Sustainable laundry: a guide to an eco-friendly laundry day

Your washing machine sits at the intersection of several ethical concerns. What are your laundry products packaged in? How much energy is your machine using? And how much water and chemicals are being pumped away afterwards? It’s a lot to think about when trying to reduce your laundry’s environmental impact.

Let Ethical Superstore guide you through a sustainable laundry routine with simple, eco-friendly choices for a more environmentally friendly laundry day.

Eco-friendly laundry liquids

Some companies offer large refill bottles to cut down on packaging. A 5L container of Bio-D laundry liquid lasts around 125 washes, while Faith in Nature 5L concentrated laundry liquid will do up to 150 – both can be recycled afterwards, so there’s zero waste involved. Bower Collective laundry liquid packets can even be posted back to the company free of charge for reuse.

If you’re sensitive to smells, Ecoleaf fragrance free laundry liquid might be the right choice for you – it’s plant-based and vegan-friendly too. The Lab Co. has special formulas for delicates, activewear, and cashmere and wool, so everyone’s needs can be met without compromising on environmental concerns.

Eco-friendly laundry capsules

Most laundry capsules are difficult to recommend thanks to their plastic coating – water-soluble though they may be, they often fail to fully biodegrade and may be responsible for microplastics entering the environment. But OceanSaver’s capsules are completely plastic-free, and their OceanProtect technology will even reduce the microplastics released by your clothes.

Sustainable laundry powders

Laundry powder also doesn’t need plastic packaging, and it’s often more concentrated than liquid, reducing the carbon emissions needed to get it to you. Ecoleaf’s plant based powder comes in a recyclable paper bag and is even available in a whopping 10kg pack – now that’s a strong product-to-package ratio.

Eco-friendly laundry sheets

Laundry sheets are gaining popularity as an ethical alternative to liquid and capsules. They’re light, space-efficient, easy to use, and typically come in cardboard packaging instead of plastic. So you can enjoy the convenience of The Lab Co.’s detergent strips – available in a range of fragrances from energising to soothing, or no fragrance at all – with a clear conscience.

OceanSaver’s detergent sheets are not just plastic-free in themselves, but each purchase helps fund efforts to remove plastic waste from our oceans. Similarly, ecoLiving donate 1% of their yearly profits to environmental causes, and their eco strips are vegan-friendly, biodegradable and palm oil free to boot.

Natural sustainable laundry alternatives (soap nuts)

Plant-based ingredients are all very well, but how about a completely natural option? Soap nuts are full of naturally occurring soaps and surfactants, making them a traditional laundry method that’s been used for generations.

Eco-friendly stain removers for sustainable laundry

A quick spot clean can reduce the need for high temperatures and harsh chemicals – as long as the cleaner itself doesn’t contain anything nasty. Try a biodegradable product like Ecover’s plant-based stain remover or Sodasan’s organic stain removal gel, both of which come in recyclable bottles.

Making your laundry more sustainable

Switching to eco-friendly laundry products – like refillable liquids, plastic-free capsules, and concentrated powders – can make a big difference. Small, conscious choices help reduce waste and lower your environmental impact, without compromising on clean, fresh results.