Environment

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth’s environment that adversely affects wildlife, habitat, and humans.

Presently 90% of all wet wipes contain plastic. Wipes used within the building trades and industrial environments more often than not are made with 100% polypropylene plastic. The UK alone uses an astonishing 11 Billion wet wipes per year.

The original Dirteeze range from 2007 uses spunlace as its base fabric with mainly biodegradable viscose fibres, typically around 50-70% biodegradable. Looking to the future, Dirteeze has now introduced their brand new 100% biodegradable & sustainable range made from bamboo fibres.

Biodegradability

Biodegradability is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Many plastics do not biodegrade, they simply break down in to smaller pieces, leaving toxins in the ground.

The rate at which different products biodegrade or break down varies considerably. Polypropylene wipes take an estimated 100 years to break down leaving toxins in the ground. By way of comparison, Dirteeze Trademate Bamboo wipes, biodegrade naturally on average in two to six months.

Sustainability

Most wet wipes are derived from oil. Fossil fuels are in limited supply, with BP estimating the earth has enough oil left for about 48 more years at current production levels.

Most dry wipes are made with woodpulp derived from softwood and hardwood trees. The trees take between 25-70 years to grow, leading to potential deforestation.

Dirteeze Trademate wipes are made from bamboo fibre. Bamboo grows at a rate of 1-2 feet per day so by the time the crops are harvested they have re-grown. Bamboo is 100% naturally biodegradable as well as sustainable, natures answer to our everyday wiping needs.