Author: Maciamo Hay. Written in September 2020.
| What is this article about? |
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The purpose is to help you choose worry-free and guilt-free cleaning products, soaps, shampoos and detergents by knowing exactly the ecological impact of each brand and product thanks to this in-depth review of 37 eco-friendly brands and assessment of 16 multinational corporations.
The products of all ecological brands were carefully analysed for potential toxic chemicals, then rated based on these results, as well as their palm oil policy, use of recycled bottles, percentage of organic ingredients, use of renewable energy in their factory, waste reduction, reforestation programmes, charitable donations... This is the most comprehensive analysis of personal and home care products so far.
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Cleaning products, detergents, liquid soaps, shampoos, sunscreens and cosmetics can all potentially contain chemicals harmful to health or for the environment (especially to aquatic life, where these products usually end up). But their ecological impact can be even greater at the source, in the way ingredients are grown or extracted.
Palm oil is a major component of most cleaning products, detergents, body soaps, shampoos and toothpastes. You will find it in the ingredients under the names sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid, glyceryl or octyl palmitate, just to name a few (there are over 100 chemicals derived from palm trees). Most often even these names are hidden behind the more generic 'anionic surfactants' (see below). Palm plantations are one of the biggest drivers of tropical rainforest deforestation, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce over 80% of the world's palm oil. If you don't want to sponsor deforestation and the loss of biodiversity and extinction of species linked to it, it is essential to choose either products that do not contain palm oil or companies that source their palm oil responsibly in sustainable plantations.
Plastic pollution is another global concern. It is our responsibility as consumers to recycle plastic containers. But manufacturers can also do their part by using recycled plastic for their bottles in the first place, which limit even more plastic consumption.
Finally, all manufacturing has a carbon footprint. Some companies are doing more than others to limit their impact, be it by using 100% renewable energy or planting trees to offset their emissions. A few have even managed to become carbon neutral.
This page will:
4. List and rank chemicals that are toxic to aquatic life
5. List chemicals that harmful to health
Evaluation of ecological brands
There are many ecologically minded manufacturers of personal and home care products on the market. While all of them strive to provide products that are safe for health and for the environment, not all of them have the same ecological footprint. Some companies banned the use of palm oil altogether, while others use only sustainable palm oil (RSPO or other certification), but a few have no such policy. As even major corporations like Unilever or Colgate-Palmolive use 100% sustainable palm oil, an "eco" brand that fails this essential aspect cannot really be called ecological. Almost all use natural, plant-based substances, but they are not necessarily organic and pesticide-free, which could be a health concern for personal care products, and is always a concern for the environment (think of the plummeting bee populations). Some companies use only renewable energy during the production process and some have even achieved carbon and/or water neutrality. Some conduct reforestation initiatves or donate part of their profits to charities. All these are taken in consideration for their overall rating.
All the brands below are vegan, cruelty-free and 100% biodegradable.
