Guide To Eco Washing Up Liquid (Plus My Favourite Sustainable Alternatives)

From student digs and family homes to pubs and offices, washing up liquid is an item that’s common to all. 

Most people have never really considered the impact that washing up liquid has on the environment. But most traditional varieties are made from chemicals that wash down the drains and into our water systems.

The good news is there are plenty sustainable, eco friendly washing up liquids alternatives now available that are made from natural, non-toxic ingredients.

the negatives of traditional washing up liquid

Some of the tried and tested, supermarket washing up liquids are harmful to the environment.

The very nature of washing up liquids means that they end up down our drains. Therefore, what they’re made up of is important for the health of our waterways and the network of ecosystems that are directly impacted. Any unnecessary chemicals in our rivers and water systems can have both short and long-term effects on wildlife. 

It’s a similar story when you consider other everyday kitchen and bathroom products, including laundry detergent (read about eco laundry sheets here), dishwasher tablets, shampoo (find eco shampoo here), toothpaste (see eco toothpaste alternatives), toilet cleaner (see sustainable toilet cleaners here) and even toilet paper (see eco friendly toilet paper).

These items are all similar in the fact they get washed down the drain to enter the water system. Traditional washing up liquids can have a negative impact on the environment for a number of reasons:

• Harmful chemicals – Nasty chemicals can get flushed into rivers and seas via our kitchen sinks. Unwanted chemicals include: phosphates, surfactants, triclosan, parabens and phthalates.
• Plastic packaging – Single-use plastic bottles are a staple in the cleaning industry, with customers often encouraged to buy smaller quantities of washing up liquids rather than promoting sustainable options, larger quantities to avoid replacement waste or refill options.
• Palm oil – This industry is a major driver of deforestation, destroying the habitats of endangered species such as the orangutan, pygmy elephant and Sumatran rhino. This is why the switch to non-palm oil products is so important.

What makes an eco friendly washing up liquid?

The meaning of eco friendly can be very broad. It’s more often the case than not that products do not fulfil every criteria to be 100% sustainable. 

However, something that’s ‘eco friendly’ should provide a solution or product that is ‘greener’ than the standard form. The landscape can get a little murky, which is where the problem of greenwashing comes up. Have a look at my Eco Glossary for definitions of these different terms. 

In short, an eco friendly washing up liquid is one which has a:

1. Reduced carbon footprint 
2. Reduced waste
3. Reduced harmful chemicals 
4. Reduced impact on our environment 

The majority of the eco washing up liquid options out there market themselves as sustainable due to their reduced impact on the environment. But they also bring other factors into play to make them more ethical, such as:

• Vegan friendly (no animal testing)
• Recycled plastic packaging
• Biodegradable ingredients 

If you’re using a more sustainable washing up liquid, you’ll want to pair this with an eco friendly sponge too as traditional washing clothes and scourers are primarily made from fossil fuel plastic.

Types of sustainable washing up liquid

Eco washing up liquids can be divided into a few different sub divisions. All are good ways to improve sustainable living at home.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most common types of eco washing up liquid.

Plastic Free

A plastic-free lifestyle is a desirable one. Achieving it in full though is rarely possible. This is the same for washing up liquid, unfortunately.

Even when bought in bulk quantities or at refill stations, when washing up liquid is in a liquid form there’s still a heavy reliance on plastic for transport and storage.

There are a number of alternative products that do offer a reduced plastic solution for dishwashing needs. An example of this is washing up soap bars, which remove the need for plastic packaging. A downfall to this is the price point – around £6 per bar!

Washing up liquid refills

Refills are options which allow the user to refill their own containers to take home.

Not only does this option give the user the choice on the quality of product, but also the type of container they use. 

A drawback here is the requirement for specialist shops to have refill counters, which may not be accessible to all.

Plant-based ingredients

Natural, plant-based options contain less, or hopefully no, chemical additives. That means no bleaches, parabens, SLSs and the like.

Instead they use naturally occurring chemicals and fragrances, such as essential oils and plant extracts. Full use of plant-based ingredients makes a washing up liquid biodegradable.

Best eco washing up liquid alternatives

There are many eco washing up liquid alternatives out there to choose from. 

However, to make it easier for you, we’ve narrowed it down to the eco brands below. I’ve used all of the brands below and can confirm that they’re just as good as their traditional counterparts for cleaning the dishes.

