Environmentally friendly
Dishwasher tabs without plastic: That’s why water-soluble film is the better alternative
Dishwasher tabs without plastic are usually in a water-soluble film
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To protect dishwasher tabs from heat and moisture, they are packed airtight in plastic. This ends up in the waste before each wash cycle and thus produces unnecessary plastic waste. This is not the only reason why water-soluble films are the better choice.
Conventional dishwasher tabs are wrapped in plastic and contain chemical ingredients that are bad for the environment: they get into our waterways via the drain water and cannot really be biodegraded well. Ecological dishwasher tabs, on the other hand, do without harmful active ingredients such as phosphates or chemical surfactants or fragrances and preservatives – and instead use plant-based active ingredients. In addition, most manufacturers rely on water-soluble films or even do without them altogether. We introduce you to a few popular products.
Stiftung Warentest names Claro the test winner
As part of a detailed study, Stiftung Warentest took a closer look at 19 different dishwasher detergents for machines (including twelve dishwasher tabs). The result was that only one product did well in terms of cleaning performance – and still had good environmental properties: Claro Classic. With the overall rating “Good”, the dishwasher tabs made it onto the podium. The only downside here, however, is that the brand is not (yet) available in all drugstores, but online it is. Otherwise there would be other ecological alternatives.
Comparison: Dishwasher tabs without plastic
1. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Tabs
The dishwashing tabs from seventh generation According to their own statements, they consist of 85 percent plant-based ingredients, water and minerals. You won’t find synthetic dyes, fragrances, phosphates or chlorine bleach here. In addition, the cardboard packaging, which is made from 100 percent recyclable materials, has been awarded an EU Ecolabel certificate for environmentally friendly products. The tabs also have a water-soluble film.
2. Love Nature dishwasher tabs
As the name suggests, the dishwasher tabs are also from Love nature an ecological alternative to conventional products. The “All in 1” tabs, which have been awarded the EU Ecolabel, contain 78 percent natural ingredients. In addition, they are fragrance-free and have a water-soluble film that, according to the manufacturer, is biodegradable. The packaging itself is made from 100 percent recycled fibers.
3. Klaeny dishwasher tabs
The dishwasher tabs from Klaeny Not only do they not use plastic packaging, they also have no water-soluble film. They are vegan (i.e. without animal ingredients), biodegradable and do not contain microplastics. The product has also been certified with a Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The manufacturer is so concerned about the well-being of our environment that he says he will plant a tree for every order.
Make your own dishwashing liquid: Here’s how
Have you ever thought about simply making your own dishwasher powder? In fact, it’s not rocket science at all: all you need is the right ingredients – and the right instructions. For 200 grams of detergent you need 50 grams of citric acid, 50 grams baking soda and 100 grams washing soda (all in powder form). Then proceed as follows:
Mix the washing soda with the baking soda and citric acid.
Pour the finished powder mixture into a resealable jar.
Put a tablespoon of powder in the dishwasher before each wash.
Source: Stiftung Warentest
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