.A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that 35% of all microplastics - tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic - in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles like polyester.Microplastics Furthermore, brands use synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon and acrylic which take hundreds of years to biodegrade.The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year.