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Just as plastic bags are considered to be single-use plastic items, so are the gigantic jugs that house your standard laundry detergents. Both of these plastic items are used once and thrown away. When was the last time you saw someone refill or reuse laundry detergent containers? But, wouldn’t it be great if you could refill, recycle or even compost the containers that you use regularly? Coupled with sustainably-sourced ingredients and biodegradable formulas, the best eco friendly laundry detergent relies on better materials instead of plastic to be a zero waste product instead of single-use. That’s a huge win for conscious consumers looking for ways to make a better environmental impact daily.
It’s estimated that only 9% of plastic items created in the U.S are recycled. And, what most consumers don’t realize is that even if plastic laundry containers are thrown into recycling bins, most municipalities in the U.S don’t have the machinery necessary to properly recycle these types of plastic. Laundry detergent jugs are made from a type of plastic that cannot easily be recycled. So, choosing to support brands that support more sustainable packaging allows consumers to be part of the solution to reduce our plastic waste and the harmful impact from these items.
Clean Cult Liquid Refill
Enjoy 64 clean loads of laundry with this naturally-derived detergent. Only biodegradable ingredients like glycerin, lemongrass and eucalyptus tea tree oil are used in the formula. Each ingredient is hypoallergenic and gentle for sensitive skin while still being good at removing stains and odors.
Environmental Impact: Not only is the detergent biodegradable, but each refill container is 100% recycable. The packaging is a combination of 80% paper, 15% PE and 5% aluminium. The carton caps are made from biodegradable materials sourced from corn, sugarcane and soy. And, all materials are widely recyclable across most recycling centers.
Simply Co. Lavender Laundry Detergent
Baking soda and coconut oil glycerin are the stars of this formula. Coupled with castile soap and lavender oil it promises to clean clothes and get rid of odors, stains and mildew with a fresh and clean scent. What you wont’ find are chlorine, ammonia, petroleum and artificial colors.
Environmental Impact: Packaged in glass and sealed with a metal lid, you can use this container afterwards for storing other items in your home. Or, you can recycle the container after use.
Dropps Laundry Detergent Pods
Plant based ingredients are gentle on skin and fibers like silk, wool and cashmere. It’s free from artificial colors and dyes, parabens, fragrances and is never tested on animals.
Did you know that it takes one metric ton of rose petals to make just one teaspoon of essential rose oil? Sometimes “all-natural” doesn’t equal “sustainable.” In our scented products, we use a balance of natural and synthetic fragrances to be more sustainable.
Environmental Impact: Each pod is made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), a synthetic polymer that dissolves in water. And, these pods are packaged in recyclable paper packaging that is a better alternative to single-use plastic containers. And, as an initiative to make this the best eco friendly laundry detergent shipped to your home, Dropps partners with a circular organization to track, calculate and offset their CO2 output to minimize their carbon footprint.
Meliora Concentrated Laundry Powder
This laundry detergent can clean 128 loads in a HE washer or 64 loads in a standard washer. Each ingredient is sustainably sourced and the formula is a simple combination of ingredients that don’t include parabens or chemicals that could be toxic to your health or the environment’s.
Environmental Impact: Ethical certifications and affiliations like B Corp, 1% for the Planet, Made Safe and Cruelty Free make this the best eco friendly laundry detergent if you love solid detergents. The powder formula is concentrated and water-free and it’s packaged in a refillable, reusable recycled and recyclable cardboard and tin container. You can even toss the steel scoop into your recycling bin too.
Eco Roots Laundry Detergent Strips
Ditch single-use plastic jugs and diluted liquid laundry detergent for these strips. The space-savers are pre-measured to match your standard cupful of detergent and promise to get rid of dirt and stains in both hot and cold water.
Did you know that 700,000,000 plastic laundry jugs are dumped into landfills across North America every year?
Environmental Impact: Each strip is free from toxins and chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Instead, these eco-friendly strips are biodegradable and packaged in a compostable container. That means this zero waste product can help to maintain the healthy soil in your backyard or you can recycle it.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products That Don’t Contribute To Plastic Pollution
Read more about green cleaning:
Finally, Eco Cleaners That Are Natural & Fragrance Free
4Ocean Cleans Up Plastic Waste. But How Can We Prevent It?
10 DIY All Purpose Cleaners Recipes Every Home Needs