| Brand |
Country |
Organic |
Recycled
bottles |
Palm oil-free |
No toxic chemicals |
Green Energy |
Others |
SCORE |
| Attitude |
![]() |
no |
no, but carbon neutral |
no |
yes |
Carbon neutral (reforestation programme) |
|
B+ |
| Avril |
![]() |
yes, 10%+ |
some |
no, but RSPO |
1 case |
yes |
Waste reduction, Ecocert |
A |
| Bentley Organic |
![]() |
yes |
no |
no, but sustainable |
yes |
no |
|
A- |
| Bio-D |
![]() |
some |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
1 case |
no |
|
A |
| Cattier |
![]() |
yes, 10%+ |
no |
no, but organic |
some |
partly |
Waste reduction, Ecocert |
B+ |
| Caudalie |
![]() |
some |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
no, but reforestation programme |
1% for the Planet |
A+ |
| Conscious Skincare |
![]() |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
A |
| Coslys |
![]() |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
partly |
Waste reduction, Ecocert |
A+ |
| Dr Bronner |
![]() |
yes, 90%+ |
mostly |
no, but organic |
yes |
yes |
Zero Waste, USDA Organic, B Corp |
A+ |
| Dr Organic |
![]() |
yes, 70%+ |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
A |
| Ecodoo |
![]() |
partly |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
partly |
Ecocert, 1% for the Planet, chartiable donations |
A+ |
| ECOS |
![]() |
some |
no |
no |
3 cases |
Carbon & water neutral |
|
B |
| Ecover |
![]() |
no |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
yes |
Zero Waste factory, Ecocert, B Corp |
A |
| Ecozone/Yonder |
![]() |
some |
yes |
some |
6 cases |
no |
|
B |
| Etamine du Lys |
![]() |
minor |
partly |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
partly |
Ecocert |
A+ |
| Faith In Nature |
![]() |
some |
yes |
no |
yes |
no |
|
B |
| Frosch |
![]() |
some |
yes |
yes |
4 cases |
? |
Active climate protection, EU Ecolabel, EMAS certified |
A- |
| Green People |
![]() |
yes, 90%+ |
no, but carbon neutral |
no, but organic |
yes |
yes |
Climate positive & waste reduction |
A+ |
| Greenscent |
![]() |
yes, 70%+ |
refill |
yes |
yes |
no |
Soil Association |
A |
| Kneipp |
![]() |
some |
mostly glass |
no, but sustainable |
3 cases |
partly and reforestation programme |
Waste reduction |
B+ |
| L'Arbre Vert |
![]() |
no |
no |
no, but RSPO |
1 case |
no, but reforestation programme |
EU Ecolabel |
A- |
| Léa Nature (Biovie, Dentavie, I Love Bio, Natessance) |
![]() |
yes |
partly |
minimal and sustainable |
yes |
yes |
Waste reduction, 1% for the Planet, charitable donations, Ecocert |
A+ |
| Le Petit Marseillais |
![]() |
some |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
Chartiable donations |
C- |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
![]() |
minor |
yes |
no, but sustainable |
3 cases |
yes |
Carbon Tax Fund |
A- |
| Maison Verte |
![]() |
partly |
yes |
no |
4 cases |
partly |
Waste reduction, Ecocert, EU Ecolabel |
C |
| Method |
![]() |
no |
yes |
no |
7 cases |
yes |
Carbon offsets, B Corp, Cradle to Cradle |
C |
| Modere (formerly Neways) |
![]() |
no |
no |
no |
7 cases |
no |
|
D- |
| Neal's Yard |
![]() |
yes, 90%+ |
mostly |
yes |
yes |
Carbon Neutral & Net Positive |
Charitable Donations |
A+ |
| Odylique |
![]() |
yes, 95%+ |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
Charitable Donations |
A+ |
| Provilan |
![]() |
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
no |
Blue Angel |
B |
| SANTE Naturkosmetik |
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yes |
yes |
minimal and RSPO |
yes |
yes |
Charitable donations |
A+ |
| Seventh Generation |
![]() |
some |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
6 cases |
yes |
Climate Activism, EU Ecolabel, B Corp |
B+ |
| Sodasan |
![]() |
some |
some |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
Carbon neutral (reforestation programme) |
Fairtrade |
A+ |
| Sonett |
![]() |
yes |
partly |
no, but organic |
yes |
yes |
|
A+ |
| Suma (Alter/native & Ecoleaf) |
![]() |
some |
yes |
no, but RSPO |
3 cases |
no |
|
A- |
| Urtekram |
![]() |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
|
B |
| Weleda |
![]() |
yes, 78% |
some |
no, but RSPO |
yes |
50% |
Ethical BioTrade |
A+ |
What does each brand sell?
