Eco-friendly laundry detergent brands offer more sustainable options for keeping your clothes clean. Typically these brands focus on lower impact ingredient choices, ethical production and do not test on animals. Many have started exploring their broader impact including carbon emissions and use of chemicals.
To gather these reviews—based on both performance and satisfaction of our green cleaning guidelines—we personally loaded our soiled sock mountains into our washer and tested every environmentally friendly laundry detergent listed here to ensure we’re recommending only the most superior suds.
Our new Brand Rating System takes our consideration set even further with 22 criteria that include things like a brand’s climate action, approach to customer safety, and transparency. Keep a look out for rated sustainable brands on the list below who have been through this process and find others in our sustainable brand directory.
Related Guides: Zero Waste Laundry Detergents, Sustainable Laundry Baskets, Eco-friendly Dryer Balls, Eco-friendly Washing Machines, What Is A Microfiber Filter
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents: Quick Summary
Best Overall & Top Rated: A Drop in the Ocean – Free return labels, glass jar refills, 64% local sourcing.
Best Organic & Top Rated: Butterfly & Bee – USDA-certified organic laundry detergent with a castile soap base, available in liquid, powder, tabs, and flakes, plus bulk and travel sizes, Leaping Bunny certified.
Top Pick Based on Testing & Top Rated: Blueland – B Corp certified, multiple safety certifications (EWG, EPA Safer Choice, Leaping Bunny), tablet format eliminates plastic bottles.
Best Value: Meliora – Just 4 ingredients, $20 for 128 loads (less than $0.16/load), MADE SAFE certified. The Lemon-Lavender-Clove scent is our personal favorite.
Most Innovative: SuperBee Hexawash – Reusable pouch with magnesium pellets, $0.16/load, 300 uses, compostable
All brands reviewed have been personally tested by our team or rated using our proprietary sustainability rating system.
Index: Sustainable Laundry Detergents
- A Drop In The Ocean Jump to brand
- Butterfly & Bee Jump to brand
- Blueland Jump to brand
- Meliora Jump to brand
- etee Jump to brand
- SuperBee Jump to brand
- Greatfill Jump to brand
- Common Good Jump to brand
- The Good Fill Jump to brand
A Drop In The Ocean
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its life
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at home
Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 people
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Take Back Program
Brand offers a take back program for their products and responsibly manages returned items.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
EnviroStars
EnviroStars
The EnviroStars program is a free green business recognition initiative serving Washington State businesses. Members complete a sector-specific checklist of 20 no-to-low-cost environmental actions covering energy conservation, pollution prevention, solid waste management, wastewater, and water conservation.A Drop in the Ocean makes sustainable laundry accessible with their plant-based, refillable laundry detergent powder. The concentrated formula contains just five simple ingredients: baking soda, washing soda, vegetable soap, citric acid, and optional essential oils for scent (with full ingredient transparency on every product page).
Available in four options (Eucalyptus, Rosewood, Lavender, and Unscented), this powder is free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, phosphates, parabens, phthalates, and palm oil. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin, septic-safe, and works in both standard and HE machines.
The circular business model centers on waste reduction: purchase the initial glass jar, and when you’re running low, order a refill jar that will come with a free return label to send your empty jar back for washing and reuse. Local customers can participate in a “milkman-style” delivery system, while remote customers receive free return labels to send back containers for washing and reuse. All packaging is minimal, recyclable, or compostable. One 16 oz jar provides approximately 35-70 loads of laundry for $15.
This Tacoma, Washington-based brand is woman-owned and prioritizes sourcing from local, small, and women-owned businesses. 64% of suppliers are within 100 miles of headquarters. They’re an EnviroStars Green Business and plant one tree for every item sold, plus donate over 1% of sales to ocean conservation partner Vermilion Sea Institute.
