10 October, 2025

Every time we do laundry, thousands of tiny plastic fibres are washed into our water systems – the equivalent of 3 billion polyester T-shirts entering the oceans each year. Worryingly, these microplastics are now being found in our hearts, lungs and arteries, with early research linking them to heart disease. They’re also damaging polluting rivers, altering clouds and contributing to climate change. 

But a small team in Bristol believes we can turn the tide. Matter has recently been named a finalist of The Earthshot Prize for its innovative solution to the problem. 

Its breakthrough technology Regen.® is the first self-cleaning filter designed specifically to stop microplastic fibres from leaving washing machines and textile factories. It captures up to 97% of microfibres before they reach rivers and seas – without the need for disposable cartridges. The system cleans itself, saving energy and waste, and can be built into new machines or retrofitted to existing ones.  

In collaboration with Bosch and Siemens, Matter’s filter went on sale earlier this year across 30 European markets for £199, a neat, shoebox-sized unit that can sit on top of any model of washing machine or be built into new ones.  

In factories, the same technology is already delivering major impact: one site saved 300,000 kWh of energy, captured 90 tonnes of microfibres, and cut 2,000 tonnes of CO₂. By 2030, Matter aims to prevent 15,000 tonnes of microfibre pollution. 

The next step? Recycling the captured microplastics. Right now, the plasticky fluff (like tumble-dryer lint) needs to be cleared after every six washes and disposed of in the bin. Matter plans to change that, creating a collection system to turn this waste into new products.  

So, we’ll be watching closely when The Earthshot Prize winners are announced in early November – this one could be a game changer. 

By Charlotte Pounder