Bio D

• Price (per 100ml): 36p – excellent price per 100ml
• Size: 750ml, 5L
• Refillable: Yes
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: 100% naturally-derived ingredients. Contains sustainable palm oil.
• Plastic: 100% recyclable plastic 

Miniml

• Price (per 100ml): 69p
• Size: 500ml
• Refillable: Yes (glass or plastic bottle)
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: Plant-based formula. Free from chlorine bleaches, solvents, lanoline, sulphates, parabens and phosphates.
• Plastic: Recyclable bottle

Faith In Nature

• Price (per 100ml): 52p
• Size: 5L
• Refillable: Yes
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: 99% biodegradable ingredients. 100% natural aroma and essential oils. Silicone, parabens, SLS and SLES free.
• Plastic: Recyclable bottle 

Delphis Eco

• Price (per 100ml): 72p
• Size: 500L
• Refillable: Yes – 2L and 4L refills available
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: Formulated with natural plant-based ingredients, free from VOCs, chlorine bleaches, solvents, lanoline and phosphate.
• Plastic: 100% recycled plastic container 

Ecoleaf

• Price (per 100ml): 35p – excellent price per 100ml
• Size: 1L
• Refillable: Yes
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: Derived from plant extracts and is based on biodegradable, sustainably sourced ingredients.
• Plastic: 100% post-consumer recycled plastic container 

Ecozone

• Price (per 100ml): 70p
• Size: 500ml
• Refillable: No
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: Biodegradable formula. Free from parabens, triclosan, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, chlorine, bleach, ammonia.
• Plastic: Recyclable bottle

Ecover

• Price (per 100ml): 45p
• Size: 950ml, 5L, 15L
• Refillable: Yes
• Vegan friendly: Yes
• Ingredients: Plant-based formula
• Plastic: 100% post consumer recycled plastic 

Ecover is a popular eco alternative that I’ve used many times as it’s usually well stocked in supermarkets. On the surface and as a product, Ecover is a fantastic choice. They also provide laundry detergent and conditioner. 

The reason it’s so prominent is that it’s now owned by US cleaning giant SC Johnson. Unfortunately this company do have severe ethical issues. 

Still, the product itself is sustainable and readily available, making this switch an easy one. If it helps people switch to more eco friendly products, then it’s a good thing.

My personal favourites

My personal favourites and recommended best buys are:

• Miniml rhubarb and lemon
• Bio D mandarin
• Ecoleaf
• Delphis Eco washing up liquid

All of these sustainable washing up liquids are made in the UK, are based on plant-sourced ingredients and are refillable.

Bio D and Ecoleaf are significantly cheaper than Miniml and Delphis – around half the price – but all are quality ingredients. Miniml’s glass refill bottles are available and work very well and Delphis have big 2L and 4L refills to stock up your recycled plastic bottle.

Ecoleaf also make an eco friendly toilet roll made from recycled paper.

Is hand washing better than using a dishwasher?

Here’s a question to ponder…Is it more economical to hand wash dishes or put them in the dishwasher?

Using the dishwasher on an eco cycle once per day is generally more energy efficient than washing several sink fulls of dishes throughout the day.

Did you know that an energy efficient dishwasher can use as little as 6 litres of water per cycle and cost as little as 18p per load?

Over the course of a week this equates to around £1.30 of total electricity costs for the dishwasher.

That said, if you have an older dishwasher model that isn’t particularly energy efficient, it will cost you more like 50p per load.

Wrap up on sustainable washing up liquid

With many eco options available at similar price marks to the traditional forms, it should be a simple choice to opt for a more eco friendly washing up liquid.

As with any good swap, you don’t have to, and shouldn’t have to, compromise on the effectiveness of the product. After all, if it doesn’t smell nice and doesn’t wash the dishes, you’re not going to choose it again and it’s therefore not sustainable. 

Thankfully, all the eco washing up liquids I’ve used have been highly effective and smell great! 

Many of the sustainable washing up liquids above have their benefits and drawbacks. Personal preference will come into your choice. For example, you may prefer a refill option over one that’s purely plant based. 

It’s important to make sure the washing up liquid does the job correctly, comes with the right eco credentials and is at a good price point for your budget!

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