Analysis of the composition of ecological products
I have looked up every ingredient of almost every product from the ecological brands above to verify whether they really did not use any toxic chemicals. Unfortunately a few products still occasionally contain chemicals that are either somewhat harmful to aquatic life or even for health (see list of toxic chemicals below). Here are some of the products that are affected. The letter in brackets represents the level of toxicity to aquatic life, A being the lowest and G the highest. Only chemicals from D to G were inlcuded, as A to C are considered reasonably eco-friendly. The number represent toxicity to human health. The safest ratings (1 and 2) were excluded.
| Brand |
Product |
Rating |
Aquatoxic substances |
Health hazard |
| Avril |
Body wash & shampoo |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Bio-D |
Hand soap |
D |
Cocamide DEA (D) |
- |
| Ecoleaf |
Laundry liquid |
E |
Alcohol ethoxylate (F) and benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Ecoleaf |
Toilet cleaner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Ecoleaf |
Multi-surface cleaner |
E |
- |
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (6) |
| ECOS |
Laundry liquid |
D |
- |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| ECOS |
Dish soap |
D |
Coco-betaine (D) and Ethylhexylglycerin (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Ecozone |
Glass & windows cleaner |
F |
Alcohol ethoxylate (F), Trideceth-9 (E), Alcohol C12-14 Ethoxylate (E) and Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
Butanone/MEK (3) |
| Ecozone |
Kitchen cleaner |
F |
Alcohol ethoxylate (F) and benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Ecozone |
Laundry liquid |
E |
PPG-5-Laureth-5 (E) and Sodium laureth sulfate (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Ecozone |
Toilet cleaner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Frosch |
Laundry liquid |
E |
Laureth-7 (E) |
- |
| Frosch |
Vinegar lime remover |
E |
Laureth-7 (E) |
- |
| Frosch |
Washing-up liquid |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Frosch |
Hand soap |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Frosch |
All purpose cleaner |
D |
- |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Frosch |
Glass cleaner |
C |
- |
Butanone/MEK (3) |
| Kneipp |
Shower foam |
E |
Laureth-4 (E) |
Isobutane (4) |
| Kneipp |
Body wash |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Kneipp |
Bubble bath |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| L'Arbre Vert |
3-in1 body wash for men |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
Cleansing conditioner |
E |
Behentrimonium chloride (E) |
- |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
Body wash |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
Body scrub |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
Cleansing conditioner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Love Beauty and Planet |
Shampoo |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Maison Verte |
Dishwasher tablets (Bioactive all in one) |
G |
Isotridecanol, ethoxylated (G) |
- |
| Maison Verte |
Laundry capsules |
F |
Ethanolamine (E) and Phosphonates (E) |
- |
| Maison Verte |
Washing-up liquid |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
- |
| Method |
Bathroom cleaner |
E |
- |
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (5), Methylisothiazolinone (7) |
| Method |
Body wash |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Method |
Hand wash |
E |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (5), Methylisothiazolinone (7) |
| Method |
Laundry liquid |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
Alpha-isomethyl ionone (4), Methylisothiazolinone (7), Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Method |
Washing-up liquid |
E |
Octylisothiazolinone (E) |
Methylisothiazolinone (7), |
| Modere |
Hand Wash |
F |
Benzyl Benzoate (E) |
Benzyl Benzoate (4) |
| Modere |
Liquid laundry detergent |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (5), Methylisothiazolinone (7) |
| Modere |
Multi-surface cleaner |
F |
Alcohol ethoxylate (F) and Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
Methylisothiazolinone (7) |
| Modere |
Shampoo for all hair types |
D |
Cocamidopropyl betaine (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Modere |
Shower gel |
D |
- |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Modere |
Washing-up liquid |
D |
- |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Seventh Generation |
Laundry liquid |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) and Laureth-7 (E) |
- |
| Seventh Generation |
Washing-up liquid |
D |
Coco-betaine (D) |
Phenoxyethanol (4) |
| Seventh Generation |
All purpose cleaner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Seventh Generation |
Glass cleaner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Seventh Generation |
Stone & granite cleaner |
E |
Benzisothiazolinone (E) |
- |
| Seventh Generation |
Wood cleaner |
E |
Laureth-6 (E) |
- |
| Seventh Generation |
Deodorant |
D |
Ethylhexylglycerin (D) |
- |
How eco-friendly are big manufacturers?
