Top Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents: Sustainable Choices to Consider

Laundry day doesn't have to mean exposing your skin and the environment to harmful chemicals. Eco-friendly laundry detergents offer a safer and more sustainable alternative to conventional options. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents available, highlighting their skin and environmentally friendly features.

Natural Laundry Detergent in a Healthy Laundry Routine

Before diving into laundry detergents, let's talk about creating an eco-friendly laundry routine. It's well-known that fast fashion is a major polluter, but did you know that 39% of a garment’s environmental impact comes from washing, drying, and consumer care?

One of the best ways to positively impact the environment is by taking better care of our clothes. This starts with wearing, repairing, and washing each item less frequently.

•  Wash less: Extend the time between washes to reduce water and energy use.
• Hang your clothes to dry: Avoid using the dryer to save energy and reduce wear on your clothes.
• Wash in cold water: This saves energy and helps preserve the fabric.
• Avoid microplastics: Choose natural fibers over synthetic ones to prevent microplastic pollution.
• Ditch dryer sheets: Use alternatives like wool dryer balls or reusable sheets to reduce waste.

For more tips on building a healthy, energy-efficient, and cost-effective laundry routine, check out our article on "11 Ways to Save Money and Be Eco-Friendly While Doing Laundry."

Ingredients to Steer Clear of in Laundry Detergent

When selecting a laundry detergent, it's crucial to avoid certain harmful ingredients. Spotting any of these on the label is a clear warning sign:

• Phosphates: Harm aquatic environments by causing eutrophication, which leads to the death of marine animals due to mineral poisoning.
• Formaldehyde: Known to increase cancer risk, this chemical is a probable carcinogen and can cause acute skin toxicity.
• Dyes: Unnecessary for cleaning, they can cause irritation, and many are carcinogenic and disrupt endocrine function.
• Chlorine Bleach: Can irritate lungs and skin, potentially causing blindness, eye burning, respiratory issues, and fluid accumulation in the lungs. If you're looking for a safer whitening alternative, consider using oxygen bleach, which is gentler on both fabrics and the environment.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate: These can inflame the skin, eyes, and lungs.
• Optical Brighteners/UV Brighteners: Irritate eyes, skin, and lungs, are toxic to aquatic life, may combust spontaneously, and are dangerous around static electricity.
• Fragrance: Artificial scents often trigger allergic reactions, chemical sensitivities, and skin rashes.
• Ammonium Sulfate: Extremely toxic, this additive should never enter waterways and is categorized as a toxin for oral, respiratory, and skin exposure.
• Dioxane: A combustible carcinogen that inflames the skin, eyes, and lungs.
• Nonylphenol Ethoxylate: Highly toxic to aquatic life, long-term exposure can cause cancer, reproductive issues, and damage to eyes and skin.
• Dichlorobenzene: Immediately toxic to aquatic life and can contaminate waterways for years, causing respiratory issues and other health problems.
• Benzyl Acetate: Dangerous when inhaled or in contact with skin, it affects the nervous system and kidneys.
• Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers: Corrosive and damaging to eyes, lungs, and skin, making it a hazardous cleaning additive.

Avoiding these ingredients helps protect your health and the environment. This article features alternatives free from these harmful substances, saving you the effort of researching them yourself.

Dropps Unscented Stain & Odor Detergent

For individuals seeking a more eco-conscious laundry routine, consider the remarkable features of Dropps Unscented Stain & Odor Detergent.

These innovative detergent pods are encased in dissolvable, biodegradable pouches and 100% recyclable cardboard packaging, significantly reducing plastic waste. Additionally, Dropps proudly holds B Corp certification.

What distinguishes Dropps from conventional detergents is its unwavering commitment to both skin-friendliness and environmental responsibility. These pods are entirely devoid of harmful substances, ensuring they are gentle on your skin. Impressively, this detergent's effectiveness in removing stains and odors is second to none.

Furthermore, Dropps proudly carries the cruelty-free and vegan label, aligning perfectly with ethical consumer choices. Impressively, this detergent's effectiveness in removing stains and odors is second to none.

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Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Packs

A loved option among environmentally aware individuals, these laundry detergent packs prioritize both your well-being and the planet's health.

This detergent brand avoids synthetic fragrances, dyes, and artificial brighteners, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin and minimizing the potential for irritation.

Their Laundry Detergent is 97% biobased USDA certified, packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, reinforcing a more sustainable approach to laundry care. Furthermore, Seventh Generation is a certified B Corporation.

Seventh Generation doesn't offer refills, which makes them a less favorable choice for those seeking more sustainable and eco-friendly options.

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Pur Home Laundry Detergent

Pur Home's liquid laundry detergent stands out as a product from a Black and woman-owned business, dedicated to sustainable and ethical practices.

