Xeros signs first development agreement for microplastic filtration in commercial laundry

UK

Xeros Technology Group, the developer and provider of water saving and filtration technologies with multiple commercial applications, announced on 17 March that it has signed a Joint Development Agreement with a global leader in commercial laundry solutions, with the aim of incorporating the company’s microplastic filtration system, XFiltra (pictured), into their commercial washing machines.

Washing textiles containing synthetic fibres, such as nylon or polyester, is a major source of microplastic pollution. Globally, it accounts for 35% of primary microplastics released into the oceans every year (1). As many as 700,000 microplastic fibres can be released in the wastewater from a single load of domestic laundry (2).

Xeros’ patented filtration system, XFiltra removes up to 99% of these microplastic fibres from laundry effluent. The device lasts for the lifetime of the washing machine and does not use disposable filter cartridges.

Xeros’ joint development partner aims to be the first company in the world to provide commercial laundries with washing machines fitted with microplastic filtration. Upon successful completion of the joint development, the JDA provides for the negotiation of a commercial agreement to license Xeros’ filtration technology in a number of geographies in exchange for royalties.

Mark Nichols, chief executive of Xeros, said: “This invisible form of plastic pollution is highly damaging to our environment and wildlife,  and is one of the ways in which microplastics are readily entering our food chain. Having developed our filtration solution over the last three years, we are delighted to be working with one of the world’s most respected and environmentally aware commercial laundry solution providers.

We believe XFiltra to be the most effective product available, enabling companies and consumers to substantially reduce this form of microplastic pollution. Legislation currently being passed in various geographies will hasten and increasingly mandate adoption of in machine filtration in order to remove microplastics from washing machine effluent streams.”

[1] https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002-En.pdf

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