This ranking analyses the sustainability and environmental impact of cosmetics, personal hygiene and home cleaning product manufacturers. Only major corporations were included. The rating includes overall sustainability (S&P Global and CSRHub), climate change, water security, forest management (CDP), sustainable palm oil (Forest 500 + WWF), and Newsweek's Green Ranking.
The Forest 500 Index identifies and ranks large companies in forest risk commodity supply chains. There are ratings for palm oil, soy, beef, paper and timber. Only the palm oil was taken into account as it is the only relevant one.
The WWF Palm Oil Buyer Scorecard assesses companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain.
The S&P Global ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) for 2019 is a comprehensive rating and assesses company's overall sustainability with regard to economic, environmental, and social factors. S&P (Standard & Poor's) is a New York-based company specialised in corporate ratings.
The CSRHub provides ratings of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) using 12 indicators of employee, environment, community and governance performance. CSRHub is a B Corporation based in New York.
CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) is an organisation based in the UK which supports companies and cities to disclose the environmental impact of major corporations. It provides separate ratings for climate change, water security and forest management. Scores are for 2019 or the latest year available.
The American magazine Newsweek's Green Rankings 2017 are one of the world's most recognized assessments of corporate environmental performance. It focuses on energy, carbon, water and waste productivity.
| Company |
Palm (Forest 500) |
Palm (WWF) |
S&P Global |
CSRHub |
CDP Climate |
CDP Water |
CDP Forest |
CDP Average |
Newsweek |
OVERALL SCORE |
Kao Corporation ![]() (Attack, Bioré, Kanebo, Molton Brown...) |
79 |
|
78 |
97 |
100 |
100 |
95 |
98.33 |
|
88.08 |
L'Oréal ![]() (Garnier, Kerastase, La Roche-Posay, Vichy...) |
83.7 |
87.7 |
39 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
98.3 |
99.43 |
89.9 |
83.29 |
Colgate-Palmolive ![]() (Ajax...) |
73.2 |
67.3 |
82 |
94 |
95 |
95 |
78.75 |
89.58 |
|
81.22 |
Unilever ![]() (Cif, Clear, Dove, Lux, Omo, Rexona, Surf, Timotei...) |
86 |
67.3 |
90 |
95 |
100 |
100 |
98.3 |
99.43 |
42.9 |
80.11 |
Henkel ![]() (Bref, Dial, Fa, Persil, Schwarzkopf...) |
75.6 |
56.8 |
73 |
98 |
60 |
75 |
67.5 |
67.50 |
82.6 |
75.58 |
Johnson & Johnson ![]() (Aveeno, Neutrogena...) |
44 |
65.9 |
|
97 |
100 |
100 |
95 |
98.33 |
68.1 |
74.67 |
Carrefour ![]() |
59.3 |
58.2 |
73 |
95 |
100 |
80 |
77.5 |
85.83 |
|
74.27 |
Shiseido ![]() (Anessa, Laura Mercier) |
40.7 |
|
77 |
96 |
95 |
80 |
66.6 |
80.53 |
|
73.56 |
Natura & Co  (Aesop, Avon, Body Shop...) |
48.8 |
|
70 |
92 |
80 |
|
80 |
80 |
|
72.70 |
Amorepacific ![]() (Laneige, Mamonde, Innisfree...) |
46.5 |
|
70 |
88 |
80 |
80 |
|
80 |
|
71.13 |
Reckitt Benckiser ![]() (Clearasil, Dettol, Lysol, Harpic) |
68.6 |
30.9 |
76 |
89 |
95 |
95 |
77.5 |
89.17 |
|
70.73 |
Procter & Gamble ![]() (Ariel, Dash, Fairy, Head & Shoulders, Pantene...) |
79 |
65 |
60 |
93 |
95 |
80 |
|
87.50 |
33.1 |
69.60 |
Beiersdorf ![]() (Eucerin, Nivea) |
62.8 |
59.1 |
31 |
97 |
80 |
75 |
95 |
83.33 |
|
66.65 |
Estée Lauder ![]() (Aveda, Clinique, MAC, Origins...) |
50 |
|
29 |
90 |
95 |
|
|
95.00 |
|
66.00 |
S.C. Johnson & Son ![]() (Drano, Pledge, Mr Muscle, Toilet Duck...) |
52.3 |
|
|
67 |
60 |
|
|
60.00 |
|
59.77 |
Coty ![]() (Philosophy, Rimmel, Wella...) |
31.4 |
|
12 |
48 |
|
|
|
|
|
30.47 |
