I Tried An Eco Laundry Detergent Solution
Up until quite recently, the options for low waste laundry detergent here in Canada was pretty slim. Unless you wanted to deal with the oversized plastic jugs commonly found, you had to make your own or hunt down an alternative at a natural food store. Thankfully, that is no longer the case and there are several different options out there. Refill stores are more common now too so it is easy to refill a sturdy container when needed.
On the hunt for new zero-waste solutions, I came across the Canadian, family-owned brand TruEarth and decided I would put together a review of this low waste detergent solution to see if the quality stood up to its wasteful competitors.
*This is an honest review of my experience with TruEarth. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I purchased their detergent on my own to try out before integrating affiliate links into this review. Should you choose to make a purchase from this post, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Key takeaways
TruEarth is a significantly better choice for the environment than traditional liquid detergent
The detergent strips work just as well as a leading big brand detergent
Choosing the environment in this sense, comes at a premium
Who is TruEarth eco-strips for:
Those who care about the environment and want to reduce waste
Individuals who have very limited space for storing laundry supplies (or who travel, or go to a laundromat)
Those who are willing to pay a bit of a premium for an essential product
Why are the TruEarth eco-strips good for the environment?
TruEarth strips are good for the environment because they minimize the amount of packaging waste from detergent. They also come packaged in a very light, recyclable cardboard envelope which is a big step up compared to its bulky, plastic counterpart. Its light mass cuts transportation fuel and carbon emissions by 94%. The strips themselves can be divided in two (or even more!) depending on the load size. They can also be dissolved in both hot and cold water to maximize efficiency. The detergent strips are made from biodegradable anionic and non-anionic surfactants.
They also have the following certifications according to the TruEarth website. You can read more about it on their website here.
Paraben-free
Phosphate-free
Free of added dyes
Free of chlorine bleach
Free of 1,4-dioxane, as certified by independent laboratory tests
Readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 310D
Hypoallergenic, certified by independent dermatologists
Vegan: no animal-based ingredients or testing on animals by us or our ingredient suppliers
How much do the TruEarth eco-strips cost?
You can buy them in bulk, but I purchased a package with 32 Loads of Fragrance-Free strips for $16.95 CAN which works out to approximately $0.53 per load. TruEarth strips are definitely a premium. While I may think the 94% emissions saved and biodegradable ingredients make it worth it, I want my review to be conscious of accessibility. A jug of the leading big brand works out to just $0.18 per load, or less if found on sale.
How do TruEarth eco-strips compare to the liquid detergent?
I did a little side-by-side comparison with some big brand liquid cold water detergent I have at home. I used both with cold water to really be able to give a fair comparison. To save on water and resources for this comparison, I used 1/4 of the detergent and 1/4th of a single strip for each test. I will also note that I reused all the batches of water for cleaning use throughout my home after I boiled it.
I used white scrap fabric and 4 of the common household items that stain to compare: coffee, dirt, makeup, and strawberries. I did not include bleach in either to see the true cleaning power of each.
TruEarth Strips
Zero Waste Creative - Before & After TruEarth detergent with cold water
Popular Brand Cold Water Liquid
Zero Waste Creative - Before & After Popular liquid coldwater detergent in cold water
The results were pretty consistent on both sides. As expected, there wasn’t amazing stain lifting results without the use of a stain remover or bleaching agent but both lifted the surface marks quite well.
Would I recommend TruEarth eco-strips to my community?
If the price is not an issue, I would definitely recommend these strips to my community. Even if you only had them as a secondary or alternative option for lighter loads, it would help cut down on a lot of waste over time. They work very well (comparable to tide) and the brand has a commitment to sustainability that cannot be beaten. Plus they are Canadian which is a bonus in supporting a local and circular economy.
The more individuals who purchase green products like this, the more affordable they will become. The reason the popular, heavy plastic filled products like Tide are so affordable is because of the mega conglomerate company and manufacturers behind it. If you are conscious of the environment but want to find an alternative to these strips, try visiting your local refill store and filling up a jug with the powder or liquid detergent they have available.
Have you tried any zero waste laundry alternatives? Let me know in the comments!
Hey, Claudia here
I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.