![]() All of the laundry detergents we recommend above are responsibly labeled when it comes to their environmental claims and benefits. We prefer to see a manufacturer disclose clearly why they consider their product to be sustainable. "Sustainable," while better, has been gaining popularity in product marketing as well, and should not automatically be taken at face value either. To use the claim "eco-friendly" - without any qualification, explanation or clarification of why a product is environmentally responsible - is considered greenwashing. "'Sustainable' takes into account the impact a product has while being made, consumed, and/or disposed of and that it is mindful of the earth's current and future resources," Aral says. Aral, Ph.D., prefers to use the term "sustainable" to "eco-friendly," which implies that a product has absolutely no negative impact on the environment. ![]() Our Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur K. They do this in an attempt to entice consumers into buying what they think is a more environmentally responsible product choice.Īt the Good Housekeeping Institute, we align with and follow the FTC and its strict guidelines around what it means to responsibly tout a product's environmental attributes. Greenwashing is a practice whereby a company puts environmental claims on its packaging with no clear evidence or testing to back up its assertions. While the term "eco-friendly" is commonly used today across a wide variety of products, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government body that regulates, among other things, advertising and marketing claims, considers it to be a " greenwashing" term. ![]() Stay away from products making general, overarching and unspecific environmental claims. ✔️ Transparent claims : The most responsible manufacturers clearly explain what makes their products environmentally conscious and qualify any claims with facts. ✔️ Certifications: To avoid being duped by marketing language, look for products with established, third-party emblems like EcoCert, USDA Certified Biobased Product or EPA Safer Choice - because even if a product features a logo that claims it’s "earth-friendly," it doesn’t mean anything if the brand designed it themselves. Refillable bottles and tins eliminate the need to purchase a new container each time. ✔️ Packaging: The best option is packaging that's plastic-free or made from a high percentage of recycled plastic. Though not required by law, more and more companies are listing all the ingredients in the formula, what they do and where the come from on the label. They may also contain essential oil fragrances and usually omit ingredients like brighteners, artificial preservatives and dyes. ![]() ✔️ Ingredients: Most eco detergents use biodegradable cleaning ingredients that come from renewable sources, like plants. We were happy to see that safety precautions are prominently featured on the packaging, as is a full list of ingredients. They are expensive, though setting up a subscription on their site can save up to 10 cents per load. Use one swatch for small loads and two for bigger ones. These swatches are very slow to dissolve - even in hot water - though we didn't find remnants in the washing machine at the end of the cycle. When we compared how well these swatches restored the whiteness of a gray-stained fabric to that of a leading detergent pack, we found the performance virtually identical. In our test, EC30 swatches were the top overall scorer by a long shot and were the only ones to make a dent in removing set-in spaghetti sauce stains. In fact, they wowed us! Made without water, liquid stabilizers and fillers, the company claims to reduce CO2 emission impact from manufacturing, chemistry and shipping by up to 50% versus traditional liquid detergents. While they sound compelling, in our recent GH Cleaning Lab test of 20 different brands, most didn't perform up to our expectations, except these EC30 laundry detergent swatches. No measuring, no mess and no plastic waste. They are thin strips of compressed detergent that you place in the washer with your load. You've likely heard about the latest trend in laundry, detergent sheets.
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