In these days of eco sensitivity and awareness of global warming we want to examine the often harsh chemicals used for household cleaning, which are often harmful to the environment. There are many alternatives for cleaning that are more environmentally-friendly; no excessive packaging, favouring the use of pumps and spray bottles that can be reused countless times. Additionally, there are items (such as toilet tissue and kitchen paper) that are decidedly wasteful and environmentally destructive, which can be replaced by sustainable options. In this review we examine some of these alternative cleaning and paper products.
ECOVIBE
In 2018 Joseph Battle founded Ecovibe, a company dedicated to providing eco-friendly and sustainable products for everyday use around the home. Ecovibe want to help the customer protect the planet and do their bit for the environment by reducing plastic waste and using less harmful durable products.
PRODUCTS
Reusable Washable Sponge Cloths
These are plastic free, hygienic, durable, reusable and fully compostable and priced at £3.99 for a pack of 4.
- Pack of 4 (yellow, blue, green, orange)
- 100% biodegradable
- UK made
- Cruelty-free
- Plastic-free
Cellulose Duck Sponge
This duck-shaped sponge is perfect for bath time, and is great value at £3.99.
- The cutest hygienic, durable, reusable and fully biodegradable sponge
- Holds up to 10x its own weight
- Naturally anti-fungal and long-lasting
- Made from plant cellulose
- Renewable and Sustainable
Eco Toilet Cleaner
This toilet cleaning solution is a marvel; and really strong to clean the most intransigent toilet. It’s sold as sachets with an initial investment of a reusable recycled plastic bottle. Next time, just get the sachet and make up a new toilet cleaning solution by simply adding water. Only £3.99 for the kit and £2.49 for the refills.
- Recycled plastic bottle
- Plastic-free sachets
- Just add sachet and water into bottle; sachet instantly dissolves
- Daily use
- Cruelty-free
- Biodegradable vegan formula
Zero Plastic Cleaning Sachets
These sachets, at £2.99, are plastic-saving and cost-effective for cleaning around the house.
- Just add water
- UK made
- Pack of 5: Antibac Bathroom Cleaner, Antibac Kitchen Cleaner, Oven Cleaner, Floor Cleaner, Glass and Steel Cleaner
Compostable Dog Poop Bags
Poop bags are a definite necessity for dog owners and at £4.99 these fully-compostable bags are very strong and do not contribute to the torrent of plastic waste in the environment.
- Extra strong
- 50 unscented bags
- Plant-based (made with EU-grown, GM-free cornstarch)
- Biodegradable
- Made in zero-waste factory (Belgium) that is powered by wind energy
- 100% recyclable packaging
Non-bio Laundry Detergent Sheets x 32
These laundry sheets smell great and are brilliant at cleaning, and very competitive at £7 for a pack of 32.
- Fresh linen scent
- Plastic-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Dissolves in hot or cold water
- Ultraconcentrated: add 1 strip into drum for normal load; 2 strips for large or heavily-soiled load
- All water and machine types
- Packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable
THE CHEEKY PANDA
Founded in London in 2016 by two entrepreneurs, all The Cheeky Panda tissue products are FSC 100% certified. This means 100% of the raw material comes from responsibly-managed bamboo forests. All The Cheeky Panda tissue products are certified by The Vegan Society. This means that their products contain no animal-derived products. They do nappies, tissues, baby wipes and toilet paper – all from bamboo.
PRODUCTS
Bamboo Facial Tissues
Soft and strong and very good for the environment. Available at £25.99 for 12 boxes.
- 80 x 3-ply tissues
- 100% natural
- Sustainable bamboo from 100% FSC certified virgin pulp
- No fertilizers
- No de-inking agents
- No BPA
- No added fragrance
- Box is plastic free
Biodegradable Handy Wipes
A bulk pack of 12 is £19.80. Very good and absorbent particularly for travelling.
- 100% bamboo
- 99% purified water and natural cleansing ingredients
- Super sensitive
- Designed for pockets/bags
- 100% recyclable packaging
Biodegradable Baby Wipes
All parents need lots of baby wipes. These are very strong and plastic-free. And they are £29.99 for a box of 12 packs.
- 64 wipes per pack
- 100% natural bamboo
- 99% purified water with aloe vera and fruit extract
- 100% compostable
Bamboo Paper Straws
These are very good, strong, straws and much better than those available at a well-known fast food restaurant … They are £71.76 for 48 boxes of 100, when buying in bulk. Also available in black and white.
