When people think of making their laundry room more environmentally friendly, they usually think of having the most recent washing machines and dryers. While having more energy-efficient appliances will reduce the carbon footprint significantly, there are other benefits to keeping clothes and the body clean.

Today, let’s focus on using environmentally friendly laundry detergents, eco-friendly washing pods, and the best sustainable dish soap to reduce your environmental impact.

To help you navigate this, we will explain why it’s essential and what to look for on the packaging and the ingredient list.

Let’s get started.

What Characteristics Characterize Eco-Friendly Detergents? 

As previously stated, ensuring that the machine does not contribute excessively to climate issues is only one aspect of its environmental impact. It is also critical to use eco-friendly detergent.

But what exactly does it mean?

The Ingredients 

First and foremost, consider the chemical ingredients listed on the label. When you look past the deceptive advertising, you’ll often find products that aren’t good for the environment or your skin.

The initial thing you want to do is investigate whether there is any phosphate present. Overall, this should not be in any biodegradable detergent or soap. There should also be no chlorine bleach or brighteners because these chemicals almost always find their way into places they don’t belong. Best sustainable laundry detergent should not have any of these ingredients:

Unhealthy Detergent Ingredients

People who are mindful of the environment usually go through their laundry detergent, washing pods, or dishwasher soap ingredients first before deciding to buy anything.

Here is a compiled list of some common ingredients in traditional detergents. Unfortunately, common also means harmful to the environment, and these are not things people want to see on the label of an eco-friendly powder laundry detergent or in the most sustainable laundry detergent.

Sulfate of Laureth

To begin with, this difficult-to-pronounce chemical compound is harmful to the skin and is frequently the cause of reactions to certain detergents in people with sensitive skin. But did you know it’s also a common organic herbicide?

Phosphates

Phosphates are commonly found in laundry detergents and are not typically filtered out in water treatment plants. They cause eutrophication, a type of poisoning that kills marine animals when they enter natural waterways.

Brighteners for the eyes

These are generally irritating, and not just to those with sensitive skin. There’s a reason why detergents containing these ingredients warn you to keep them away from your eyes. However, these optical brighteners are also toxic to marine life.

Bleach with chlorine

Even in trace amounts, chlorine is toxic. And all it takes is a few minutes in a chlorinated swimming pool without goggles to understand this effect. However, the bleaching effect can have an impact on marine vegetation.

Synthetic Fragrances

This is another common cause of allergic reactions, even in people with non-sensitive skin. There have been no studies on their effect in nature, but if it irritates human skin, it is not suitable for contact with living things.

1,4-Dioxane

Although this is less commonly used in detergents, it is still present in other cleaning products in trace amounts. It is a known human carcinogen and has no place in laundry detergent.

Dichlorobenzene

The final chemical to avoid is highly toxic to marine life and is nearly impossible to remove from the environment once it has made its way into the water.

The Container

There are two issues to consider here.

To begin, if you prefer to buy liquid laundry detergent, it should ideally come in plastic-free and compostable bottles. These bottles are becoming more common, so keep an eye out for them.

Alternatively, ensure that the plastic bottle is completely recyclable to avoid it ending up in a landfill.

Also, for powder laundry detergent, make sure the packaging is free of plastic. This ensures that it is completely recyclable or gives you the option of composting it.

Bottom line: If there is any indication that parts of the packaging will end up in a landfill, avoid the product entirely. Currently, people are looking out for eco-friendly detergent strips or the best environmentally friendly dishwasher tablets to substitute the traditional packaging of cleaning products.

Be cautious of soap!

Many eco-friendly “detergents” on the market are soap – and in the long run, they can cause more harm than good. It’s critical to understand the distinction between real laundry detergent and laundry soap.

The primary distinction between detergents and soaps is that detergents do not contain fats or oils, which is critical if you do not want to ruin your clothes. Soap buildup in your clothing attracts and traps dirt, which is the exact opposite of what you want.

This is a major reason why you should avoid making your laundry detergent or using eco-friendly laundry soap masquerading as a “detergent.”

Why is environmentally friendly detergent gains popularity?

Conventional detergents may appear to be a simpler and less expensive option. But did you know that every time you use conventional, chemical-laden detergent, you may be endangering your own and your family’s health, as well as the health of downstream waterways and aquatic life?

Non-eco detergents are more likely to be a concoction of synthetic chemicals and additives created in a massive chemical plant, and, unlike traditional soap, they are generally liquids rather than solids. Organic laundry liquids and powders, environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent, washing-up liquids, and toilet cleaners, on the other hand, are made with non-toxic and natural ingredients. After inspecting the ingredients used in green cleaning products, they are certified as organic by the government or an independent agency.

These eco-friendly cleaning products are just as effective as other soaps and detergents, but they are free of any harmful chemicals or pollutants, as well as harmful toxins, and sometimes people fancy plant-based laundry detergent.

So, why should you use environmentally friendly detergents? First and foremost, they are natural, safe, and effective. Second, they are more environmentally friendly.

How to produce the best sustainable laundry detergent and eco-friendly cleaning products?

We assist anyone who requires formulated detergent, from hotels to offshore rigs, and cruise liners to the home care sector.

Starting a new home care business or producing your home care products can be difficult. Why don’t you concentrate on your business while we handle the manufacturing? 

Furthermore, our creations are made in response to customer requests. As a result, if you want to start an eco-detergent label, we can also source plant-based, biodegradable raw materials. Communicate with us about your home care product ideas and we’ll work together to find a solution.