Completely free of harsh chemicals, made with plant-based ingredients, this detergent is Leaping Bunny Certified, ensuring it is cruelty-free. It is safe for use in high-efficiency (HE) washers and supports an eco-friendly lifestyle with its zero waste refill program.

The detergent is packaged in 100% recyclable materials, featuring an outer shell crafted from cardboard and newspaper. Once empty, you can compost the cardboard and paper exterior, while recycling the inner plastic with your plastic water bottles.

This combination of ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and support for diverse entrepreneurship makes Pur Home an excellent choice for conscious consumers.

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Grove Care & Renew Lavender & Rosemary Liquid Laundry Detergent

Grove Care & Renew Lavender & Rosemary Liquid Laundry Detergent combines the soothing scents of lavender and rosemary with a conscience for the environment. This detergent is known for its effective stain-fighting capabilities while being gentle on your skin.

Grove is B Corp Certified and takes pride in its commitment to using plant-derived ingredients and avoiding harmful additives.

Grove Collaborative's approach to sustainability with their laundry detergent includes a robust refill program, allowing customers to reuse existing containers, which reduces packaging waste.

They also implement carbon offsets for each shipment, mitigating the environmental impact of transportation emissions associated with delivering their products.

Additionally, Grove Collaborative claims to be plastic neutral, which typically means they offset the amount of plastic they use through investments in projects that remove or prevent an equivalent amount of plastic from entering the environment.

This approach supports their commitment to reducing their overall environmental footprint and promoting sustainability in their operations.

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Clean Cult Liquid Laundry Detergent

CleanCult offers a liquid detergent formulated with clean and plant-based ingredients, emphasizing a commitment to eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Their products are certified by Leaping Bunny, ensuring they are cruelty-free and not tested on animals. CleanCult's detergent is compatible with high-efficiency (HE) washers, catering to modern laundry needs. They also prioritize sustainability through carbon-neutral shipping practices, offsetting the carbon emissions associated with transporting their products.

Furthermore, CleanCult promotes sustainability with a refill program, allowing customers to reuse containers and reduce single-use plastic waste, reflecting their dedication to environmental responsibility in every aspect of their business model.

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Blueland's Laundry Detergent

Blueland offers innovative laundry tablets made with plant-based ingredients, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional liquid detergents.

Their products are Leaping Bunny certified, ensuring they are cruelty-free and not tested on animals. Blueland's laundry tablets are designed to be safe for use in high-efficiency (HE) washing machines, catering to modern household needs. Additionally, they are USDA BioPreferred, indicating a commitment to using renewable agricultural resources. Blueland promotes sustainability through their plastic-free refill program, encouraging customers to reuse containers and minimize plastic waste.

This comprehensive approach underscores Blueland's dedication to environmentally friendly practices throughout their product line.

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ECOS Laundry Detergent

ECOS is a WBENC-certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE). They offer a range of environmentally friendly detergent options, including liquid detergent, strips, and pods, all formulated with a commitment to sustainability. 

Their products are EPA Safer Choice certified, meeting stringent criteria for safety both for people and the environment. ECOS is also Leaping Bunny certified, ensuring their products are cruelty-free and not tested on animals. Compatible with high-efficiency (HE) washers, ECOS detergents are designed to minimize water and energy consumption.

Impressively, ECOS operates facilities powered by 100% renewable energy, reducing their carbon footprint significantly.

Their commitment to sustainability extends to achieving TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification, highlighting their efforts to minimize waste throughout their production processes. This holistic approach makes ECOS a leader in environmentally responsible cleaning solutions.

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Earth Breeze: An Example of Eco-Friendly Innovation

Eco Breeze laundry strips are revolutionizing the way we do laundry with their biodegradable packaging and ingredients.

These hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free strips have garnered over 40,000 five-star reviews, highlighting their effectiveness and eco-friendliness. With a 100% money-back guarantee on subscriptions, you can try them risk-free, and subscribing saves you 40%.

Additionally, Eco Breeze is committed to giving back, having donated over 30 million loads of laundry through their Buy 10, Give 10 Program, making it a top choice for both quality and social responsibility.

Earth Breeze offers laundry detergent sheets that come in recyclable paper packaging. These sheets are pre-measured and dissolve in water, eliminating the need for plastic bottles.

The ingredients used in Earth Breeze sheets are cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and free from any harsh chemicals. This not only benefits your skin but also minimizes harm to aquatic ecosystems.

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In conclusion, we’ve curated a list of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents, chosen for their outstanding ethical, social, environmental, and health contributions. From B Corps and minority-owned businesses to vegan, non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients, zero waste packaging, and renewable energy practices, these choices ensure a cleaner, greener future. By choosing these products, you’re making a positive impact on both your home and the planet.