Dear Friends of 5 Gyres,

Last week, we received the unfortunate news that Governor Newsom vetoed our bill (AB 1628), which would have required new washing machines sold in California to contain a microfiber filtration system by 2029. This is a scientifically-proven solution to microfiber pollution, backed by our own research, that had the potential to reduce quadrillions of microfibers from entering the environment each year in California.

While we are deeply disappointed in this decision, we aren't giving up yet! We are proud that the bill made it all the way to the Governor's desk; inspired by our community that took action by sending 6,000 emails, tweets, and calls; and grateful for leaders, like Assemblymember McKinnor, who are championing this issue.

We will continue our work to protect people and the planet from the harm of plastic pollution, with a focus on textiles in the coming years. We look forward to sharing good news on microfiber filtration in the future, and solutions that address the microfiber issue even further upstream, so keep an eye out for updates and ways to be part of the solution!