A Drop in the Ocean has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Butterfly & Bee
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Palm Oil Free
Products contain no palm oil or palm oil derivatives.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materialsRefillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 peopleSustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
ECOCERT Cosmos
Fair Trade
Leaping Bunny
USDA Organic
ECOCERT Cosmos
The ECOCERT COSMOS certification is an internationally recognized standard for natural and organic cosmetics. Overseen by ECOCERT, it ensures that products are made with sustainably sourced, biodegradable ingredients, use environmentally friendly manufacturing and packaging, and avoid GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and synthetic fragrances or dyes. The COSMOS label (either Organic or Natural) guarantees transparency and integrity throughout the entire production process.Fair Trade
The Fair Trade certification ensures that products are made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards that protect workers and the planet. Overseen by organizations such as Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International, it guarantees fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental sustainability, and community development funds, helping producers build more equitable and resilient supply chains.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.USDA Organic
The USDA Organic certification, regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP), verifies that products are made with ingredients grown and processed according to strict organic standards. It prohibits synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, and harmful additives, while requiring practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare.When it comes to natural laundry detergent, Butterfly & Bee has a range of formats covered. This small-batch, woman-owned brand from Newburyport, Massachusetts offers one of the widest ranges of organic, plant-based laundry options we’ve come across: liquid laundry soap in a refillable aluminum tin, laundry powder, plastic-free laundry tabs, and castile soap flakes for those who prefer to make their own DIY natural laundry detergent. There’s also a travel-size tab option, a sampler set to try different scents, and bulk powder in 10 or 25 lb. bags for zero-waste refill households.
Every formula is built on USDA-certified organic castile soap and biodegradable washing soda, free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, optical brighteners, enzymes, and harsh chemicals. Scented options use only organic essential oils in lavender, rosemary, and fresh variants, with unscented always available for sensitive skin. All formats are HE machine-safe, vegan, palm oil free, and come in plastic-free, recyclable, or refillable packaging.
Butterfly & Bee is Leaping Bunny certified and operates from a solar-powered facility built to Passive House standards.
Butterfly & Bee has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Blueland
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Minority Owned
Brand is owned by Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
PFAS Free
Products have been tested and verified to be free of PFASPlastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-freeRefillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their productsWoman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
Climate Neutral Certified
Cradle to Cradle
EPA Safer Choice
EWG
Leaping Bunny
MADE SAFE®
USDA BioPreferred
B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Cradle to Cradle
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard, administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, evaluates products for their safety, circularity, and sustainability across five key categories: material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, and social fairness. Products earn certification levels (Bronze to Platinum) based on how well they meet these rigorous criteria.EPA Safer Choice
The EPA Safer Choice label, managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, identifies products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Every ingredient is reviewed by the EPA’s scientific team to ensure it meets strict safety and performance standards, meaning products with this label are effective, low in toxicity, and formulated to reduce pollution and environmental impact.EWG
The EWG Verified® mark, issued by the Environmental Working Group, identifies products that meet the organization’s strictest standards for health and transparency. To earn the label, products must avoid ingredients of concern, fully disclose all ingredients (including fragrance components), and follow good manufacturing practices.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.MADE SAFE®
The MADE SAFE® certification is a comprehensive non-toxic seal that verifies products are made with safe ingredients not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems. Overseen by the MADE SAFE nonprofit, it screens every ingredient against a database of toxicological and environmental science criteria.USDA BioPreferred
The USDA Certified Biobased Product label, part of the BioPreferred® Program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, identifies products made from renewable biological ingredients. It displays the percentage of biobased content verified by the USDA.Blueland have a huge offering of premium cleaners. The Certified B Corp is also certified by a wealth of other reputed certifications, including Climate Label, Cradle2Cradle, EWG Verified, USDA BioPreferred, EPA Safer Choice, and Leaping Bunny.
Their laundry detergent tablets have zero PVA or nasties like chlorine bleach, ammonia, parabens, phosphates, phthalates, fake fragrances, or VOCs, plus they’re hypo-allergenic, scent-free, vegan, gluten-free, soy, and nut-free. Instead, these tablets feature mostly natural plant-based ingredients, which they list and explain in detail on every product page.