- Box of 100 straws in green, black, blue, red
- 20cm long
- No plastic
- 100% biodegradable and recyclable
Toilet Tissue Rolls
Very soft and strong and suitably absorbent. £29.99 for a pack of 24 rolls of tissue.
- 4 rolls in pack
- 3-ply, 200 sheets per roll
- 100% natural with sustainable bamboo
- Dermatologically tested on sensitive skin
- Packaging 100% recyclable
Bamboo Kitchen Towel
This kitchen roll is very strong and absorbent and is available in a bulk box of 10 for £24.99
- Pack of 2
- 2-ply, 100 sheets per roll
SEEP
Seep (Sustainable Everyday Essential Products) is a small company that wants to ‘Clean Up the Way we Clean Up’, with aspirations to provide eco-friendly products to the world. They are on a big mission to eliminate 1 billion plastic cleaning products from landfill by 2030, using zero plastic, high-quality, natural tools.
PRODUCTS
Eco Rubber Gloves
Good quality rubber gloves at £4.99 a pair.
- 1pr, Medium size
- Zero plastic
- Made from sustainable Fairtrade rubber
- Biodegradable
- Recycled box
Eco Sponge Scourer
An eco sponge scourer. A 12-month supply of 12 sponges costs £25.00.
- Zero plastic
- Long-lasting
- Non-scratch, for kitchen and bathroom use
- Sustainably-sourced loofah and wood pulp
- Compostable
Dishwash Cloth
Sleigh the dishes with these, at £4.95 for a pack of two.
- All-purpose cloth
- Zero plastic
- Compostable
- Biodegradable
BAZOO
The founders, Tom and Sanmarie, met at University in 2017. Tom and Sanmarie graduated in 2020, during the pandemic, and were shocked to learn that 1 million trees are cut down for regular toilet paper every day. They explored the toilet paper industry and in November 2020 officially started Bazoo! They have a range of eco-friendly products to help people save the planet.
PRODUCTS
Eco Laundry Detergent
Theses fragrant detergent sheets can do up to 120 loads of washing and cost only £30.
- Ultra concentrated liquidless sheets
- One pack, up to 60 loads: Medium load = ½ sheet, Large load = 1 sheet, Heavy soiled load = 2 sheets
- For all washing machine types: Add to drum or liquid tray
- Dissolves in hot or cold water
- Contains no water, making it lighter, thereby reducing transport emissions by 94%
- No plastic
- Naturally hypoallergenic
- Biodegradable packaging
100% Tree-Free Toilet Rolls
This luxury toilet paper costs £46 for a pack of 48 rolls. They provide a sustainable route to one of the biggest resource problems in modern life, toilet paper. Bazoo also sells kitchen roll with similar advantages.
- Made from bamboo
- Each roll uses 60% less carbon emissions than regular toilet paper rolls, and 30% less than recycled paper rolls
- Regular toilet paper wipes out 1,000,000 trees every day
- No bleaches or dyes: Bleaches and dyes release poisonous toxins into ecosystems and oceans
- 100% plastic-free
- Box is 100% recycled and recyclable
THE GREEN COMPANY
The Green Company was started in 2019 by two students who were struggling to find alternatives to single use plastic items. They are a carbon negative business that markets a range of products that can help you save the planet and offset your carbon production.
PRODUCTS
Swedish Dishcloths
Dishcloths are made of cellulose and cotton, costing £6.95 for a pack of three.
- Pack of 3, ocean-themed (shells, starfish, seaweed)
- Reusable: 1 cloth is equivalent to 15 rolls of kitchen towel
- Machine washable, and super-quick drying
- 70% cellulose, 30% cotton
- Absorbs 16 times its weight
- 100% compostable
Laundry Detergent Sheets
These detergent sheets are perfect for tough laundry washing and are £28.95 for up to 128 loads. You can also buy smaller quantities as required as well as purchase a subscription.
- Singles and packs of 64
- Good for dry and sensitive skin
- Fresh linen (non-bio), also lavender and fragrance free
- No animal testing
- Biodegradable packaging
- Dissolves in seconds in hot or cold water
- Soft water – reg/large load = 1 sheet, heavy load = 2 sheets
- Hard water – reg/large load = 2 sheets, heavy load = 3 sheets
Multi-surface Cleaning Tablets
These are a fantastic idea to save on packaging. The pack has six tablets that can be reconstituted in 500ml of water to make an effective cleaning spray. They are £9.95 for a box of six and can also be obtained as part of a subscription, which makes them a little cheaper.
