Be honest, is your laundry room full of plastic bottles? Now’s the time to make a change.
Plastic bottles aren’t only harmful to the environment, but they can also be dangerous for your health. The chemicals used in plastic production can leach into your laundry detergent and end up on your clothes, which can then come into contact with your skin.
But don’t worry, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic bottles. From refillable dispensers to biodegradable packaging, there are so many great options that can help reduce your plastic waste while still keeping your laundry fresh and clean.
It’s time to ditch the conventional laundry detergent and up your sustainable laundry game with a new zero waste laundry detergent. Not only will you be doing your part in helping the environment, but you’ll also be taking care of yourself and your family’s health.
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Best Zero Waste Laundry Detergent
1. Tru Earth Laundry Strips
Key Features
- Paraben-, phosphate-, dye-, and chlorine-bleach-free
- Strips come in a plastic-free, recyclable cardboard box
- Dissolves in both hot and cold water for any type of laundry load
Laundry strips are all the craze right now – especially Tru Earth’s eco-friendly, zero-waste laundry strips!
Their eco-strips are much easier to manage than traditional detergents. You don’t need to lug around a big bottle of liquid detergent. Just one small strip suffices for a laundry pile.
Aside from making your laundry chore a breeze, Tru Earth’s low-sudsing formula works with all washing machine types (even High-Efficiency (HE) ones). The formula is also hypo-allergenic and will effectively remove the most stubborn of dirt stains.
What We Like
For us, Tru Earth strips are highly efficient. For instance, the fact that you can tear the strips in two for medium-sized loads has been a lifesaver! You save money and still get incredibly clean clothes.
Another feature we like is that Tru Earth is made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). This safe chemical helps the strips dissolve quicker and work their cleaning magic better too.
2. Earth Breeze Laundry Sheets
Key Features
- No synthetic fragrances. Available in fresh scent or fragrance-free
- Strong cleaning power to eliminate tough stains
- Ethical, biodegradable packaging
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: laundry sheets and detergent strips are the same thing – it’s simply a matter of picking a brand you know sticks to ethical practices.
Luckily, Earth Breeze Laundry Sheets are a commendable runner-up! For every sale they make, a percentage goes into planting trees and cleaning up the ocean.
Next to partnering with many charities and nonprofits, Earth Breeze sheets also work with front-, top-loading, and HE machines. They dissolve fast because, like Tru Earth, they use PVA in their formula as well. There are only vegan, animal-friendly, and non-toxic ingredients.
What We Like
What made Earth Breeze stand out is how perfect their product is for those with sensitive skin. If traditional detergents make you (or your child) itch, with Earth Breeze sheets you won’t have that problem!
Even better, one box of Earth Breeze sheets cleans up to 60 laundry loads. Talk about efficient, budget-friendly, and guilt-free washing!
3. Tangie Laundry Paste By Waste-Free Products
Key Features
- Has more capacity than plastic detergent bottles, making it a money-saver
- Concentrated, low-sudsing, and fragrance-free formula – suitable for all skin types
- Breaks down tough stains without affecting clothes’ color or texture
Tangie Laundry Paste is perhaps the most unique product on our list. Get this: It’s a fresh-smelling bar of soap that dissolves into a full gallon of laundry detergent. All you need is a reusable container to throw it in and you have enough detergent to last 256 loads of laundry. No wonder it’s in the top 3!
Of course, you can always just dissolve part of the soap at a time. Still, the idea that a gallon-size of detergent can fit in your palm is incredible. Not only that, but the soap is made of zero-plastic, all-natural ingredients (such as soap nuts liquid, coconut oil and olive oil, baking powder, and rosemary oleoresin).
What We Like
What’s not to like about this product! It saves money in the budget and room in your laundry closet, and leaves you with at least a year’s worth of laundry detergent – all at the low price of $23! If you’re a big family looking to minimize how much waste you produce, this soap is for you.
Tagine also regularly works to reduce its carbon footprint by using its sales to purchase carbon credits and plant more trees. They’re cruelty-free and certified by Leaping Bunny, too.
4. Dropps Laundry Detergent Pods
Key Features
- The product line is highly versatile. Available for different skin types, laundry needs, and scents
- Works with hot, warm, or cold water washes
- Can whiten, brighten, and soften all fabrics
Being the original low-waste detergent pod, Dropps naturally had to make the list of the best zero-waste laundry detergents. The company caters to customers of all needs and lifestyles, offering a versatile product line of detergent pods.
There’s Unscented, Lavender-Eucalyptus (fabric softener), Orange Blossom, and Clean & Crisp.
For the sensitive people among you and those with babies, Dropps also has Fresh Air for sensitive skin and unscented, baby-safe pods. All Dropps use the same stain-fighting formula, so your laundry is in safe hands.
What We Like
Versatility is what landed Dropps in our top 5. With Dropps, we like that you can go green without having to compromise on consumer choice. From eco-friendly softeners to detergents that eliminate skin irritation, Dropps even offers plastic-free dishwasher pods!
The company also utilizes carbon-neutral shipping, effectively having a 0% carbon footprint. They’re also partners with Oceana – a nonprofit, working to preserve our oceans and aquatic life.
5. Kind Laundry Detergent Sheets
Key Features
- Crafted from a unique blend of potent enzymes and plant extracts
- Gentle on fabrics and the environment
- Dissolve completely, leaving behind no residue
“Let’s be kind together” is the slogan of the Kind company. Their mission began when they wanted to create a more bearable method for doing laundry. With Kind, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of measuring and the mess that liquid detergents make. Their formula has no harsh chemicals – only natural ingredients and premium plant-based ingredients.