All packaging is compostable and/or recyclable, all shipped orders are fully carbon offset, and while they still offer products with palm oil, they’re RSPO certified. Their refill model has helped eliminate over 1 BILLION single-use plastic bottles, plus their manufacturing (which is BSCI audited) prioritizes efficient energy and water use.
Blueland has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
My Personal Review of Blueland’s Laundry Tablets:
“Whether I’m washing on cold or hot (usually the former), these tablets dissolve and clean just as well, without irritating fragrances or residue left behind. But for extra stain lifting power, I suggest occasionally supplementing their equally-powerful Oxi Laundry Booster. All this goodness comes packaged in stylish ‘forever’ tins that keep my laundry shelf neat and organized. Refills are eco-packaged in home compostable envelopes which decomposed within three months in my home compost tumbler.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Meliora
Meliora has not been rated.
Meliora means “better” and their Laundry Powder Detergent has only four ingredients to clean your clothes: baking soda, washing soda, and vegetable soap made with organic coconut oil.
Their scented varieties include the fourth ingredient, organic essential oils—so no mysterious “fragrance” blends that contain undisclosed ingredients like conventional laundry detergents. It’s MADE SAFE® certified, plastic-free, vegan, dye, palm oil, phthalate, and SLS-free, made with organic ingredients, and amazingly affordable, with one tub good for 128 loads in an HE washer, equaling less than $20 for more than a year of laundry detergent.
Meliora is a Certified B Corp launched by Kate, a female environmental engineer who grew frustrated during her Master’s degree with the lack of disclosure when it comes to household cleaning ingredients.
Meliora also does loads of advocacy work, resulting in new California legislation that mandates companies to finally ‘fess up about their complete formulas. They’re also Leaping Bunny certified, woman-owned, provide living wages, use low-impact products and packaging, and give a percentage of profits through partnerships with Women’s Voices for the Earth and 1% For the Planet.
Meliora makes everything themselves at their factory in West Chicago, doing everything from creating the soap to packaging the finished product. Sustainability reports are also made available annually to ensure transparency about their practices and continued eco progress.
My Personal Review of Meliora’s Laundry Detergent Powder:
“Take my advice and PLEASE try the Lemon-Lavender-Clove. I am obsessed with its unique spicy and floral blend, which just works. I love how so much cleaning power takes up virtually no space on our shelves. The reusable canister packaging is mostly cardboard (with some steel components), so much of it is compostable if no longer needed. However, we recommend refilling it via their brown paper bags. For hardcore dirt and grime, they also offer a stain-removing soap stick, which I like to use to pretreat stains about an hour before washing. That said, their formula stand-alone is truly tremendous at dirt and odor removal.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
etee
etee has not been rated.
Small but mighty, etee make sustainable laundry detergent powder that’s also biodegradable, septic safe, free of fragrances, sulfates, and phosphates.
The powdered laundry detergent’s paper bag packaging features a biodegradable lining— including the ‘zip’ closure—made by Tekpak.
Canadian eco company etee caters to all your personal care and home cleaning needs, making them a favorite ethical alternative to Amazon. They hand craft all products using almost entirely organic ingredients (in a Toronto-based HQ lab-meets-factory fueled by renewables). They aim for no plastic, don’t test on animals, and focus on sustainable sourcing. Other than some beeswax in certain items, they’re also vegan.
They’ve prevented over 100 million pieces of single-use plastic from being produced and donate profits to local organizations like the Mississauga Food Project and Michael Garron Hospital.
My Personal Review of etee’s Eco Laundry Detergent Powder:
“I found this detergent does a pretty good job. After years of diaper washing with harsher detergent, I found this to be more gentle on the skin and clothes but still cleaned really well. For every day use, it’s ideal. And I was amazed at how long it lasted! Helpful when you have kids and pets that fill the hamper before the wash cycle is even finished.”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ’s Co-founder
SuperBee
SuperBee has not been rated.
SuperBee offers an un-bee-lievable way to wash your clothes with their one-of-a-kind Hexawash. Its magic ingredient is the magnesium pellets, which form an alkaline solution when mixed with water.