Note that supermarkets brands are among the worst performers and should be avoided. They typically contain toxic chemicals, do not use sustainable palm oil, do not have recycled containers, aren't organic, and supermarket chains hardly ever support environmental programmes or charities. Notable exceptions are Aldi and Lidl. Both companies declared that 100% of the palm oil in their products is already RSPO-certified. The packaging of both supermarkets' own-brand products will be recyclable, compostable or reusable by end of 2025. (=> see sustainability reports: Aldi and Lidl)
Ecological ratings of soap, shampoo & cosmetics brands
See => Ecological rating of hand soaps, body washes, shampoos and toothpastes
Ecological ratings of laundry detergent brands
See => Ecological rating of laundry detergents
Ecological ratings of washing-up liquid brands
See => Ecological rating of washing-up liquids and dishwasher tablets
Ecological ratings of home cleaning products
See => Ecological rating of home cleaning products
Avoiding chemicals that destroy aquatic life
Choosing a reliable brand of cleaning products is one thing. But companies do not make uniformly good or bad products. Even supposedly eco-friendly brands such as Frosch have been known to use chemicals that were at least somewhat toxic for the environment. In case of doubt it is better to look up the ingredients. Once you have found a reliable products, you won't have to check them again. So it's only a few minutes of your life to make sure you are not killing fish and other aquatic life in rivers and oceans, where water from the sewers will eventually end up (after sewage treatment, but water soluble chemicals will still be causing water pollution).
I have summarised the list of chemical products commonly found in home cleaning products and detergents that are toxic to aquatic life. I have used information from:
Chemicals were rated based on their toxicity and biodegradability this way:
- low : 0
- moderate : +1
- high : +2
- very high :+3
- long lasting : +3
- eutrophication : +4
- poor biodegradability : +2
The overall rating is calculated like this:
- A : 0 or 1 point
- B : 2 points
- C : 3 points
- D : 4 points
- E : 5 points
- F : 6 points
- G : > 6 points
| Ingredients |
acute toxicity to aquatic life |
chronic toxicity to aquatic life |
biodegradability |
Rating |
| Isotridecanol, ethoxylated |
very high and long lasting |
very high |
|
G |
| Nonoxynol (6, 9, 12) |
very high |
very high |
poor |
G |
| Nonyl Nonoxynol-9 phosphate |
very high |
very high |
poor |
G |
| PEG-2 oleamine (aka 2,2'-(octadec-9-enylimino)bisethanol) |
very high and long lasting |
very high |
|
G |
| Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(nonylphenyl)-omega |
very high |
very high |
poor |
G |
| Sodium Nonoxynol-9 Phosphate |
very high |
very high |
poor |
G |
| Triclosan |
very high and long lasting |
high |
|
G |
| Alcohol ethoxylate (C12-C15) |
very high |
very high |
|
F |
| DEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate |
high |
high |
poor |
F |
| Phosphonates |
low |
eutrophication |
poor |
F |
| C12-15 Pareth-7 |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Alcohol Ethoxylates (C12-14) |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Alpha-isomethyl ionone |
|
very high and long lasting |
|
E |
| Behentrimonium Chloride |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Benzisothiazolinone |
very high |
|
poor |
E |
| Benzyl Benzoate |
low |
very high and long lasting |
|
E |
| Ethylhexylglycerin |
|
very high and long lasting |
|
E |
| Laureth-4 |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Laureth-6 |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Laureth-7 |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Laureth-9 (polidocanol) |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Octylisothiazolinone (OIT) |
|
very high and long lasting |
|
E |
| Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate |
high |
high |
poor |
E |
| Tetrasodium pyrophosphate |
moderate |
eutrophication |
|
E |
| Trideceth-9 |
very high |
high |
|
E |
| Zinc carbonate |