- Box of 6, fresh lemon
- Just drop into bottle, fill with water, shake to dissolve
- Plastic-free
- Eco-friendly
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Non-toxic
ECOLIVING
Ecoliving is a distributor for high-quality sustainable products, as well as producing their own branded items. They are committed to stopping microplastic from entering our oceans. All their products are designed to combat waste and plastic pollution.
PRODUCTS
Large and Small Reusable/Compostable Sponges
These are very tough sponges and are available from £2.20.
- 2-pack
- Plastic-free
- Highly absorbent
- Made of plant cellulose
- Machine washable or top rack dishwasher washable
- Made in the UK
Sweet Orange Dish Washing Soap Bar
A brilliant product, costing £3.25.
- Palm Oil-free
- Made in the UK
- Tree planted for every bar sold with Eden Reforestation Projects
Food Waste Bags
These are £7.50 for a roll.
- 25 on roll
- 10 litres capacity
- Compostable
- Made in Europe from waste wood pulp
- 100% biodegradable
Compostable Sponge Cloths
These are £3.60 for a pack of 4.
- Pack of 4
- Reusable
- Washable (washing machine or dishwasher)
- 100% biodegradable
- Made with 70% plant cellulose and 30% cotton
- Uses water-based eco-friendly inks
- Tree planted for every pack sold
Dish Brush with Replaceable Natural Bristles Head
These brushes are great value at £6 each and you can get replacement heads.
- Plastic-free
- Natural tampico bristles
- FSC-certified refill head
- Non-scratch
Pot Brush
These are £4.25 each.
- 100% wooden pot brush, FSC® certified beech wood
- Ideal for scrubbing pots, pans and dishes
- Plant-based bristles so will not shed micro-plastics into the ocean
StripWash Floor Cleaner Eco Strips
These are £7 for a pack of 24 and are brilliant for the floor
- Pack of 24 strips, fresh breeze fragrance
- Add 1 strip to mop bucket, add 3-5 litres of warm water, will dissolve quickly
- No microplastics
- Cruelty free
- No bleaching agents
- No preservatives
- No phosphates
StripWash Laundry Detergent Eco Strips
These are £6.99 for a pack of 24 strips.
- Pack of 24 strips, cotton fresh fragrance
- Plastic free packaging
- Biodegradable
- Zero waste
- Small load = ½ strip, Regular load = 1 strip, Extra dirty load = 2 strips
- Dissolves in hot or cold water
- No microplastics
- No bleaching agents
- No preservatives
- No phosphates
COMPOSTY
Composty was established in 2016 and is a family business helping other families live more sustainably and affordably. They sell value-led, eco-friendly, fully compostable cleaning products to combat climate change by reducing plastic waste around the UK, giving households a greener and more affordable alternative to the environmentally-friendly cleaning products on the market. They plant a tree for every product sold.
PRODUCTS
Compostable ‘Pop Up’ Sponges
These are £9.99 for a pack of 12 but singles are £1.79.
- Pack of 12
- 100% natural cellulose
- Box is the size of a pack of playing cards
- Plastic free
- Carbon footprint reduced by compressing sponges by 90%
- Box can be composted
- Soak in water to expand
- Can be cleaned in washing machine or dishwasher
- At end of use, cut into strips to aid composting
Compostable ‘Swedish’ Dishcloths
These are £9.99 for a pack of 6.
- Pack of 6, assorted colours
- Super absorbent: holds 20 times its weight in liquid
- Plastic-free
- Reusable
- Ecofriendly
- Machine washable
- Very long lasting – each cloth lasts 6+ months
- Made of 70% cellulose, 30% cotton
- Use instead of kitchen roll
Compostable ‘Loofah’ Sponges
These are £11.99 for a pack of 6.
- 100% natural cellulose sponge with loofah scourer
- 1 tree planted per pack sold
- Clean in washing machine or dishwasher
- Non-scratch
- Reusable for 6-8 weeks
NEAT
Neat believes that small changes can make a big difference, but when we act collectively the impact can be huge. They claim their products must be as good, if not better, than what currently exists on the market. Neat make cleaning products that perform brilliantly and cut down on waste, with no single use plastic and no need to ship water around the world.
PRODUCTS
Anti-Bac Bathroom Cleaner (Starter Pack – Sage & Mint)
This starter pack is £7.
- Kills 90% bacteria
- Plant-based
- Aluminium bottle
- Plastic-free concentrated refills
- Dilute refill (30ml) into 470ml water
- Spray onto surface, leave 5 minutes, then wipe
Daily Shower cleaner Starter Pack (Fig & Violet)
This starter pack is £7.
