The Guide > Household > Laundry > Laundry Detergent
Laundry Detergent
Most cleaning products don't list ingredients. However, you can learn something about a product's hazards by reading its label. 'Danger/ Poison' - most hazardous; 'Warning' - moderately hazardous; 'Caution' - slightly toxic. Ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. These include skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.
  • Avoid:
  • chlorine or ammonia, listed as active ingredients
  • formaldehyde, terpenes, phenols, chlorine, organic mercurials, balsams, aluminium complexes, chlorine, organic mercurials, balsams, and aluminium complexes. These are known to have carcinogenic effects.
  • detergents containing alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) - do not degrade completely and are known hormone disruptors.
  • detergents containing phosphates - cause algal blooms in water ways
  • Look for:
  • biodegradable to AS4351, or better still, an international standard
  • plant-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based
  • concentrated form
  • specific ingredient information (such as solvent-free no petroleum-based ingredients solvent-free, no petroleum-based ingredients) rather than unregulated greenwash claims (such as natural and eco-friendly)
Features: Australian owned & made. Cruelty free and vegan. 50% profits donated. Free from chemical nasties
Australian owned and made laundry detergent is 8 X concentrated to reduce packaging. Refill and return available. 50% of their profits are donated to The Ocean Cleanup. PETA certified vegan and cruelty free. All ingredients are 100% biodegradable.
Manufacturer: The Dirt Company
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, plant-based, non-toxic
Founded in 2017, Koala Eco products are Certified Toxic-Free, certified allergy safe, vegan, no new plastic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, not tested on animals, and Australian owned and made. The company donates to One Percent for the Planet. Available in health food stores and online.
Manufacturer: Koala Eco
Features: Certified organic, cruelty free, Australian owned, carbon neutral
Miessence has an extensive range of certified organic products for skin, hair, body, cosmetic and oral. Available online.
Manufacturer: Miessence
Features: Non-toxic, No Petrochemicals
No Sodium Lauryl Sulphate; No Petrochemicals; No Harsh Detergents; No Toxic Chemicals; No Animal Testing
Manufacturer: Envirocare
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, vegan, palm oil free, non-toxic
SimplyClean launched in 2012. All their products are made in Northern NSW. Their range of environmentally friendly cleaning products are non-toxic, palm oil free, vegan, cruelty free (accredited by PETA) and grey water safe. Available from selected wholefood stores and independent supermarkets.
Manufacturer: SimplyClean
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, plant-based, non-toxic
Founded in 1989, Tri Nature's award winning range of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products are Australian-owned and made, plant-based, accredited cruelty free, grey water safe and free of nasty chemicals.
Manufacturer: Tri Nature
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