Laundry and the environment
Laundry and the environment – myths versus facts
(NC)—With new 'green' products launching all the time, a recent survey shows that Canadians are facing some confusion about how to make their laundry habits more sustainable. The Leger survey, sponsored by Tide Canada, revealed that nine in ten Canadians said it's very important to them to use an environmentally-friendly detergent. However, when asked to identify what makes a laundry detergent more sustainable, most respondents (33%) chose “phosphate-free.”
What might be surprising to most consumers is that most laundry products sold in Canada are in fact already phosphate-free and have been for years.
As environmental awareness has increased, consumers have become bombarded with green messaging, some of which is confusing or even misleading. Here are some facts that will help you make informed choices in the laundry aisle.
- Myth: Products with “green” in the name are more environmentally-friendly
- Fact: Although a recent survey revealed that almost two thirds of Canadians believe this, there are many factors involved in making a laundry product more environmentally-friendly, including the size of the container and whether it can be recycled, if it's concentrated, if it's formulated for energy-saving appliances or if it will achieve results in cold-water washing.
- Myth: You should look for laundry products that are phosphate-free
- Fact: In Canada, most laundry products are phosphate-free and have been for several years
- Myth: Washing in cold water is not as effective as washing in warm water
- Fact: If you have a traditional top-loading washing machine and an electric water heater, making the switch with Tide Coldwater from warm/cold cycles to cold/cold cycles can save up to 70 per cent of energy in every load. Making this simple switch each time can mean up to $53 in savings on your electricity bill every year.
- Myth: You don't need to use specially-formulated laundry products for coldwater washing
- Fact: In order to get great cleaning results, you should use a laundry product that is specially- formulated for coldwater washing such as Tide Coldwater HE detergent
- Myth: You don't need to use specially-formulated laundry products in a high-efficiency washing machine
- Fact: Regular laundry products are not as effective in high-efficiency machines. For best results, use a product that is specially formulated for high-efficiency washing.
- News Canada www.newscanada.com