By Abbas Nazil
Concerns are growing among parents and experts about the use of polyester in school uniforms, as evidence mounts that the synthetic fabric releases harmful microplastics and chemicals into the environment and poses health risks to children.
Polyester, a petroleum-based material, now dominates the textile industry, making up more than half of global clothing production.
While valued for its durability and low cost, it is not biodegradable.
Washing polyester garments causes them to shed billions of microfibres annually, many of which enter rivers, oceans, and even human bodies.
Researchers have found synthetic textiles are responsible for 35% of microplastics in the oceans, with particles discovered from the Mariana Trench to Mount Everest and in human organs.
Families and campaigners warn that schoolchildren, who wear polyester uniforms for nearly 200 days each year, face daily exposure through skin contact and inhalation of airborne fibres.
Some parents have successfully lobbied for exemptions.
In one case, a London student, Hugo Keane, became the first “conscientious objector” to polyester uniforms after presenting findings that his classmates’ uniforms released billions of fibres annually.
Other parents, like Cambridge professor Nazia Habib, argue polyester worsens children’s skin conditions and exposes them to microplastic inhalation, especially worrying for those with respiratory issues.
Experts further caution that additives in polyester, such as phthalates and bisphenol A, are endocrine disruptors linked to fertility problems and other health risks.
Despite specialist retailers offering organic cotton alternatives, affordability and school rules requiring branded polyester items limit parental choice.
Legislation under debate may cap mandatory branded items but is unlikely to ban polyester outright.
Campaigners argue systemic change is needed, insisting that no child should be required to wear clothing that threatens health and contributes to pollution.
Parents, however, continue to push back, saying environmental and health protections should not be left to individual battles with schools.
