What’s in your favourite eco laundry detergent?

In 2021, Ecover issued a recall ¹ for its Zero % Non-Bio Laundry Detergent. The product had been incorrectly formulated, and, as a result, some batches contained hazardous levels of the chemical potassium hydroxide, which could result in skin burns and eye damage.

Interestingly, in their apology ² they noted that this potentially hazardous ingredient is blended with other ingredients to form a "different molecule", so they don't list potassium hydroxide on their bottles.

When I read this apology, I thought, "What other potentially hazardous ingredients have they not disclosed?" I was also reminded that there is a boycott campaign ³ against them (and Method ⁴).

Traditional laundry detergent is one of the most hazardous cleaners in your cupboard. In fact, New York State recently banned laundry detergents containing a probable carcinogen ⁵.

Yes, traditional laundry detergents work extremely well, but that's because they usually include a list of harsh petroleum-based chemicals that may or may not be on the label, including:

🚩Ethoxylated surfactants such as SLS & SLES
🚩Synthetic fragrance that contains phthalates
🚩Phenols
🚩Artificial Dyes
🚩1, 4-dioxane
🚩Formaldehyde

It's easy to think these chemicals get rinsed away, but you'd be wrong. Thanks to the inclusion of phthalates, detergent chemicals are designed to stick to your clothes (and therefore your skin), so you can enjoy that "ocean breeze" scent long after the wash cycle has finished. The same goes for dryer sheets which is why so many people itch, sneeze and develop rashes with conventional detergent - the chemicals are literally designed to stick to you. It's not surprising that there are reported cases of chemical burns ⁶ associated with traditional laundry detergent. 

Unfortunately, the issues with synthetic fragrances also apply to products marketed as "green". A 2015 study⁷ concluded that: "Emissions of carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from green fragranced products were not significantly different from regular fragranced products….Of the volatile ingredients emitted, fewer than 3% were disclosed on any product label or material safety data sheet."

Traditional laundry detergents also contain allergens, particularly from synthetic fragrance blends. However, because individual chemicals in fragrance blends are not disclosed, it's virtually impossible⁸ to identify which chemical is causing an allergy. 

Detergents that use essential oils also contain naturally occurring allergens, but these must be listed on the label, and they usually don't contain phthalates, so the allergens should not stick to your clothes and skin and will be rinsed away. Having said that, if you have sensitive, reactive skin, it's important to be mindful that you may find issue with both synthetic fragrances and essential oils. Essential oils are not necessarily better for sensitive skin simply because they are natural. Everyone is different, so please always read the label to see what allergens are listed. If none are listed, that should be an immediate red flag to avoid that product.

And then, of course, there's the environmental impact of laundry detergent chemicals.

Water from your washing machine goes down the drain, and many chemicals in traditional detergents do not degrade, so they pollute our waterways and harm delicate ecosystems. When choosing a laundry detergent, it's important to ensure the ingredients are biodegradable and leave little trace on the environment.

Next time you reach for your favourite laundry detergent, take a moment to think about what's important. Of course, we want our laundry to smell fresh and clean, but it shouldn't be at the cost of our health or the planet. 

[product=gentle-laundry-detergent]
✪ Elevate Laundry Day The Pure & Powerful Way
✪ Zero Harsh Chemicals, 100% Clean
✪ Gentle on Fabric, Tough on Dirt
[/product]