The Most Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents

Laundry piles up so fast, it seems to have a life of its own. A towel here, an outfit there, and suddenly your hampers are overflowing. A 2008 Ipsos poll found  that Canadians wash at least four loads of laundry each week. That’s 208 loads of laundry every year. And with approximately 15 million households in Canada, that’s more than 3 billion loads of laundry per year. 

And as the laundry piles up, so does our environmental impact—all the packaging waste generated, all the chemicals released into the air and water. (And, while this post tackles detergent specifically, washing your clothes in cold water, only running full loads, washing your clothes only when they really need it and air-drying instead of using a dryer are other big ways you can green your laundry.)

Here’s what you need to know about the environmental impact of laundry detergent and the most eco-friendly laundry detergent options out there.

The dirty truth about laundry detergent

All those plastic jugs of laundry detergent you see lining the cleaning aisle are a direct product of the petroleum industry, one of the most polluting industries on the planet. In 2019, plastic production alone was responsible for 1.3 billion tonnes of carbon emissions. And that doesn’t include the carbon emissions from shipping the raw materials or the finished product.

Many of the synthetic chemicals in conventional laundry detergent are also made from petrochemicals. Some, like fragrances and optical brighteners, are designed to cling to fabric, inviting us to breathe them in and absorb them into our skin. 

According to Dr. Renée Beach, dermatologist and owner of DermAtelier on Avenue, laundry detergent residue can cause skin irritation and other conditions.

“When these residues are in prolonged contact with the skin, they wear on the skin's natural barrier and can cause the skin to become itchy, bumpy or red, forming a type of eczema known as irritant contact dermatitis, and, less commonly, allergic contact dermatitis,” says Beach. “This is particularly a concern for people with underlying skin conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis) or itchy conditions like prurigo nodularis.”   

Once your wash water makes its way into the environment, some of these chemicals persist in the environment, enter the food chain and are toxic to aquatic life. 

Finally, most of those plastic jugs will likely end up in landfill. (Only nine percent of plastics in Canada get recycled.) Plastic packaging accounts for 47 percent of Canada’s plastic waste. 

If you want clean laundry and a clean conscience, here are the best laundry detergents to try—from liquid to powder to strips and more. I’ve listed the ingredients for each, along with a brief explanation of what they are and why they are used. I only included products with ingredients that are highly rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in its Healthy Cleaning Guide. Plus I’ve tested them all, and I’ve only included products that can hold up to my children’s mud stains and my stinky running clothes. No need for harsh chemicals—these products are gentle and effective.

The best eco-friendly laundry detergents: powdered detergent

Invented in 1907, laundry powder was the first commercially available laundry detergent. Although nowadays powdered laundry detergent is not as popular in North America as liquid detergent, it's still widely used around the world. And it has a lot going for it. For one thing, it’s cheaper than liquid detergent, pods or strips. It’s also more effective than liquid detergent at removing mud, grass and blood stains. 

Laundry powder is the most eco-friendly type of detergent. Because it’s a powder, it can be stored in cardboard instead of plastic, eliminating countless plastic jugs. And without the weight of water and thick plastic packaging, it isn’t as carbon-intensive to ship. There are several plant-based, cruelty-free products on the market now that do a great job and dissolve well in cold water. Here are some of our favourites.

Molly's Suds Laundry Detergent Powder, $27 for 2.23 kg ($0.22 / load)

Molly’s Suds was founded by a pediatric nurse from the U.S. after she learned that mothers pass chemicals to their babies through pregnancy and breast milk. She made it her mission to educate people about harmful chemicals and make products that are free from them. Molly’s Suds is rated A+ by the EWG.

Nellie’s Laundry Soda, $18 for 750 g ($0.36 / load)

Made in Canada, Nellie’s Laundry Soda comes in a funky tin that can be refilled and reused. Made without harsh chemicals or fragrances, Nellie’s is praised by people with eczema and sensitive skin. It’s also Leaping Bunny-certified to be cruelty-free. It does a fantastic job of cleaning the grimiest of clothes, leaving them fresh but not perfumy. Nellie’s Laundry Soda is rated A+ by the EWG.

Revolubar Eco-Friendly Laundry Tablets, $21 for 35 tablets ($0.60 / load)

Made by Canadian company Tanit, these tablets are manufactured in Montreal without any plastic or PVA packaging. They are made with powerful plant enzymes and oxygen bleach that get clothes fresh and clean, and they dissolve well in cold water without leaving behind any clumps or residue. Plus you don’t have to measure anything or worry about spills.

Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent, $36 for 1.3 kg ($0.40 / load)

Rockin’ Green was developed by an American mom who was fed up with the mislabeling of “green” cleaning products and disappointed by the performance of eco-friendly options. Rockin’ Green is made with a few simple yet effective, ingredients—the unscented version even managed to get the stink out of my 10-year-old towels! The only downside is that this detergent is packaged in plastic.

The best liquid laundry detergents

Along with laundry pods, liquid detergent takes up the bulk of real estate in the cleaning aisle—it’s easy to use, mixes well in any water temperature and tends to leave less residue on fabric. It can also be used to pretreat stains. But because liquid detergent is 60 to 90 percent water, and comes in heavy plastic containers, it takes more energy (and carbon) to transport. And those big plastic jugs will likely end up in landfill. 

If you prefer liquid laundry detergent or want to use it some of the time, you can reduce your environmental footprint by purchasing a reusable glass or aluminum container and refilling it at your local refill shop or bulk store. If you’re shopping online, here are some liquid laundry detergents made with natural, gentle and effective ingredients.

Attitude Unscented Laundry Detergent, $34 for 4 L ($0.21 / load)

Made in Quebec, AttitudeLaundry Detergent is formulated with 98 percent naturally sourced ingredients. It’s EWG Verified and certified by PETA to be vegan and cruelty-free. A tree is planted for every bottle sold. It comes in geranium and lemongrass, lemongrass and rosemary, and unscented formulas. Although the scented versions are lovely and not overwhelming, they do contain benzyl acetate and dimethyl heptenal, fragrance ingredients that can potentially cause skin irritation. If you have sensitive skin, opt for the unscented.

The Bare Home Laundry Detergent, $20 for 946 mL ($0.54/ load)

This laundry detergent from a Canadian company is plant-based, refillable and hypoallergenic. One caveat: This product contains cocamidopropyl betaine, which has been associated with skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. However, this is only a concern for products that have direct, prolonged contact with the skin. 

The Unscented Company Laundry Refill Box, $30 for 4 L ($0.19 / load)

Made with 90.8 percent plant-based ingredients and packaged in 25 percent post-consumer plastic, this hypoallergenic formula—made by a Canadian B-corp woman-founded company—is cloth-diaper friendly.

Monterra Natural Laundry Detergent, $22 for 473 mL ($0.35 / load)

This made-in-Canada laundry detergent is formulated with gentle, mostly organic and local ingredients, free from animal testing, and comes in reusable glass jars or eco-friendly bulk refill pouches.

Glass Laundry Room Dispenser Bottles, $45 for two

This large glass dispenser will hold a half gallon (64 oz) of laundry detergent or fabric softener. The pump dispenses five millilitres at a time, making it easy to control the amount.

The most earth-friendly laundry detergent that isn’t detergent

Ecoideas Himalayan Soap Nuts, $10 for 250 g ($37.96 / kg)

Soapnuts are the fruit of the Ritha tree, also known as the soapnut tree, or soapberry tree. Rich in saponin (a natural soap), they are named for their ability to produce rich, cleansing suds. After harvesting, the stone-like pit is removed, and the fleshy part is dried in the sun. The dried soapnuts come in a cardboard container with a cotton mesh pouch. You simply add a few soapnuts to the pouch and put it directly in your laundry, and you can let them dry and re-use them. Or you can make your own soap by boiling soapnuts in water. 

“It works,” says Kaur. “I know that from my personal experience.” Born in India, Kaur used to visit her grandparents on their farm, where they had their own soapnut tree. They would soak their laundry overnight in soapnut water and wash it the next day. 

“It’s the most eco-friendly option,” she says.

But what about laundry strips? 

Laundry strips are flexible sheets of laundry detergent that dissolve in water. Lightweight and compact, they are easy to store and travel with. They are mess-free and user-friendly, and they dissolve quickly in cold water without leaving a visible residue. But their biggest selling point is that they are plastic-free—they come in a recyclable cardboard sleeve. This is what led me to write an article lauding laundry strips, but there is a downside I wasn’t aware of at the time of publication.

A growing number of scientists and environmental groups are concerned about a core ingredient in laundry strips: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). A water-soluble polymer, PVA binds the ingredients into a strip. PVA is marketed as safe and biodegradable, but the term “biodegradable” is wishy-washy.

“There is no global standard for biodegradability,” says Satinder Brar, professor of environmental engineering at York University and director of the One WATER Institute. “It varies from one country to another.”

