Cleaning products rarely make it onto lists of sustainability priorities. But the environmental impact of conventional cleaning products is real, consistent, and easy to address. The better options are often cheaper.
Most conventional cleaning products contain surfactants derived from petroleum. These compounds clean effectively, but they're slow to biodegrade in waterways, toxic to aquatic life at sufficient concentrations, and produced from a fossil fuel supply chain. They also typically come in single-use plastic bottles that are difficult to recycle.
Ecover is the most widely available option in UK supermarkets. Their washing up liquid, multi-surface cleaner and laundry liquid are all plant-based, biodegradable and available in refillable formats. Holds the EU Ecolabel.
Method is another strong option - plant-based, cruelty-free, available in most supermarkets.
Bio-D is a smaller UK brand with a strong ethical record. Concentrated formulas, minimal packaging.
Several options now make single-use plastic avoidable entirely. Ecover has a nationwide network of refill stations. Smol and similar services send concentrated tablets by post - you add water at home. The concentrated formats are also typically cheaper per wash.
The terms "natural", "eco" and "green" have no regulated definition in the UK cleaning products market. Meaningful certifications to look for: the EU Ecolabel, the Nordic Swan, and Leaping Bunny. Products with vague "natural" claims and none of these certifications warrant scepticism.
