s systems have been installed at various universities including Case Western and Southern Alabama University.
The timing is critical, as France recently enacted regulations requiring new washing machines to include microfiber filters, with other nations contemplating similar measures. In California, legislation has been proposed to mandate filtration systems in state-used washing machines, although Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill due to cost concerns.
New Jersey has introduced a Senate Bill aiming to allow the sale of a filtration system by 2030 that will target microplastics and microfibers.
Pennington is acutely aware of the urgency surrounding this issue, stating, “If we’re not acting now, and we don’t catch it in the process, it will be too late to make a difference.”