Claims that PVA is biodegradable are based on laboratory studies, where biodegradability can be measured in controlled conditions. Brar points out that studies like these use “specific microorganisms, or a cocktail of microorganisms—which have probably been genetically modified within that industry to biodegrade those polymers.”

There is no evidence that PVA is biodegradable in nature. According to a 2021 study on the biodegradability of PVA in the marine environment, the microorganisms necessary to break down PVA are not present in most real-world environments. The study warns: “PVA polymers still require further study in order to develop materials that are truly degradable in real marine scenarios.”

A study published by the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health estimates that nearly 77 percent of PVA ends up in the environment. The study is backed by the Plastic Pollution Coalition, an alliance of more than 1,300 organizations and businesses, including 30 scientific advisors. The coalition agrees that there is a lack of unbiased, scientific evidence that PVA is safe, and has petitioned the EPA to study its ecological and health impacts.

Indeed, we don’t know enough about how PVA behaves in nature. Brar points out that as a polymer, it could bind to other chemicals—especially in a wastewater treatment facility, where it will encounter contaminants like heavy metals and antibiotics. And since PVA dissolves, it might convert into nano plastics—something that has yet to be studied.

“We are still struggling with microplastic analysis,” says Kaur. “Forget about nano—we don’t even have the relevant tools at hand to analyze many of those plastics at micro level.”

Appendix

Here are some of the chemicals that can be found in laundry detergents that you may prefer to avoid (our recommended products don’t include them).

Optical brighteners Also called fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs), they include several chemicals that absorb ultraviolet light and emit visible blue-violet light, making white fabrics appear brighter. Common optical brighteners include stilbene derivatives, which can cause skin and eye irritation. Studies have found that “FWAs pose a potential hazard to human and animal health, and exposure to high concentrations of FWAs can irritate the respiratory mucous membrane and skin and even cause irritant dermatitis.” They also bioaccumulate in the environment, where they can be toxic to aquatic organisms.

Phosphates These used to be a common ingredient in laundry detergents, and were used to soften hard water and improve cleaning performance. However, when they enter waterways, they can trigger harmful algae blooms. Thankfully, most provinces have banned the use of phosphates in detergents.

Surfactants These are soap-like ingredients that help to remove dirt and stains from fabric. Laundry detergent often includes synthetic surfactants like nonylphenol ethoxylates (which are harmful to aquatic life and a potential hormone disruptor), sodium laureth sulfate (which causes skin and eye irritation and is toxic to aquatic organisms), linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (which causes skin irritation, rashes and eczema), alkylphenol ethoxylates (which break down into hormone-disrupting alkylphenols that are toxic to aquatic life and can impact development and reproduction) and quaternary ammonium compounds (which persist in the environment, inhibit algae growth and are toxic to aquatic organisms). 

“Anionic surfactants, predominantly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), cause biochemical, pathological, physiological and other impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,” says Brar. ”And they may cause skin irritation and respiratory problems."

Artificial fragrances The “fragrance” listed on an ingredient label isn’t just one substance—it’s a cocktail of chemicals. According to the Canadian Lung Association, a fragrance may contain 100 to 150 ingredients. (This is true of fragrances in any product.) Companies don’t usually disclose fragrance formulations, as they are considered a trade secret and therefore protected by law.

Unfortunately, many of these undisclosed chemicals can include phthalates and synthetic musks, which can cause skin irritation, lung damage, allergies, headaches, hormone disruption and more. Studies show that musks like galaxolide and tonalide—which are even found in some common “green” cleaning brands—accumulate in blood, breast milk, aquatic life and household dust. Exposure to synthetic fragrances has been linked to asthma, eczema and respiratory issues. 

“Chemicals found in fragrances include phthalates—which are endocrine disruptors—and carcinogens, benzophenone and styrene,” says Brar. ”In addition, some children and adults have allergic reactions to fragrance chemicals.”

Chlorine bleach Some detergents include chlorine bleach for brightening whites. The active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, and this breaks down into organochlorines like chloroform and carbon tetrachloride—chemicals that are toxic and persist in the environment. 

“Children are especially at greater risk from breathing bleach vapours because their lungs are still developing,” says Brar. “Breathing in bleach over a long period of time can increase your risk of cancer.” 

Formaldehyde The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a carcinogen, a known cause of cancer. Although formaldehyde is regulated in Canada, a few products are known to contain formaldehyde-releasing substances such as DMDM hydantoin and Quaternium-15.