The evidence 0 MICROPLASTIC FIBRES. ONE WASH LOAD.

And that's only what a machine can measure. Synthetic fabric sheds throughout its entire lifespan. In the wash, in the dryer, against your skin all day. And these fibres have been found in human blood, lungs, placentas, and breast milk. And the science now links them to hormone disruption, inflammation, and reduced fertility.

Napper & Thompson, Plymouth University, 2016 — Marine Pollution Bulletin

Napper & Thompson, Plymouth University, 2016 — Marine Pollution Bulletin
What the science says

The case for natural fibres.

5g per week

The average person ingests approximately 5 grams of microplastics every week — the equivalent of a credit card. A significant portion comes from synthetic fibres in clothing and textiles.

WWF / University of Newcastle, 2019
35% of ocean microplastics

Synthetic textiles are responsible for 35% of all microplastic pollution in the world's oceans. Washing a single polyester jacket releases more than 1,900 fibres into waterways per wash cycle.

IUCN, 2017
77% of blood samples

A 2022 study found microplastics in the blood of 77% of people tested. These particles have also been detected in human lungs, placentas, and breast milk — with long-term health effects still being studied.

Environment International Journal, 2022
0 microplastics from natural fibres

Natural fibres — cotton, linen, wool, silk — shed no microplastics. They biodegrade completely, return to the soil, and leave no synthetic trace in your body or the earth. This is what Rūh is built on.

Rūh commitment
Know what you're wearing

Synthetic vs Natural

Synthetic (polyester, nylon, acrylic)
— Sheds up to 700,000 microplastic fibres per wash
— Microplastics accumulate in waterways, soil, and your body
— Made from petroleum — a non-renewable, fossil fuel resource
— Traps heat and moisture, reducing breathability against skin
— Takes 200+ years to decompose — if it decomposes at all
— Often pills, degrades quickly, designed for disposal not longevity
Natural (cotton, linen, wool — what Rūh uses)
✦ Zero microplastics shed — ever. Into water or your skin.
✦ Fully biodegradable — returns to the earth without trace
✦ Renewable and plant or animal-derived — not petroleum
✦ Breathable and temperature-regulating — naturally
✦ Ages well — natural fibres soften and improve with wear
✦ Better for sensitive and reactive skin — gentler contact throughout the day
Natural fibres — what they do

Good for you. Good for the earth.

Six reasons why what your clothing is made from is not a small detail.

✦ Your body

Zero microplastics against your skin

Natural fibres shed nothing harmful. No synthetic particles make contact with your skin, enter your pores, or end up in your bloodstream through daily wear.

✦ Your body

Breathes with you

Natural fibres are temperature-regulating by nature. They absorb moisture, allow airflow, and keep you comfortable across longer wear — without the synthetic heat trap.

✦ Your body

Gentler on sensitive skin

Synthetic fibres are a known irritant for eczema-prone and sensitive skin. Cotton and linen have a smoother, softer finish that reduces friction and inflammation throughout the day.

✦ The earth

Fully biodegradable

When a natural garment reaches the end of its life, it returns to the soil completely. No synthetic residue. No plastic fragments remaining in the ground for 200 years.

✦ The earth

No ocean contamination

Synthetic clothing is the leading source of microplastic ocean pollution. Natural fibre garments wash clean — no plastic fibres released into waterways, marine life, or food chains.

✦ The earth

A renewable resource

Cotton, linen and wool are grown, not drilled. They require no petroleum extraction. Properly sourced, they are part of a circular system — the original sustainable material.

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