Laundry Detergent Ingredients and the Environment
The biggest problem ingredients for the environment in laundry detergents are phosphates and some surfactants, mainly nonylphenol ethoxylates or NPE. The use of chemicals derived from petroleum are also of concern. Surfactants, which help soil to float away from garments, form a micelle that surrounds the piece of dirt and carries it away. They are considered toxic to fish and aquatic species. The largest detergent manufacturer in the United States, Proctor and Gamble (Tide, Gain) stopped using these nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants several years ago and some states have banned phosphates in laundry detergent for many years. Another environmental concern is the impact of plastic packaging. Most major manufacturers now use plastic containers that can be recycled and often contain post-consumer recycled plastic. Even more beneficial to the environment are detergents that use no plastics for packaging. ECOSNEXT laundry detergent is a liquidless detergent that embeds plant-based cleaning ingredients in a sheet that dissolves in the wash water. There is very little waste in the packaging and the product is much lighter to ship to stores. You can also select a detergent without added dyes and fragrances to reduce chemical exposure for your family and the environment. Even knowing which chemical compounds to avoid can be difficult because they are seldom listed on labels. While some manufacturers list every laundry detergent ingredient on the label, most do not because it is not required by law in the United States. However, with a little effort, you can visit each manufacturer’s website to view a list of complete ingredients. In the United States, that’s where the EPA Safer Choice logo becomes extremely helpful. When you see that designation, you know that you’re buying an environmentally friendly product. The EPA also provides a Safer Chemical Ingredients list on the Safer Choice website to help you with comparison research. When purchasing detergents that are formulated in other countries, do a bit of research related to international standards. Botanical Origin, laundry products with 95% botanical-based ingredients, is manufactured in the United Kingdom and has received the European Ecolabel certification that identifies those companies and brands that have committed to reducing their environmental impact, including their impact on oceans, and the amount of hazardous substances they use.
The EPA Safer Choice Program
In the 1990s, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a program called Design for the Environment to let us know which products live up to their claims. One of the products that was included in the program was laundry detergent. The agency asked manufacturers to provide a complete list of ingredients. If the company was using the safest chemical for each type of ingredient, the product earned a special designation. If the product was not environmentally friendly, the EPA encouraged the company to reformulate the product. The Design for the Environment Seal was awarded to laundry detergents that met EPA requirements as both good for business and the environment. As more than 2,000 diverse products qualified for the program, the EPA branding and labels were changed to the Safer Choice program. Products with the Safer Choice label identify products with safer chemical ingredients for the environment that consumers can use without sacrificing quality or performance. The Safer Choice program offers a list of safe cleaning products on its website ranging from all-purpose cleaners to hand soaps to laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and boosters. You’ll see that only a few laundry detergent brands are listed. This does not mean that all others are “bad.” Applying for certification is currently voluntary. As more manufacturers reformulate a safer cleaning product and performance testing, additional detergents will receive the designation.
