Less microplastics in the sea with Mimbly
Start-up company Mimbly’s business idea is to make the lifecycle of clothes and textiles less resource-intensive and more sustainable.
![Mimbox connected to a washing machine](/siteassets/07-news-and-media/knowledgebank/2021/mimbox-smarter-laundry-mimbly.webp?mode=crop&scale=both&format=webp&quality=90&width=319&height=213&rxy=0.28,0.56)
Two thirds of the environmental impact of clothing comes from the usage phase. Washing, drying and ironing account for around three quarters of the energy and water consumed in the lifecycle of a garment; a single wash can consume 60 litres of water. Over a third of the microplastics that end up in the ocean and in ecosystems are thought to come from washing of synthetic fabrics.
Start-up company Mimbly’s business idea is to make the lifecycle of clothes and textiles less resource-intensive and more sustainable. Mimbly’s solution involves using water in a smarter way and stopping all plastics from ending up in nature. These water and energy savings and the reduction of microplastic emissions inspired.
Coor’s innovation team to initiate a partnership during the year. Coor’s goal is to help start-ups with a positive environmental impact enter their potential market in less time. Coor was the first company to test the technology, which is very simple to install in new and existing washing machines.
During the year, the first Mimbox was connected to Coor’s washing machines at the company’s head office in Stockholm and put into operation. The potential water savings range from 50 to 70 per cent, and the water filter filters out microplastics from the wash water, preventing them from spreading. The filter used in the Mimbox has been designed to have a long service life, with minimal service requirements. The system can be connected to one or several washing machines.