Posts Tagged ‘Eco-friendly Laundry Products’
Eco Laundry Products
Environmental Impact
There are multiple ways that laundry detergent has an impact on the environment. Firstly there is the footprint or primary production, such as loss of natural habitat potential and greenhouse gas emissions. Then there is the wastage of the plastic packaging that detergent uses, as well as the emissions released in its transportation. Then there is the use of hot water to wash the laundry, which requires more energy and therefore produces a larger environmental footprint.
Finally there the chemicals in the detergent itself, including petro-chemical surfactants, optical brighteners (phosphors), fragrance imparting chemicals, anticaking agents (if a solid detergent), bleaches and fabric softeners. One of the impacts of phosphates was the increase in algal blooms which consumed the oxygen in rivers and lakes, killing of plant and fish life. The chemicals that are in detergents matter because they end up in our oceans, rivers and lakes through direct discharge from homes and waste water, and indirectly from sewage treatment plants, adversely impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Eco-friendly Laundry Products
Laundry products that take the environment into consideration are not only better for the planet but also for people. Eco friendly laundry products are designed to be multiple-use, such as eco laundry balls, which reduces packaging waste but also saves you money. Some eco laundry balls can last for 1000 washes, and even then it can be refilled rather than thrown away. Additionally it is toxin and allergy free, which is better for your body and your family, uses environmentally friendly materials (which does not include sodium lauryl sulphate), and is gentle on clothes. It uses cold water which saves energy (potentially reducing carbon emissions), and the washing water can be used as grey water meaning water conservation and no water pollution. No fabric softener is needed, further reducing waste and costs. Finally, there is less to rinse out meaning a shorter cycle and less water wasted.