Overview
EN ISO 4484-1:2023 (ISO 4484-1:2023) specifies a laboratory method to determine material loss from fabrics during washing, supporting assessment of textile sources of microplastics. Published by CEN/ISO, the standard defines a controlled, repeatable laundering test and a gravimetric evaluation of collected debris. It is intended for comparative laboratory testing and does not provide a direct correlation to domestic or commercial laundering.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and principle: Accelerated laundering under controlled temperature, time and mechanical action; wash liquor is vacuum-filtered and material loss assessed gravimetrically as a fraction of specimen mass.
- Sample preparation: Standardized specimen cutting, stitching (stitch type 301 referenced), and dry-mass determination.
- Apparatus & test conditions (examples from the standard):
- Mechanical washer: rotatable shaft with stainless-steel containers (≈1 200 ml) rotated at (40 ± 2) min⁻¹.
- Filters: glass-fibre filters, 47 mm diameter, 1.6 µm pore size.
- Oven: (50 ± 3) °C for drying; analytical balance resolution ≥ 0.1 mg.
- Other items: stainless-steel balls, non-plastic vacuum filtration setup, stainless steel sieve, lab PPE to minimise contamination.
- Procedure steps: determination of dry mass, controlled washing, filtration of wash liquor, drying and weighing of filters (gravimetric mass loss), calculation and reporting of material-loss ratio.
- Notes: Any collected debris is assumed to be fibre fragments; chemical or compositional identification is covered by ISO 4484-2. Reagents such as grade 3 water (ISO 3696) are referenced.
Applications and users
- Textile manufacturers and product developers: compare fabric constructions and finishing processes to reduce shedding.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies: provide reproducible, comparable laboratory data on fabric material loss and microfibre release potential.
- R&D and sustainability teams: assess interventions (yarns, finishes, constructions) to lower microplastic emissions from laundering.
- Regulators and policymakers: use standardised test data to inform guidelines and environmental risk assessments.
Related standards
- ISO 4484-2 - identification/characterization of collected debris (composition).
- ISO 3696 - laboratory water quality.
- ISO 4915 / ISO 4916 - stitch and seam classifications referenced for specimen preparation.
- Developed by ISO/TC 38 in collaboration with CEN/TC 248.
EN ISO 4484-1:2023 is a practical, reproducible method for labs and manufacturers focused on assessing and reducing textile-derived microplastics through controlled laundering tests.