high |
moderate and long lasting |
|
E |
| Alcohol ethoxylate (C10-C16) sulfated sodium salt |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Ammonium C12-15 pareth sulfate |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES) |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Cocamide DEA |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Cocamidopropyl betaine |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Coco-betaine |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Sodium C12-13 pareth sulfate |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Sulfonic acids, C14-17-sec-alkane, sodium salts |
high |
high |
|
D |
| Undeceth-5 |
high |
high |
|
D |
| 1,3-Dichloro-5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Acrylic polymer |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Alkyl sulfates (C12-18) |
high |
moderate |
|
C |
| Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) |
high |
moderate |
|
C |
| Dimethicone |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Lauramine oxide |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Methylisothiazolinone (MI) |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Myristamine oxide |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Phosphonobutanetricarboxylic acid |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Polyacrylic acid |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) |
very high |
|
|
C |
| Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) |
high |
moderate |
|
C |
| Sodium polyacrylate |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Tetrasodium EDTA |
moderate |
low |
poor |
C |
| Alcohol sulfate, sodium salts (C10-16) |
moderate |
moderate |
|
B |
| Alkyl polyglycoside |
high |
|
|
B |
| Formaldehyde |
high |
|
|
B |
| Lauryl glucoside |
high |
|
|
B |
| 1,4-Dioxane |
low |
|
|
A |
| Decyl glucoside |
moderate |
|
|
A |
| Phosphoric acid |
moderate |
|
|
A |
| Sodium stearate |
moderate |
|
|
A |
Most laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and toilet cleaners do not mention all the exact chemicals in the ingredients but just 'anionic surfactants' or 'non-ionic surfactants', as they are not (yet) required by law to specify them.
The most common anionic surfactants include SLS , SLES (D), ALS (C), ALES (D), and sodium stearate (A).
Non-ionic surfactants include Alkyl polyglycoside (B), Cocamide DEA (D), Decyl glucoside (A), Lauryl glucoside (B), Nonoxynol (G), Poloxamer (A), Polysorbate (A) and Sorbitan (A).
The most common Amphoteric surfactants in washing products is Cocoamidopropyl betaine (D). The only ones likely to find their way in the products above are Alkyl dimethyl betaines, including Betaines, C12-14 (even numbered)-alkyldimethyl, aka Alkyl(C12–14)betaine.
Nonoxynol being so much worse for the environment than other non-ionic surfactants, disclosing the exact chemicals would make a huge difference in choosing eco- friendly detergents.
Doing away with chemicals messing with your health
Some chemicals pollute the environment and threaten aquatic life. Others are hazardous to our own health, be it because they cause cancer, are toxic, irritating, cause allergic reactions, accumulate in the body over time, or are endocrine disruptors potentially causing thyroid dysfunctions, diabetes or infertility.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has developed a hazard scoring system for cosmetics and personal care products for its Skin Deep guide. I browsed through the various chemicals and ranked them based on their health hazard (10 being the most dangerous and 1 the least). Skin Deep allows users to build their own report by simply copying and pasting the list of ingredients from any cosmetic product. However I noticed that any product containing an undefined fragrance or colouring immediately gets a bad score of 8 for that sole reason.
