No PVA – What then?

Last Monday, there was a broadcast of Keuringsdienst van Waarde (Inspection Service of Value) about laundry strips. Are laundry strips really plastic-free? A term that appears on every package. The answer: No. The strips contain polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA.

This is a microplastic that is not covered by current EU legislation because it dissolves in water; officially, it is not a solid particle. But a laundry strip is not liquid, is it?

This is very vague! We agree. We therefore consider PVA to be a microplastic, a man-made polymer. Before bringing this to market on a large scale, it must at least be tested for properties such as biodegradability and environmental harmfulness. Curious about our view on PVA? Read our blog.

After the broadcast, we were often asked, "Okay, so no more laundry strips, but what then?!"

We understand that question. The world of detergents is complicated and there is so much choice, so what is the right plastic-free choice?

Alternative

Unfortunately, there is currently no good ready-made alternative. Microplastics are regularly used in detergents, washing powders, and laundry strips without this being visible, as not all ingredients have to be listed on the packaging.

Our tip is therefore: make your own laundry detergent. Fortunately, this does not require any chemical processes; the recipe is easy and can be made in less than an hour. Not only do you know exactly what's in it, it's also a lot cheaper and you can create your own scents.

Here is the recipe:

Requirements (1 liter of detergent):

• 4 tablespoons grated Marseille soap or Aleppo soap
• 1 l water
• Pan
• Glass bottle for storing detergent
• 5 drops of essential oil

How to make your own laundry detergent  

1. Grate some of the soap and store it in an airtight jar.  
2. Boil 1 liter of water and allow to cool briefly.  

1. Add 4 tablespoons of grated Marseille soap to the water and stir.  
2. Allow to cool and pour the mixture into a swing-top bottle for easy dispensing in the washing machine or for hand washing. Shake well before each use. 
3. If desired, add a few drops of laundry perfume or essential oil for a pleasant scent.   

There is hope

The Plastic Soup Foundation recently contacted cosmetics brand Beautykitchen, which is a microplastic-free brand. PVA does not fit in with their vision, and they use a plastic-free alternative. They do not make detergent, but experts believe that the alternative ingredient can also be used in detergent.

Developing new ingredients and recipes takes time, so please bear with us a little longer. We will keep you informed.

Curious what PVA is and what the opinion of Plastic Soup Foundation is? Read our blog.

What does the Plastic Soup Foundation do?

Plastic Soup Foundation is committed to fighting plastic pollution. We want to stop it at the source! We do this by drafting legislation, raising awareness, and inspiring companies to produce plastic-free products. Together, this will bring about systemic change. Together, we will turn off the plastic tap. Plastic Soup Foundation is entirely dependent on donations. Your donation helps us reduce plastic pollution.