It comes as a reusable laundry pouch (made from GOTS certified organic cotton), which you easily toss in the drum with your dirty clothes and set to your normal wash cycle. Clean clothes with zero chemicals or nasties! When done, just line dry it alongside your clothes before using it again until it wears out after about 300 loads, at which point you can compost at home or use in your garden as fertilizer.
As a Certified B Corp, this Northern Thailand-based brand is a conscious and caring social enterprise. The female-owned business supports its all-Thai female workers by paying 20% higher wages than the Fair Trade Association’s suggested local living wage. Additionally, they support local volunteer fire crews in Thailand (especially during burning season) and provide any needed essentials.
My Personal Review of SuperBee’s Hexawash Eco Laundry Pouch
“Aside from its revolutionary reusability, I love the simplicity of the Hexawash cartridge. Just toss, wash, remove, and repeat. I suggest using Hexawash for lighter loads, since it’s not the absolute toughest on heavy soiling and stains; plus, it’s scent-free so toss in some essential oils if you prefer scented laundry. Most of all, however, I love how cost-effective this detergent is, providing 300 washes per purchase, working out to only $0.16 per load. Mine is still going!”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ’s Co-founder
Greatfill
Greatfill has not been rated.
Greatfill’s liquid laundry detergent comes with a chic refillable 28 oz stainless steel container and returnable liquid refill pouch, available in two sizes—one bottle full or four. When you have five empty pouches, send them back for cleaning and reuse via a prepaid envelope that comes with your first order.
There’s no synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, phosphates, phthalates, SLS, triclosan, alcohol, optical brighteners, animal byproducts, artificial scents, or colors. Thanks to the potency of this plant-based and biodegradable blend, you’ll only need one small cap full on the forever bottle.
The family-run business is Leaping Bunny-certified and entirely batch-made by hand in California, with the stainless steel bottles (which have a life-time warranty) and refill pouches made ethically in China. Products come in recyclable boxes printed with soy-based inks, plus they’re expanding to a range of physical refill stores across the US. To give back, they give to charities protecting our oceans, rivers, and lakes via 1% For The Planet.
My Personal Review of Greatfill’s Laundry Detergent:
“Greatfill leaves my laundry feeling soft and non-starchy without chemical fabric softeners. Not only does it really work to get clothes clean and smelling fresh, I love the mess-free pour cap and the delicious Rosemary & Lavender scent, whose subtle piney rosemary and lavender fragrance is nicely balanced with crisp camphor and bergamot.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Common Good
Common Good has not been rated.
It’s common sense to make laundry day more sustainable with Common Good’s biodegradable, septic and greywater system-safe, cruelty-free, and vegan liquid detergent. It features a subtle, natural bergamot scent, with no sulfates, harsh chlorine, phosphates, phthalates, dyes, optical brighteners, or undisclosed nasties present in the formula.
Common Good’s line of refillable cleaning products is entirely vegan, uses 100% biodegradable and plant-based ingredients, and is Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free.
For now, they ship exclusively within the U.S., using plastic-free recycled materials with natural, non-toxic ink. And while the refill pouches are unfortunately currently not returnable, you can cut off the pour spout and recycle them with plastic bags (if your local municipality allows it).
My Personal Review of Common Good’s Laundry Detergent:
“I tested Common Good’s Laundry Detergent and found that it performed really well. Just toss 20 mL in for front loaders and 40 mL for top loaders while dabbing some detergent to any tough stains 5 minutes before washing. I also suggest purchasing their chic Laundry Glass Bottle Set and I hope they offer a recycling solution for the plastic refill pouch soon. While it’s now made with #7 plastic recyclable with plastic bags, we’re all pretty well aware of the shortcomings of soft plastics recycling. But I especially liked that the set also includes pure NZ wool dryer balls. You can also purchase sets without these if you own some already.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
The Good Fill
The Good Fill has not been rated.
The Good Fill’s Nellie’s Detergent Powder sells in a 32oz refillable mason jar or a compostable paper refill bag.
