Washing up Liquid Investigation: Top 10 Eco-Friendly UK Brands
My latest product investigation is for eco-friendly washing-up liquid. Find out which 10 brands rated best for non-toxic ingredients and sustainability
This site uses affiliate links to sustainable brands to cover the website fees. All advertising is ethically-screened.
I’ve been using eco-friendly washing-up liquid for years now and I’d never go back.
Cleaning dishes is a daily task that (unfortunately) can’t be avoided, especially without a dishwasher.
But by choosing a sustainable brand, you can at least scrub your pans without feeling eco-guilt.
Conventional dish soap usually comes in a single-use plastic bottle full of ingredients derived from petroleum, a fossil fuel.
The multinational corporations that produce it create huge volumes of plastic and many (like Fairy) are not cruelty-free.
The eco-friendly washing-up liquid brands on this list:
Are small companies with strong environmental values
Use non-toxic ingredients
Have sustainable packaging
Can be refilled
Are vegan and cruelty-free
Before I get to my list of eco-friendly washing-up liquid, I’m going to explain what makes these products more sustainable and everything you need to know about refilling.
COMING UP
What ingredients are in washing-up liquid?
What is solid dishwashing soap and does it work?
Washing up liquid refills
How do washing-up liquid refills work online
10 best eco-friendly washing-up liquid in the UK
1. Ingredients in eco-friendly washing-up liquid
Plant-based surfactants
Washing-up liquid contains surfactants which are the ingredients that remove dirt from dishes and keep it suspended in the water.
Mainstream brands use fossil fuel-derived surfactants, many of which end up in rivers and harm aquatic life.
The alternatives are made from plants, such as coconut, palm oil, and sugarcane but these must be responsibly produced otherwise they can also harm the environment. A well-known example of this is palm oil.
Names of petrochemical surfactants -
Ethoxylated ingredients
Ethoxylated ingredients are another ingredient found in eco-friendly and mainstream washing-up liquids.
Ethoxylation is when you treat a chemical with ethylene oxide to reduce its harshness.
For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) mixed with ethylene oxide becomes sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). This ingredient is much milder on your skin so it is common in personal care products.
The problem with ethoxylation is that the chemical process causes a by-product called 1,4-dioxane to be produced. This is a fairly new substance of very high concern that has been found in UK drinking water but is not yet being monitored or treated.
I usually try to avoid ethoxylated ingredients in cleaning products if I can, but unfortunately, almost every single washing-up liquid in the UK contains them. There are only 2 on my list that don’t, but I haven’t tried them yet so I can’t tell you how effective they are.
Pretty much every brand uses ethoxylated surfactants, but some also use ethoxylated emulsifiers and preservatives. This is largely down to the fact brands have had to find something to replace parabens.
Spot ethoxylated ingredients - Ingredients that end in –eth (such as laureth), have eth in the middle (like the preservative phenoxyethanol), PPG, PEG, Polysorbate
Fragrances
Thanks to clever marketing, people often associate cleanliness with strong synthetic smells.
What they don’t tell you is the cocktail of chemicals used to make the fragrances, some of which are classed as “toxic to reproduction” by the EU.
This is harmful to our health and can negatively impact fertility and unborn babies.
Some examples of hormone-disrupting chemicals are:
Lilial (Butylphenyl Methylpropional) - classified by the EU as carcinogenic and reprotoxic, this synthetic floral scent has been banned in cosmetics in the EU but not cleaning products. It legally has to be listed on labels.
Phthalates - this is a group of chemicals used to stabilise fragrances. The most toxic ones have been banned, but others can be found in a wide range of products from soft plastics to fragrances.
Are essential oils sustainable?
Essential oils are considered more “natural” because they are sourced from plants, however, the overproduction of them is not sustainable.
This is considerably worse thanks to multi-level marketing brands, such as doTerra who have reported making 400,000 bottles of essential oils every day.
If every product in the world switched to essential oils, this could would lead to overharvesting. An example of this is Frankincense oil which is derived from Boswellia trees in areas where people live in poverty. The tree needs 25 years to grow and our overuse of this popular oil has made this tree endangered.
The only solution is to cut down our use of essential oils and try to focus on ethically sourced ones when necessary.
I try to use unscented products now and this has worked well for me for a long time. Walking down a cleaning aisle in a shop now makes my eyes water because the fumes are so strong!
I know some of you love perfume though. If so, the best thing to do is check with your favourite brands to see if they are making a conscious effort to source organic and responsibly produced essential oils.
