Every year, a staggering amount of waste is produced across the globe. As of 2016, the world’s waste weighed 1.3bn, but this figure is expected to almost triple within the next century, reaching 4bn by 2100.

Some countries are more to blame than others. The United States produced 254 tons of waste in 2013, a substantial increase from 228mn in 2006. China may have a much bigger population than the States, yet their annual waste reaches only 190mn.

We all need to reduce the amount of waste we produce. While we all know that recycling and using less electricity are important, what else can you do?

Using cleaning products that last longer and produce less waste is one small, yet important, option.

The Enduring Durability of Microfiber

Microfiber is a powerful cleaning aid in domestic, commercial, and medical environments. From mopping up spills with microfiber towels in the kitchen to wiping dusty surfaces in hospital wards with microfiber cloths, this material suits various applications.

Given the thousands of tiny fibers on a microfiber cloth and towel, they are more effective at collecting dirt and absorbing spills. They can attach to microscopic particles of dirt that other cleaning materials (such as disposable paper towels) would miss.

This means that you actually need fewer cloths and towels than you might normally use. For example, paper towels are usually bought in bulk, and are easily discarded after a single use without considering the waste being created.

Microfiber cloths and towels are also incredibly durable, able to withstand hundreds of washes (up to 500 in some cases), leading to less waste. In an environment where laundry hampers can quickly pile up, such as in a hospital, other materials would lose their effectiveness faster after frequent laundering.

By switching to microfiber cloths and towels, you can create less waste over time simply because you will be using a tougher material built to last longer.

Create Less Strain on Water Supplies

On another note, as microfiber cloths and towels can absorb as much as five times its weight in liquids, janitorial staff will waste less water. Due to the greater cleaning power, there is also no need for chemical-based detergents to help remove dirt, and so no water is required to rinse surfaces clean. This reduced dependence on water puts less strain on our supplies and cuts costs for businesses and organizations.

Given that managers based in 40 of our 50 states predict water shortages within the next decade (based on average conditions, too), minimizing the amount of water we waste when cleaning sooner rather than later has the power to make a significant impact.

This world is our shared responsibility, and even the tiniest changes contribute to its preservation. Have you considered how powerful switching to microfiber towels and cloths may be?