In the last few years, beach towels made out of microfibers have become a huge thing. They are widely used but did you know that using a microfiber towel is harmful to the environment?
Yes! Microfibers use synthetic materials. They are either produced by using polyester or nylon. While there are several benefits of using a microfiber towel, the worst thing it does is that it harms the environment by shedding microplastics – small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life. The irony is that recycling plastic pulled from the sea into microfiber beach towels creates a vicious circle of putting plastic back into the sea.
So, in this article, we are going to talk about microfiber towels and natural fiber towels and which one is better to be used on the beach and in daily routine.
Natural Fiber
Natural fibers are made out of natural resources such as plants, animals, and minerals. These natural materials are then woven together to turn into yarns and threads that are later formed into fabrics.
Generally, there are two categories in which these natural fabrics fall animal-based fabrics and plant-based fabrics. Animal-based fabrics include leather, silk, and wool, while plant-based fabrics include cotton, hemp, jute, and linen. At FiveADRIFT, a big part of what we do is experiment with different natural fiber blends to find the best material for great outdoor products.
Advantages of Using Natural Fibers
- Natural fibers have an incredible absorbency rate which is why they are a great option for use as towels.
- These fibers are also very eco-friendly. Since there is no use of synthetic material, you won’t be causing harm to your environment like a plastic-based towel would.
- Natural fiber fabrics have a high range of cellulose which makes them impeccably durable.
Microfibers
Microfibers are synthetic materials made out of polyester and nylon and are available in two types, non-woven and woven. While they feel very soft to the touch, they also have an incredibly thin diameter that makes them the more useful for cleaning than at the beach. You will find that most microfiber towel use is for cleaning because they are capable of removing dirt and debris effectively with the small diameter fibers. So, unless you’re cleaning the beach, skip the microfiber.
Microfiber Vs. Natural Fiber
Microfiber is a synthetic material like polyester or nylon, whereas natural fiber is produced from natural resources like cotton or hemp. Initially, it may feel softer than a natural fiber towel but after a few washes, natural fiber towels improve in touch and feel.
However, it contains a huge amount of plastids attained from the ocean, which, when used as a beach towel, return to the ocean, which isn't very wise. It harms marine life and could cause a lot of damage to the global environment. This is why we prefer natural fiber.
Natural fiber such as cotton is also breathable and won’t scratch your body that sometimes microfiber is capable of doing. Additionally, natural fibers won't pick up the debris and dust-up; instead, it will push it away.
So, when purchasing a natural fiber towel, you need to be very careful about how you are going to use it. You must wash it daily, you mustn't use it to pick up dirt or debris, and you should also make sure it isn't left wet for a long time.
FiveADRIFT Natural Fiber Beach Towels
FiveADRIFT came up with the idea of natural fiber towels because we are concerned about the increasing amount of plastic pollution accumulating in the ocean. We wanted to produce something that wouldn’t harm the ocean but instead protect it against additional damage.
The beach towels we have introduced are completely plastic-free so they won't shed plastic into the ocean. Ours are made out of cotton and hemp that feel soft to the skin and dry you quickly after a catching the perfect wave at the beach.
You are also going to fall in love with the quality of these beach towels and how durable they are. We build things to last.
Go Natural!
While microfiber towels offer some benefits, one thing they are capable of doing is damaging marine life, which is unacceptable. This is why FiveADRIFT has created eco-friendly natural fiber towels that remove plastic from the sea and don’t send it back.
With these towels, you can enjoy your time at the beach while knowing that you're doing the world a favor. You're opting for eco-friendly towels to save the planet from any additional and avoidable plastic use.
We would love to hear your take on this. Let us know if you would prefer to use microfiber towels or natural fiber towels? And if you have been using natural fiber towels, how has your experience been with them so far!
