The Case Study of Plastic in the Ocean

As is described by Browne in the article Inside the lonely fight against the biggest environmental problem you've never heard of, the main source of pollution in the ocean is traced to the fiber that comes from the clothes of human beings. In the knowledge of individuals, the principal source of plastic in the ocean should be the waste of industrial especially the chemical industrial. Every individual does not even more agree that the consequence of industrial manufacturing because it is the source of polluting when the factories discharging waste air into the atmosphere and waste water into the water system that will bring scraps into the River and finally into the ocean. While, Browne acclaimed his conclusion through a detailed studies that “tiny clothing fibers could be the biggest source of plastic in our oceans”. (O'Connor2014) It provides us a new angle to review the significant environment problem that does not ignore the consequence of the tiny material that comes from human beings to the global environment. However, the suggestions of Browne are not accepted by cloth manufacturing company because they will have a great impact on their economic benefits. The object of this case study is to appeal to the attention of the public on the impact of our daily life to the ocean pollution and encourage individuals to make effort together to prevent and stop this negative influence and change attitude to the chemical material. In this paper, the new theory of Browne will be discussed, and theories that are related to environment protection will be proposed.

First and foremost, the result proposed by Browne through a series of researches and studies to the condition of the ocean and relative factories is astonished and unprecedented. It is an action of “Agonism” that is a method of environmental advocate and activism proposed in the course material. “Agonistic approaches privilege conflict as an element of social change and Create social awareness and visibility.” (Environmental Advocacy and Activism) He pays attention to the polluted plastic materials discharged into the ocean. Surprisingly, he does not track the source of chemically polluted materials. Instead, he focuses on tiny materials that come from a kind of essential stuff the clothes for human substances. His research conveys to the public that do not ignore the tiny part that will lead the environment pollution and sometimes it has a significant impact on our living space than other factors. The report of Browne expresses the fact that domestic washing machine is the main resource of the so-called microplastic. At present, a host of scientists finds this kind of contaminant in the coastal regions, a polyester fiber and acrylic acid contaminant that are smaller than the needle. As the introduction of the Web of fiber source, “the major polyester fiber uses is every form of clothing.” (Fiber Source) When we washing our clothes that are made from chemical fiber in the washing machine, some fiber will fall off from clothes and remained in the waste water and then discharged into the sewer and finally mixing with the ocean. The accumulation and collection of the micro-fragment in the ocean have been aroused the problem of health and security of human beings. These micro-fragments contain the damage and poisonous ingredient which will be absorbed by a microorganism and eaten by fish and finally transformed into human bodies the top of the food chain. We cannot image the condition of people in the world wild discharged the waste washing water into the ocean. The idea proposed by Browne undoubtedly shakes the industrial of the garment and the attitude of public to the chemical material that is used to make our clothes.

Moreover, the case of Browne supports strong evidence that the primary reason for ocean pollution is anthropogenic. For one thing, in the research of Browne, most of the clothes nowadays are made from microfiber that will enhance the quality of the clothes and makes them more soft and smooth. “Microfibers can attach themselves to even the smallest, most microscopic dirt particles—ones those normal cloth fibers (positively giant in comparison) crudely brush past.” (Woodford 2015) The function of microfiber is widely, and the clothes, and other fabric made from it will form a façade like peach skin pastel after sand wash and napping. Microfiber can be used to make high-end fashion garments, jacket, t-shirt and underwear that have the factors of absorbing sweat, do not close, soft and have a reasonable price. For all these reasons, microfiber is one of the most popular and favorite material for manufacturers and creates more profits for them. For another, the development of the chemical technology at present brings a lot of new materials that are in high quality and lower price for manufacturing. Before the discovering of the microfiber, most of the clothes are made from cotton a more natural and comfortable material. With the higher and higher requirement of individuals to the outlook of clothes, manufacturers are increasingly pursuing the different style and abundant color. The material of microfiber appeals to the obligation of manufacturers and customers. However, the direct cause of this crucial problem is human discharging waste water without any processing into the river and ocean. The reason of it attributes to the high economic cost of the sewage disposal system, and this process will not bring direct economic profits.

Last but not least, the most significant thing for human beings is to study the solution and method to prevent the environment pollution that is a problem connecting with everyone living on the earth. First and foremost, the essential method to solve this issue is that encouraging scientists to discover and create an environmental material that can replace the microfiber or make improvement and ameliorate on the basis of microfiber. The purpose of this action decreases the quantity of the fiber into the water when we wash clothes. Furthermore, another technology focus should be on the washing machine. There is a kind of washing machine called Xerox which can mix fiber material when washing clothes. “Once the Xeros polymer beads have made it into the drum, they are mixed with the laundry being washed.” (The Xerox Machine) Most of the clothes such as jeans and shirt should be in the process of washing in the factories before packing and transporting to the market. Moreover, the government should play a significant role in the activity of environment protection. It is, of course, the duty of government to establish relative law and regulations to limit the actions of factories that discharge wastewater into the river and ocean. “also, there must be international collaboration of industry, governments, aid agencies and NGOs to advance efficient and effective waste management in developing economies where plastic leakage is currently greatest.” (Merkl 2015) The advanced technology for improving sewage disposal system should be encouraged and promoted by the government on the matter in the aspect of money and condition.

It is time to make a conclusion. Through the analysis of the case study about the research of Browne, an ecologist of Austria, a new aspect of ocean pollution has been proposed and has the potential to be continuing exploring. The main plastic polluted source in the ocean comes from the clothes of human beings. This kind of microfiber is not easily to be found in the ocean but will continually released. Browne brings the public a new angle and a topic to study, and the action of garment factories increasingly aroused the public attention. The strengths of this case is that is provides a new angle for public to the issue of ocean pollution because it is not only the problem of factories but also the actions of every individual in the daily life. It still provides a topic for scientists to continue study in the further. However, the weaknesses of it are his action, and research cannot have the strong power to appeal the complex garment industrial to change their material to natural in a short time. The attitude of the public is a significant issue for scientists to change and shape. It is said that few garment company decides to support the research of Browne because it will impact the benefits of them, and the microfiber has many advantages for them. It is a big problem for scientists to overcome. However, it will contribute to the attention of the individuals to their choice of clothes and washing machines because the natural material is good for their health especially for the babies.

This case is successful. The reason for it is the choices of customers determine the plan of a garment company. Moreover, this case can make an effort to the attitude changing of individuals in purchasing clothes. The further action must put emphasis on the solution of the replaced material in making clothes and inventing technical washing machines and at the same time decreasing the manufacturing cost. Only in this way can human beings live in a better world and save us and our generations.