Featuring no scent and just four highly effective ingredients—sodium carbonate, linear alcohol ethoxylate, sodium chloride, and sodium metasilicate—it’s highly concentrated and powerful while remaining hypoallergenic, so it’s ideal for delicates and lingerie. Plus, it’s septic-safe, cruelty-free, vegan, and free from SLES, SLS, gluten, phosphates, chlorine, fragrance, optical brighteners, and all other nasties.
The Good Fill’s shop—both IRL in Nashville and online offer all kinds of items we all use or dispose of regularly—plus founder Megan Gill’s favorite low-waste essentials.
For their USPS-only shipping (reducing unnecessary trips by specialty carriers), they make sure the “fill” is truly “good” by using 100% plastic-free up-cycled, recycled, recyclable, and compostable materials, plus plant starch water-soluble packing peanuts that we found dissolve completely in just minutes under hot water.
My Personal Review of The Good Fill’s Laundry Detergent & Stain Remover Spray:
“When using this, I need just one tbsp per full load, which I can say dissolves completely in cold and hot water and rinses completely clear. If you’re washing clothes by hand, this detergent is my top pick, as just a tiny pinch is all you need! For those extra stubborn stains, I spray on a bit of their stain remover and leave it to sit for a while before washing.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
What Else Can You Do To Make Laundry Day More Eco-Friendly?
Greening up your daily chores is just one small way to help reverse the cycle in which humanity is spinning.
As far as laundry day goes and aside from choosing better detergent, you can build an eco-friendly laundry routine (and save some time and money too) by:
- Washing less: Apply a little awareness to what actually needs to be washed – it’s surprising how long it actually takes for things like work clothing to get stinky so save yourself some time and pop them back in the closet for another day.
- Switching to cold water cycles for daily washes: hot water uses up unnecessary energy (and therefore generates carbon emissions and fat energy bills).
- Drying your laundry on the line: Either inside on a clothes rack or outside in the sun, this method of drying saves a lot of energy.
- If you have solar panels, wash when the sun is out: Avoid the carbon and cost of drawing energy from a (likely) fossil fuel powered grid and use the power of the sun to get it done.
- Use a Guppy Friend bag: Sadly, synthetic fabrics release microplastics into waterways. These wash bags can help by capturing the plastic fibers while in the wash cycle.
- Use dryer balls: If you must use a dryer, opt for wool balls that speed up dry time by up to 40%, are made from more ethical wool, are compostable at the end of their useful life and don’t release harmful fibers or chemicals. There are also alternatives to dryer sheets that are worth a peruse.
- Use an energy efficient washing machine: If you’re in the market for a new one, opt for a brand with better sustainability credentials, the best energy efficiency you can afford, and consider including a microfiber filter.
How We Found The Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents
Here’s a quick summary of what we look for:
- Cruelty-free: No testing on animals, ever. Look out for certifications from the Leaping Bunny, PETA, and Choose Cruelty Free.
- Vegan: Just because a product is cruelty free, does not (oddly enough) mean it’s absent animal ingredients.
- Non-toxic: We don’t want to see any toxic chemicals on ingredients lists (more on this below).
- Palm oil: At a minimum any palm oil should be sustainably sourced (i.e. RSPO certified)
- Ethical sourcing/manufacturing
- Thoughtful packaging: Compostable, biodegradable, or reusable (i.e. zero waste) packaging that helps eliminate plastic waste is the gold standard, but at the very least, it should be recyclable.
- Charitable Giving: We look for brands who donate to worthwhile causes.
Personal Reviews & Ratings
We also aim to personally review as many of the products that we recommend as possible. All but one on this list of sustainable laundry brands has been reviewed by us as part of our product testing. We also included brands who have been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials across 22 different criteria. Our ratings give us substantially more confidence in recommending a brand to our readers so we generally feature them at the top of our guides. Learn more about our ratings.
Ingredient Considerations In Laundry Detergent That Is Eco-Friendly
Ingredients matter both from a sustainability and health perspective. From a sustainability perspective we want to ideally avoid some ingredients that could do damage to fragile ecosystems when washed into waterways.
