Pods, Sheets, Concentrates: What's the Most Sustainable Laundry Detergent?

Liquid laundry detergents are 90% water and 10% cleaning agents. So, why don’t we just buy the cleaning agent and mix it with water at home? Why are we packing water in plastic bottles, putting them in boxes, loading them in containers, and moving them across cities and countries?

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Sustainable laundry detergents such as laundry pods, powders, sheets, tablets, and liquid concentrates are solving this problem. But which of these options are the most sustainable? First, let’s get to know the different form factors:

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Powders and tablets: These are generally the most sustainable form factor because they require no water in the final product. With less water, shipping these dry detergents requires less emissions.
Liquid concentrates: While they use some liquid, it’s a minimal amount, so the shipping footprint of concentrates is also relatively small. The most sustainable liquid concentrates are packaged in glass or aluminum, both of which are endlessly recyclable.
Pods and sheets: Both of these small, low-water solutions seem like a great solution, but unfortunately, they are typically made with PVA plastic. PVA is often billed as “biodegradable,” but it only degrades into microplastics. While it’s less plastic than say, a big jug of liquid detergent, pods and sheets aren’t plastic-free.
Liquid detergent: Traditional liquid detergent is predominantly water, and it’s usually packaged in large plastic jugs, making it the least sustainable detergent form factor.

Now, let’s take a look at other things to consider when choosing a sustainable detergent:

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Ingredients

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Laundry pods and sheets contain Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), a synthetic, petroleum-based plastic film. While marketed as biodegradable because it dissolves in water, these plastic films actually break down into microplastics and nanoplastics. Unlike pods and sheets, tablets and concentrated liquid detergents don't contain PVA, making them a more sustainable alternative. Other petroleum-based ingredients to avoid in laundry detergents include parabens, phthalates, phosphates, and formaldehyde. Also, if palm oil is listed as an ingredient, ensure it's RSPO certified.

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Plastic Packaging

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While plastic might not be part of the ingredient list, it could be used in packaging the laundry detergent. Liquid concentrates often come in plastic packaging, and tablets come in paper packaging that is lined with plastic. To avoid that, opt for liquid detergents that come in aluminum containers that are infinitely recyclable. You can also limit plastic use by choosing refills. Even if they come in plastic or plastic-lined packaging, it’s often a smaller plastic-to-detergent ratio since the containers are made with thinner plastic or there’s just more detergent.

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Transportation

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The transportation impact isn't straightforward — it depends on where you are and where the laundry detergent is coming from. If your laundry tablets or sheets are shipped from another continent, that's not particularly sustainable. On the other hand, if you're already visiting a refill store and replenishing your liquid laundry detergent there, that's a more sustainable approach.

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