The most toxic chemicals for health are heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury), parabens, phtalates, some amines (acrylamide, diethanolamine, phenylenediamine), petrochemicals (benzene, formaldehyde, toluene) and other petrol derivatives (ethylene oxide, glyoxal, methylene glycol, oxybenzone).
| Chemicals |
Skin Deep |
| Acrylamide |
10 |
| Arsenic |
10 |
| Benzene |
10 |
| Coal Tar |
10 |
| Dibutyl phthalate |
10 |
| Diethylhexyl phthalate |
10 |
| Diethanolamine (DEA) |
10 |
| Ethylene oxide |
10 |
| Formaldehyde |
10 |
| Isopropylparaben |
10 |
| Lead |
10 |
| Methylene glycol |
10 |
| Toluene |
10 |
| Butylparaben |
9 |
| DEA-C8-18 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate |
9 |
| Glyoxal |
9 |
| Mercury |
9 |
| 1,4-Dioxane |
8 |
| Hydroquinone |
8 |
| M-phenylenediamine |
8 |
| O-phenylenediamine, |
8 |
| Oxybenzone |
8 |
| Cocamide DEA |
7 |
| Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) |
7 |
| P-paraphenylenediamine (PPD) |
7 |
| p-phenylenediamine |
7 |
| Quaternium-15 |
7 |
| Resorcinol |
7 |
| Triclosan |
7 |
| Bronopol (2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol) |
6 |
| DMDM hydantoin |
6 |
| Ethanolamine (ETA, MEA) |
6 |
| Lilial (Butylphenyl Methylpropional) |
6 |
| Polyoxymethylene urea |
6 |
| Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether |
6 |
| Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate |
6 |
| Benzalkonium Chloride |
5 |
| Benzyl Alcohol |
5 |
| Chromium |
5 |
| Diazolidinyl urea |
5 |
| Imidazolidinyl urea |
5 |
| Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) |
5 |
| Octinoxate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, o-methoxycinnamate (OMC) |
5 |
| PABA (4-Aminobenzoic acid) |
5 |
| Paraformaldehyde |
5 |
| Parsol (MCX, MOX), escalol |
5 |
| Phenacetin |
5 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) / Teflon |
5 |
| Triethanolamine (TEA) |
5 |
| Alpha-isomethyl ionone |
4 |
| Behentrimonium Methosulfate |
4 |
| Benzyl Benzoate |
4 |
| Benzyl Salicylate |
4 |
| Hydrogen peroxide |
4 |
| Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate |
4 |
| Isobutane |
4 |
| Petrolatum / Petroleum Jelly |
4 |
| Phenoxyethanol |
4 |
| Polyacrylamide |
4 |
| Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) |
4 |
| TEA-lauryl sulfate |
4 |
| Alkyl Dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides (C12-16) |
3 |
| Butylated Hydroxytoluene |
3 |
| Chloroxylenol |
3 |
| Cocamide MEA |
3 |
| DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate |
3 |
| Hydrochloric Acid |
3 |
| Lauramide DEA |
3 |
| Linoleamide MEA |
3 |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (aka MEK or Butanone) |
3 |
| Myristamide DEA |
3 |
| Oleamide DEA |
3 |
| Polyethylene glycol (PEG, PPG) |
3 |
| Polysorbate |
3 |
| Potassium Hydroxide |
3 |
| Sodium Hydroxide |
3 |
| Titanium dioxide |
3 |
| Mica, muscovite |
2 |
| Sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate (SLS, SLES) |
2 |
| Styrene/acrylates copolymer |
2 |
| Butyl Acetate |
1 |
| Polyquaternium |
1 |
| Stearamide MEA |
1 |
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