The global laundry care market is estimated to be worth many billions of dollars each year. That market is dominated by big name brands owned by a relatively small number of global companies like Unilever, Cussons and Henkel, each with numerous product offerings under each of their brands. Those offerings range significantly in their eco-friendliness so it can be hard to choose, with confidence, the best option for the environment.

There are also a much smaller number of environmentally friendly laundry products from small, green companies, but some of these may not be as effective as conventional detergents. This understandably creates some confusion about the best products to purchase, so I wanted to look more closely at the environmental ins and outs of laundry detergent.

Looking at the hazards that are associated with conventional detergents, the first thing to consider is water pollution. Many products contain phosphates, problematic surfactants and other chemicals which end up in our waterway and can cause negative impacts.

Eutrophication is a specific issue linked to laundry detergent pollution in which the nutrients (specifically phosphates) that enter waterways and promote the overgrowth of algae. This results in oxygen depletion, damage to aquatic life and, ultimately, loss of biodiversity.

Water pollution – and the harming of aquatic life - can also be the result of synthetic fragrances and surfactants. These chemicals can act as endocrine disruptors, which can affect the endocrine system in humans and other species, potentially leading to reproductive and developmental issues.

Further issues can arise from biodegradability and plastics. Many conventional detergents also contain nonbiodegradable ingredients that can linger and accumulate in the environment, for example, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), while some detergent pods release microplastics as they dissolve.

As with pretty much everything used for cleaning, plastic is the packaging of choice for detergents – especially liquids or pods. Often these containers are heavy duty plastics that are not accepted in home recycling and end up in landfill.

What to look for in an environmentally friendly washing detergent

1.     Avoiding phosphate is critical. Phosphate free products are usually noted by an ‘NP’ label somewhere on the packaging. Make sure there are no ingredients containing the word phosphate, for example sodium tripolyphosphate.

2.     Skip ingredients like palm oil, parabens, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, dyes, and brightener. Instead look for safer ingredients like zeolite, enzymes, plant based, biodegradable surfactants.

3.     Look for labels indicating the product is eco-friendly, for example, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, cruelty free, ethical, gray water safe, plant-based, biodegradable, fragrance-free, environmentally friendly and phosphate free (NP). Being biodegradable is especially important. Do not take these labels as gospel, but use them as a first step in considering a product.

4.     How the product is packaged is also important. Avoid plastic as much as possible, opting instead for recyclable packaging. Also consider buying in bulk, using refillable containers (e.g. Zero Co) or laundry strips (super lightweight) to lower the impact from shipping and packaging. Concentrated formulas, if they are ecofriendly, are another great option as they use less packaging, are lighter and typically last longer.

With a little reading you will quickly come to know which products tick the environmental care boxes. It just means being mindful and making considered, informed choices – just like everything else we purchase or consume.

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes