Wearwell Co-Founder, Emily Kenney, sat down with Brooke Winslow, one of the co-inventors of Cora Ball, to ask 5 questions about microfiber pollution in our waterways, how Cora Ball works, and what sets her brand apart from others. Read on for our interview with Brooke!
Emily: What sets the Cora Ball apart from other sustainable laundry products?
Brooke: Cora Ball prevents microfiber shedding from your washing machine, protecting the ocean and your clothes. By using Cora Ball, you are not only keeping microfiber out of our public waterways, but you are helping your clothes last longer.
You don’t have to guess which items produce the most microfiber - Cora Ball addresses the whole load of laundry. You don’t even need to train your partner, roommate, or kids! Just toss the Cora Ball in your washing machine and do your laundry as normal and you’ll be making an impact right away to reduce ocean pollution.
Emily: Why is microfiber pollution an issue and why is it important to collect them from our laundry?
Brooke: Microfiber is a problem in its smallness and its bioavailability. This means it is readily available to be consumed by sea creatures from the smallest to the biggest!
Microfiber pollution can cause physical harm to small creatures as well as tangle up into masses that can’t be passed along their digestive tracts, taking up space they need for food. Any pollutants in or on those fibers can become part of the food chain, impacting all sizes of creatures and ending up on our dinner plates as well. To explain all about the problem of microfiber and the science behind it, we made the Microfiber Pollution Primer.
Emily: So how does the Cora Ball work? How does it catch microfiber and can I see what it’s collecting?
Brooke: Cora Ball both captures and prevents microfiber in the first place, with a combined 31% reduction of microfiber pollution. The amount of baseline microfiber pollution is slightly different for every household, so you may see hair and fibers tangle right away (top-loading machine, with lots of fleece and heavy clothing) or it could take weeks or longer (front-loading machine, athletic clothes and lighter materials). Even when you don’t see fiber collecting (fiber alone is hard to see with the naked eye), there is 31% less microfiber pollution going down the drain!
Emily: Let’s talk recycling — what is the Cora Ball made of and can it be recycled?
Brooke: Cora Ball is made from synthetic rubber, including ground-up, recycled Cora Balls! Cora Ball lasts 5+ years and we take them back for 100% recycling, so you can simply send us a message when it’s time to recycle yours.
Emily: What’s next for you and the team at Cora Ball - any exciting initiatives or new designs that you’re looking forward to?
Brooke: We have been amazed by the number of people who have learned about microfiber and have taken that knowledge and turned it into action with Cora Ball. We’ve created a fantastic community of Ocean Protectors and have some exciting new product releases coming soon!
Shop the Cora Ball at wearwell to reduce microfiber shedding.
