Microfibres are the most common form of microplastic pollution. Now, a new filter developed by Matter Industries founder Adam Root aims to trap them at home and on an industrial scale. The device slots seamlessly above a washing machine, drawing in wastewater and capturing up to 97% of microfibres before they escape into waterways.
How the Filter Works
Root's invention uses a self-cleaning mesh that rinses after each wash to prevent blockage. Each cycle produces about 1 gram of fibre waste, including plastic, skin cells, hair, and dust. The filter beeps when it needs emptying, and users scoop out the collected material for disposal in the bin.
Root tested his prototype on a wet garage floor with a £250 budget, using a broom handle to operate a temperamental washing machine. Despite the risks, he succeeded in demonstrating microfibre capture.
Market Expansion and Partnerships
Matter Industries, based in Bristol, now sells its filter in over 30 European markets and the UK, with plans to expand to the US. The company has raised $20 million, employs 50 people, and partnered with Bosch and Siemens to integrate its Regen filtering technology into washing machines.
In 2025, Matter was a runner-up in the oceans category of the Earthshot prize, recognized for its contribution to reducing microplastic pollution.
Industrial Applications
Root is also piloting the technology at industrial scale in textile factories across Portugal, Egypt, and Bangladesh. These factories produce kilometres of fabric daily, generating huge quantities of fibre waste—up to 360 tonnes annually per factory—often discharged directly into rivers. Catching industrial effluent is crucial, as it is a major global polluter.
Expert Perspectives
Anja Brandon, director of plastics policy at Ocean Conservancy, supports capturing all textile fibres, not just plastics, due to their chemical and colourant impacts. However, Richard Thompson, professor of marine biology at the University of Plymouth, who first highlighted microplastic threats in 2004, cautions that filters are only part of the solution. His research shows that most microfibre emissions occur while wearing clothes, not just during washing. He advocates for upstream fixes like better textile design, potentially through the global plastics treaty.
Root acknowledges the need for textile redesign but stresses the urgency of using available tools now. "I imagine myself being knee-deep in shit. You have your shovel, and you just have to start at your feet and work your way out," he says. "You have to look at what you can change."