A Note On Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH / PVA)
In a nutshell (er pod membrane?) PVOH is controversial because it’s still a type of plastic, albeit one that is biodegradable given the right conditions. However, if the conditions aren’t right (and they rarely are), and it doesn’t break down properly, PVOH potentially contributes to plastic pollution of the environment. As with all sustainable choices, things are rarely black and white.
PVOH is an effective way to cut down on vast amounts of plastic packaging but strictly speaking, it doesn’t make for the most eco-friendly laundry detergents. If you’d rather avoid PVOH, stick to a laundry detergent powder or a concentrated laundry liquid in refillable pack (like those on this list).
From a health perspective, we opt for natural skincare ingredients that are non-toxic and plant based. Here’s a shortlist of some of the ingredients we avoided in this list of eco-friendly laundry detergent brands:
- Parabens: Linked to several concerning health problems including hormone disruption, tissue-specific accumulation, cancer and skin irritation
- Phthalates: Several concerning human studies link phthalates to DNA damage, reproductive functioning, neurodevelopmental effects in children when exposed pre or post birth and endocrine disruption. In animal studies, phthalates have been considered carcinogenic.
- Phosphates: According to EWG, phosphates are ranked as a “high” level of concern for severe skin burns and eye damage, lake pollution and eutrophication; and some concern when it comes to a long list of other health issues.
- Chlorine Bleach: Several health concerns are a significant concern according to EWG including skin allergies/irritations, asthma or respiratory issues, developmental/reproductive toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity and more.
Frequently Asked Questions For Sustainable Laundry Detergent
What is the most eco-friendly laundry detergent?
The most eco-friendly laundry detergents combine plant-based, safe ingredients, plastic-free packaging, and third-party certifications. Our top-rated options include A Drop in the Ocean (top rating from our proprietary assessment system, refillable system), Blueland (B Corp certified with 8 safety certifications), and Meliora (MADE SAFE certified, only 4 ingredients).
Are eco-friendly laundry detergents as effective as regular detergents?
Yes. We personally tested all 8 brands on this list for 30+ days and found almost all clean just as effectively as conventional detergents, though some we would use for lighter days (less soiled clothes). Eco-friendly options generally use plant-based surfactants and enzymes that break down dirt and stains without harsh chemicals like phosphates, chlorine bleach, or synthetic fragrances.
What’s the cheapest eco-friendly laundry detergent?
etee offers the best subscription value at $0.11-$0.18 per load ($20 for 180 loads on subscription). SuperBee Hexawash provides the best overall value at $0.17 per load for 300+ washes ($50 total). Meliora is the best powder value at $0.16-$0.33 per load ($21 for 128 HE loads).
Do eco-friendly laundry detergents work in cold water?
Yes, all brands on this list work effectively in cold water. We tested each detergent on both cold and hot cycles and found no difference in cleaning performance. Using cold water also saves energy and reduces your carbon footprint. The exception is washing clothing diapers where hot water is recommended.
What ingredients should I avoid in laundry detergent?
Avoid parabens (hormone disruptors), phthalates (linked to DNA damage), phosphates (cause lake pollution), chlorine bleach (respiratory irritant), synthetic fragrances (undisclosed chemicals), optical brighteners, and PVA/PVOH (controversial plastic coating on pods that may not fully biodegrade).
Closing Thoughts on Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Brands
We’ve been overloading the planet with plastics and chemicals for decades and the consequences are a lot worse than a broken washing machine.
Help take a load off by sharing this list of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents with family and friends to fast spin our way to a greener future.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July 2022 and has been updated several times since. The February 2026 update includes the addition of rated brands and additional contextual information around more sustainable washing routines and our approach.
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
Is there an EWG certified laundry product that is sustainable too? I’m finding it almost impossible to find anything plastic free that is also EWG certified. The more you know the harder it is to meet all the criteria. Any insight you have is welcome, thank you for all you do!