- Helps prevents limescale build up
- Aluminium bottle
- Free from single-use plastic
- Cruelty-free
- Plant-based
- Dilute refill (30ml) into 470ml water
- Spray onto surface, leave 5 minutes, then wipe
Anti-Bac Multi-Surface Cleaner (Mango & Fig)
This starter pack is £7.
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria
- Plant-based
- Aluminium bottle
- Dilute refill (30ml) into 470ml water
- Spray onto surface, leave 5 minutes, then wipe
Foaming Hand Wash (Green Tea & Bergamot)
This starter pack is £9.
- Plant-based with aloe vera extract
- 270ml tap water, add 30ml refill, secure pump, shake well before use
NOOKARY
Nookary focusses on probiotic cleaning products. They don’t rely on harsh chemicals. Their products are family and pet safe and non-toxic when used around your home. Nookary probiotics keep on working even once you’ve finished cleaning, with their Forever Bottles being refillable – so no more plastic bottles piling up under the sink or being thrown into landfill.
PRODUCTS
N004: Probiotic All-purpose Cleaner
This cleaning pack is £25. Subscribe to save 10%.
- ‘English Garden’ – Honeysuckle & Pear scent
- Includes 10 refills
- 500ml glass bottle
- Fill with water
Nookary Refill 500ml
Refills are £18 and forever bottles are £8.50.
- Equivalent to 10 x 50ml refills
- Pour 50ml into bottle, add 450ml water
- Non-toxic
- Can return empty pouch (for free) so it can be reused
N006: Probiotic Carpets and Upholstery
This starter kit is £25 and refills are £18. A subscription saves 10%.
- ‘Sicilian Lemon’ 50ml glass refill
- Add to bottle, top up with 450ml water. Shake, spray, clean
- Contains fermented Bacillus
- No palm oil
- Cruelty free
- Made in the UK
OCEAN SAVER
Ocean Saver is an emerging national brand with a focus on preventing plastics entering the sea and destroying the marine environment. The oceans are precious and Ocean Saver wants them to stay that way for future generations. But plastic is destroying them fast and polluting our planet to the point that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. Homecare products generate more than 29 billion plastic containers each year. Ocean Saver make plant-based, non-toxic EcoDrops that transform in water, creating a safe and powerful product to clean your home spotlessly, while you play your part in something vital. Small change. Big impact.
PRODUCTS
Dishwashing Loofahs
Priced at £8.50.
- Pack of 5
- 100% biodegradable
- Softens when wet
- Hang to dry after use: squeeze out, hang from cotton string loop
- Wash in washing machine or by hand
- No plastic
- Plant-based
- Non-toxic
- Made from loofah plant
Plastic-free Soap Dish
- Made from bamboo
- 100% biodegradable (dry dish between uses)
Dishwashing Soap Bar
Priced at £4.99.
- ‘Lemon Breeze’
- Plant-based
- Non-toxic
- Tough on grease
- Biodegradable
- Plastic-free
- No palm oil
- Does not produce bubbles
- Is concentrated so do not need to use much each wash
Dishwashing Brush and 3 Heads
Priced at £9.99.
- 100% plastic-free
- Plant-based
- Non-toxic bristles
- Biodegradable
- Made of beech wood, and sisal from cactus
All-in-One Dishwasher Ecotabs
Priced at £8.50.
- 30 ecotabs
- With salt rinse aid
- 100% plastic-free
- Plant and mineral based
- Cruelty-free
Non-Bio Laundry Detergent Ecosheets
Priced at £6.50.
- 15 sheets
- 100% plastic-free
- Plant-based formula
- Normal load/soft-med water = ½ strip
- Large load/hard water = 1 sheet
Compostable Sponge Cloths
Priced at £7.99.
- Pack of 4, multicoloured
- Holds 20 times its weight in water
- 100% plastic-free
- Biodegradable
- Made of cellulose and cotton
- Machine washable
- Can last up to 6 months if rinsed and dried between washes
EcoDrops refills
Priced at £9.99 for a six pack.
- 10ml refills
- All plant based, non-toxic, zero plastic waste, not tested on animals
- Drop refill into 750ml water. Shake until dissolved
- Multipurpose: Apple Breeze or Lavender Wave
- Kitchen Degreaser: Citrus Kelp
- All Floors: Rhubarb Coral
- Glass: Sea Spray
- Anti-Bac: Ocean Mist
- Disinfectant Surface Cleaner: Pink Grapefruit
- Bathroom: Pomegranate Tide
