Ecover CONCENTRATED laundry liquid

Filed in Blog by on July 2, 2010 8 Comments
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Mrs Green hugs her new laundry liquid

Mrs Green hugs her new laundry liquid

As I’ve mentioned before on the site, one way to reduce waste packaging (and remember, reduce comes before recycle) is to buy concentrated products.

Ecover have launched a concentrated laundry liquid which is available as both bio and non bio and I’ve been using them for a couple of months.

Prior to that I was using their laundry powder which was totally waste free. It comes in cardboard boxes which are easily recyclable.

Packaging waste

As you know, it’s all about what I’m left with after I’ve used the product that I’m interested in! The Ecover concentrated laundry liquid bottles are made from HDPE (code number 2) which is one of the most widely recycled plastics. Around here, we can put any number 1 or number 2 bottle into our bring banks.

You can get refills for their conventional laundry liquid, which is a great way to reduce landfill waste. Hopefully, as the concentrated version becomes more popular, you’ll be able to refill these too. Find out if you can get Ecover refills in your area.

Performance

Well I have to hand it to Ecover, I’ve had a laundry revolution! I’ve been using the powder for years combined with their fabric softener. We have incredibly hard water around here, and even with their fabric softener, we often have, what Little Miss Green refers to as ‘cardboard clothes’.

We’ve been jumping up and down over the past two months like baby bunnies in soft fur because the concentrated laundry liquid softens our clothes too. So much so, I don’t even need to use fabric softener any more. So not only am I saving packaging waste, but I’m saving fabric softener bottles and money too.

Value for money

750mls costs £5.69 which Ecover tell me is enough for 21 washes at 27p per wash. For me, with hard water, I’ll get 14 washes which is 41p per wash. To be honest, I’m not sure how this compares to other brands. It’s probably at the top end for cost, but I don’t mind putting my money where my mouth is for the sake of my health and the environment.

If you want to know more about Ecover; back in April 2009, Sadie wrote a guest post all about their policies on waste and recycling.

You can follow them on their new Ecover’s UK Facebook page where you will be able to join in with conversations to help Ecover improve their products, try samples and win fantastic prizes.

What about you – do you use concentrated laundry products? Which ones do you use?

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About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (8)

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  1. Tim hobbs says:

    Is there any research or data available about the energy used to create concentrated products against non-concentrate? No point cutting packaging if we are burning huge amounts of oil to do it.

  2. I suffer form cardboard clothes (cardboard towels are the worst) and use Ecover powder so next shopping trip I’m picking up the concentrated liquid! Thanks v much for this

  3. hollie says:

    try vinegar in the wash to soften clothes, white vinegar is best and only a cupful to the final rinse is needed

  4. Jemma says:

    Hello, it’s Jemma from the Ecover press office here. Firstly, thank you Mrs Green for your review – we’re delighted to hear about the positive change our new concentrated laundry liquid has made to your laundry.

    Secondly,
    @Tim hobbs: thanks for your comment Tim, we’re looking at what information we have available in regards to your query and will respond to you in more detail as soon as we have this.

    Jemma

  5. LJayne says:

    Oooh must look out for this. What do you do with the bottle tops though Mrs G? We can’t, currently, put them in with plastics 1&2 but am hoping that when we get our blue commingled bin (come ON Windsor & Maidenhead 😉 ) that we will be able to.

  6. Sooz says:

    Ooo I’ve never seen the concentrated ecovers before (probably becuase I don’t do the shopping!) even though we’ve used ecover for years…I’ll get me mam to look out for it at the shops!

  7. ingrid mann says:

    hi everyone,
    have read all the comments with ref to ecover and its good that they are encouraging recycling and conc products. we would like to invite you all to visit our uk/local web site,www.swappit.org.uk/clean.
    we have been encouraging everyone to reuse their cleaning product bottles by refilling with our locally manufactured to east anglia products,we can post out to customers or supply locally to norfolk and Portsmouth,Hants. this all saves lots of carbon miles and supports british business/environment
    for interest,swappit cleans,concentrated Non Bio laundry liquid costs,13p per wash,ecovers costs 21p per wash,so we can save everyone money and create zeroWaste.
    we dont want to knock Ecover as they are sending out the right message,but we are trying to save people money,during these hard cash strapped times.
    please feel free to look…..contact us if you wish.
    ingrid and david

  8. Mrs Green says:

    @LJayne: Lesley, we can put the tops, as long as they are the same material into the recycling…

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