By now, you’re likely almosttooaware of how many microplastics there are swirling around you at any given time. But rather than keep telling you things are bad, a few savvy researchers at the University of Bonn are instead offering a potential solution. And it’s inspired by Mother Nature.

In December 2025, a research team released the findings of their study on how a fish-inspired filtration design could help remove microplastics from washing machine wastewater, which the team noted is a “major source of environmental pollution.” In a statement, the team added that a single washing machine in a household of four can release up to 500 grams of microplastics each year as fabrics wear down, which then make their way to sewers and eventually to groundwater.

To prevent this from happening, the team designed a “gill arch” filtration system that resembles the inside of the mouths of filter-feeding fish such as mackerel, sardines, and anchovies.

“We took a closer look at the construction of this system and used it as the model for developing a filter that can be used in washing machines,” Dr. Alexander Blanke, a PhD supervisor at the University of Bonn, shared. Specifically, they created a filter that mimics the “comb-like” structures inside their mouths, which are also covered in small teeth that form a “mesh” that extends outward to catch microscopic plankton.

“During food intake, the water flows through the permeable funnel wall, is filtered, and the particle-free water is then released back into the environment via the gills,” Blanke explained. “However, the plankton is too big for this; it is held back by the natural sieve structure. Thanks to the funnel shape, it then rolls toward the gullet, where it is collected until the fish swallows, which empties and cleans the system.”

The team replicated this by creating their own mesh sieve at the opening angle of their washing machine funnel. As they stated, their early tests showed that it can remove nearly all plastic fibers from washing machine wastewater.

“We have thus found a combination of parameters that enable our filter to separate than 99% of the microplastics out of the water but not become blocked,” Dr. Leandra Hamann from the Institute for Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn said.

So, where will those microplastics go? According to the team, they could be pressed in the machine to remove any water, creating a plastic “pellet” that could be removed every few washes and discarded with general waste.

The team has already applied for a patent on their old-meets-new tech, meaning this could be available for your next washing machine purchase soon, too.