What is solid dish soap and does it work?
Solid dish soap (also called a washing-up soap bar) works for some people, not others. This is largely to do with your water type.
A washing-up bar likely won’t work brilliantly in hard water areas as the minerals in the water attach to the soap leaving a white film on dishes.
If you have soft water, solid dishwashing soap could be an excellent zero-waste swap due to its lower carbon footprint and lack of plastic packaging.
Here are some sustainable brands making solid dish soap bars:
Plastic-free sponges and dish brushes
The conventional yellow and green sponges you use for washing up are made from plastic and release microplastics down the drain each time you use them.
To make your washing-up routine more sustainable, it is best to swap to a sponge, scourer or cloth made from natural materials. Bamboo and coconut dish brushes are also very popular.
I have made a separate post on this called 20 Alternatives To a Plastic Kitchen Sponge
Washing up liquid refills
Washing up liquid is an essential item in the home, however, using it contributes to plastic pollution.
Did you know that 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute? (source UNEP)
By swapping to a closed-loop system where the same bottles get reused over and over, we can eliminate a huge amount of plastic.
How to refill your eco-friendly washing-up liquid
If you want to make your dishwashing routine more sustainable, refilling your washing-up liquid is a great place to start.
There are two ways of refilling:
Take an empty bottle to your local refill shop - I have tips for refilling in zero-waste shops on my Instagram page.
Buy your refills online and pour them into a reusable bottle. Return the refill pouches or containers to the brand for free.
How do online washing-up liquid refills work?
Sustainable brands have got creative with ways to reduce single-use plastic and there are a few ways to get eco-friendly washing up liquid refills delivered.
1. Bulk-buying
You can buy washing-up liquid in 5-litre or 20-litre containers so it is always available to pour into your reusable bottle. These containers are made from plastic but brands will take back their empty containers to keep refusing them.
2. Refill pouches
If you don’t have the space or the physical strength to pour from a 5-litre container, you could opt for a 1-litre pouch. These are made from less plastic than a bottle, and you can send them back to companies to be rewashed and reused for free.
3. Sachets or pods
Another way to refill your products at home is by using pods or sachets. These contain concentrated ingredients that need mixing with water at home to create a cleaning solution. Many of these contain PVA/PVOH plastic pods which biodegrade in water. Unfortunately, many people disagree about the sustainability of these, such as the Beat the Microbead campaign which includes PVA in its red list of ingredients found to contain synthetic polymers which are often considered to be microplastics.
TIP: Save on postage by shopping at an eco-friendly retailer, like Ethical Superstore, Veo.World, or Bower Collective, by getting your other cleaning products and toiletries simultaneously.
Best eco-friendly washing-up liquid brands in the UK
I looked at the ingredients in all the washing-up liquid brands I could find and the following brands are the ones I rated best (listed in alphabetical order).
If you’re wondering why a brand isn’t on here, they either have the same ingredients as mainstream brands or they are keeping their ingredients a secret.
The brands featured here disclosed ingredients to me via email or I used safety data sheets. If you’d like to know more about what ingredients are in an individual product, ask me in the comments at the end of this post and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
A note on reviewing products:
I realise it would be helpful if I reviewed and tested all these products for you, however, it would be unsustainable for me to buy lots of products only to use them once. Therefore, I’ve only been testing the ones available in my local refill shop.
I have asked for opinions from other people though, and the following brands are all generally highly and get over 4 stars (out of five) on multiple websites.
It would be a great help if you could share the brands you’ve tried in the comment section below so that others can learn what is good and what didn’t work for you. If you do this, please include your water hardness.
Bio-D
📍Made in the UK
📦Bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic
♻️ Buy 5-litre+ bottles to refill the 750ml one
🌍Certified by: Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free International, Ethical Consumer Best Buy, B-Corp
🌴Contain RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
✅2x natural fragrances and a fragrance-free option
✅Hypoallergenic
Review:
Although not as sudsy as mainstream brands, this product foams up well when washing up and cleans effectively in hard water. I’ve used this product for many years (always purchased by me) and the 750ml bottle is still going strong. The 5-litre bottle lasts ages and is very cost-effective.
Where to buy:
Bower Collective
📍Made in the UK
📦Glass or plastic reusable bottles and 1-litre recyclable plastic pouches for refilling
♻️When you have 4-10 empty refill pouches they can be returned for free to be reused by Bower.