Kind Laundry Detergent Sheets are Leaping Bunny certified and come in biodegradable, 100% recyclable packaging. Each sheet is premeasured, so all you gotta do is throw one in with your laundry. You also get to choose between unscented and Ocean Breeze.
What We Like
Personally, we appreciate this product’s compact size and travel-friendly packaging. Kind’s detergent sheets have incredible cleaning power too, with one sheet being enough to make your clothes as good as new!
6. Eco Roots Laundry Detergent Sheets
Key Features
- Convenient no-drip, no-mess sheets
- Use for all machine types, whether HE or standard
- Lightweight, compact, and travel-friendly
Eco Roots laundry detergent sheets are a convenient, waste-free alternative to traditional detergents. They’re hypo-allergenic and safe to travel with, and their ingredients contain no harsh chemicals. What makes this product so popular though is its plant-based, powerful cleaning agent; namely, sodium dodecyl sulfate.
While only available in unscented and Fresh Breeze, they do come in a budget-friendly value pack. With this duo pack, the Eco Roots sheets will last 64 loads – more if you tear the sheets in half! They’re safe to use on sensitive skin, baby clothes, and gentle fabrics as well.
What We Like
There’s more to Eco Roots than their detergent sheets! We’ve also tried their bamboo dental floss, vegan lip balm, and organic deodorant. And if not for the company’s cruelty-free history, their products come in cute packaging that we absolutely adore.
7. Ethique Laundry Detergent Bar
Key Features
- Available in a travel pack for adventurers, hikers, and those always on the road
- Removes the toughest of stains or marks from clothes
- Minimal packaging that’s compostable and recyclable
If you loved the Tangie laundry soap, Ethique’s detergent bar will quickly become another favorite of yours! Ethique’s soap is the strongest at removing scuff marks and stains – it even brightens up your clothes and whites.
What sets Ethique apart from others on the list is that it’s only used for spot-cleaning, not machine washing. Still, you can use it for cleaning carpets, delicates, silks, or wool products.
What We Like
It’s nice of Ethique to offer a travel-friendly pack version of this laundry soap. This product is multi-use; suitable as a cruelty-free shampoo, detergent, hand soap, or shaving cream. Their packaging is PEFC-certified too, and they come in two scents you can pick from (orange and mint).
8. Meliora Laundry Detergent Powder
Key Features
- Available in unscented, lavender, lemon, lavender-clove – and more!
- Made from a vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based, and MADESAFE-certified formula
- The company is both Leaping Bunny and B-Corp certified
Meliora is the only powder detergent on our list for a reason. Fun fact: Meliora means ‘better’ in Latin, referring to the choice of doing better by the environment. With Meliora, you can rest assured that all ingredients are listed on the label. They offer multiple fragrances to pick from too, using plant-extracted essential oils.
From Lavender to Lemon, Meliora also allows its consumers the option to refill their products. This way, they eliminate plastic waste and contribute to sustainability efforts. Finally, Meliora powder is safe to use in HE or standard machines and septic systems as well.
What We Like
The best thing about Meliora? The fact that it’s a woman-only-based company! Not only that, but it also gives back a percentage of its sales to the Women’s Voices for the Earth foundation.
How to Pick the Right Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent For You
We know they’re the safer choice, but how do you pick the one suitable for your needs and lifestyle? Follow our 5-prong recipe to make the ideal choice:
Read the Ingredient List Carefully
When staying away from toxic chemicals, the ingredient list becomes your holy book. Look for detergents that are free of:
- Synthetic chemicals or fragrances
- Dyes and preservatives
- Paraben, phosphate, and chemical-bleach
Most eco-friendly detergents will have polyvinyl acetate (PVA) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) – both are safe by the way. They help boost the sudsing formula and dissolve the laundry detergent strip/sheet.
Other safe ingredients also include plant-based extracts and essential oils, such as aloe vera, lavender, and citrus.
Always Check Packaging Options
In 2021, the US alone was responsible for over 40 million tons of plastic waste. If you’re staying away from plastic laundry jugs, make sure your alternative comes in eco-friendly packaging.
Luckily, many zero-waste laundry detergents use cardboard boxes or compostable pouches to ship their products in. Some use carbon-neutral shipping to minimize their carbon footprint, while others offer you the chance to reuse any plastic containers you already have.
Thoroughly Research the Brand
In your noble quest for sustainable living, researching the brands you shop from becomes vital.
What accredited certifications do they have? Where do their sales go? What about their carbon footprint? Do they transparently share their practices and lab tests?
You should ask yourself these questions and more before committing to a specific brand. Check their sites and pages, and listen to other customers’ reviews too. It’s how you make a 100% ethical choice – one that you’re comfortable with.
Experiment With Various Detergents
Zero-waste laundry detergents come in various forms; liquid, soap bar, powder, sheet, and strip. To pick which one suits your laundry needs best, consider the following:
- How many loads per week do you do? How big is each load?
- Do you or someone in your home have sensitive skin that you should account for?
- What fabrics mostly show up in your wardrobe?
- Do you do your laundry at home or at a laundromat?
- Do you travel a lot? Does size and compactness matter to you?
These questions help guide your decision towards which form of eco-friendly detergent you should go for.
Opt For the Best Value-for-Money
Let’s face it: Switching to zero-waste laundry detergent could cripple your household’s budget. After all, money is the main reason people don’t go green – and traditional detergents cost less.
But here’s the thing; while eco-friendly detergents cost more upfront, they have a longer shelf life and typically require less product per load. The absence of toxic chemicals means a better quality of life for you and your family, too.
So, pick a detergent that offers you the ideal value for money. Do so by calculating the cost per load and reaching an economical, yet still eco-friendly, decision.
There you have it – our list of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents for you and your family. With this information, you can make a smarter choice for your wallet and the environment!