🌍 Certified: B Corp
🌴Contain RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
✅Vegan and cruelty-free
✅All suppliers meet the Ethical Trade Initiative base code which ensures workers are paid a living wage and treated fairly.
✅ Cost-effective - claims 1 pouch lasts 2 months
✅3x natural fragrances from essential oils or unscented option
Where to buy:
Ecoleaf
📍Made in the UK
📦100% recycled plastic packaging
♻️Sells bulk containers to refill the reusable bottle
🌍Certified by: Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free International, Ethical Consumer Best Buy, B-Corp
🌴Palm oil free
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
❗I noticed Ecoleaf laundry liquid contains Lilial, and it’s unclear if this product contains artificial fragrance too. I will email to find out and update you.
✅Vegan and certified cruelty-free
✅Owned by Suma, an equal wage workers cooperative
Where to buy:
Eco-mate
📍Made in the UK
📦Cardboard bottle, zero plastic
♻️Not refillable but can be home composted
🌴No mention on its website so I’m assuming it contains palm derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
✅Gives 20% of profits to ocean charities
✅Vegan and certified cruelty-free
✅Natural fragrance from essential oils
Where to buy:
Eco-Mate - use LAZY25 for 25% off
Faith In Nature
📍Made in the UK
📦Washing up liquid comes up a 5-litre plastic container. Empty 500ml metal bottles are available if you don’t have a reusable bottle
♻️The bulk sizes reduce plastic and it can be returned for free to be reused over and over
🌍 Certified by: Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free International, B Corporation,
🌴Uses palm oil which is certified by RSPO
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
❗Contains Methylisothiazolinone - a biocide preservative that can trigger allergic reactions when used regularly. Be cautious if you have sensitive skin
✅Vegan and certified cruelty-free
✅Natural fragrance from essential oils
Where to buy:
Fill
📍Made in the UK
📦Reusable glass bottle, refills come in a cardboard box with a plastic liner inside
♻️Send the plastic liner back for free to be reused by Fill
🌍Certified by: Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free Internation, B Corp, 1% For the Planet, Allergy UK, Ethical Consumer Best Buy
🌴Contain RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated ingredients
✅Natural fragrance from essential oils (confirmed by email)
✅Living wage employer
Where to buy:
Plastic Freedom - 10% off
Veo World - 1x bottle
Veo World - 5 Litre refill
Greenscents
📍Made in the UK
📦Glass bottle + plastic refill container
♻️5L and 20L refill containers can be returned for free to be reused
🌍 Certified by: Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free International, Soil Association Organic, Ethical Consumer Best Buy
🌴Palm oil free
🍃Contains a plant-based surfactant mix based on soap nuts and shikakai pods
✅3 natural fragrances or unscented option
Where to buy:
Homethings
📍Made in the UK
📦Powder in paper sachets to be mixed with 350ml of warm water
♻️Refills are available in 3s
🌍 Certified by: B Corporation, Vegan Society, Cruelty-Free International
🌴Company has provided no information about palm oil on their website
🍃Contains a plant-based surfactant
❗Contains an ethoxylated ingredient
❗Fragrance is a mix of undisclosed synthetic and natural ingredients (phthalate-free)
Where to buy:
Miniml
📍Made in the UK
📦Glass or recycled plastic reusable bottle, plastic 1-litre pouch refill, or 5L plastic refill container
♻️Return refill pouches and containers for free to be reused
🌍 Certified by: B Corp
🌴Contain RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based surfactants
❗Contains ethoxylated ingredients
✅Vegan and certified cruelty-free
✅Natural fragrance from essential oils
✅Closed loop system
Where to buy:
Miniml website - CLEAN10 for 10% off
Miniml starter kit - CLEAN10
Smol
📍Made in the UK
📦100% recycled plastic bottle for life and refill cartons
♻️Send cartons back to Smol for recycling if you can’t recycle plastic at home
🌍 Certified by: Cruelty-Free International, B Corp
🌴Contain RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives
🍃Contains plant-based ingredients
❗Contains ethoxylated surfactant
❗Fragrance is a blend of undisclosed natural and synthetic ingredients (Lilial-free + phthalate-free)
✅Vegan and certified cruelty-free
Where to buy:
List of the 10 Most eco-friendly washing-up liquids in the UK:
Sustainably Lazy is making sustainable choices simpler for conscious consumers around the world. If you love what we do, please support our work by sharing this post or donating what you can towards the website fees. For the price of a cuppa, you can help us inspire thousands more people.