Environmentally friendly
Dishwasher tabs without plastic: That is why water-soluble film is the better alternative
Dishwasher tabs without plastic are usually in a water-soluble film
© M-Production / Getty Images
To protect dishwasher tablets from heat and moisture, they are packed airtight in plastic. This ends up in the trash 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 packed in plastic film and contain chemical ingredients that are bad for the environment: They get into our waters via the runoff water and are not really biodegradable. 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 ingredients. In addition, most manufacturers use water-soluble films or even do without them entirely. 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 dishwashing 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 an overall rating of “good”, the dishwasher tabs made it onto the winners’ podium. The only downer, however, is that the brand is not (yet) available in all drugstores, but online. Otherwise there would be other ecological alternatives.
Comparison: dishwasher tablets without plastic
1st Seventh Generation Dishwasher Tabs
The dishwasher tabs from Seventh generation According to their own information, 85 percent consist of plant-based ingredients, water and minerals. You won’t find any synthetic dyes, fragrances, phosphates or chlorine bleach here. In addition, the cardboard packaging, made from 100 percent recyclable materials, was 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. Here, 78 percent of the ingredients are natural in the “All in 1” tabs, which have been awarded the EU Ecolabel. In addition, they are fragrance-free and have a water-soluble film, which, according to the manufacturer, is biodegradable. The packaging itself was made from 100 percent recycled fibers.
3. Klaeny dishwasher tabs
The dishwasher tabs from Klaeny Not only do they dispense with plastic packaging, they also do not have a water-soluble film. They are vegan (i.e. without animal ingredients), biodegradable and do not contain microplastics. The product was also certified with a Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The wellbeing of our environment is so close to the heart of the manufacturer that – according to his own statements – he will plant a tree for every order.
Make dishwashing detergent yourself: this is how it works
Have you ever thought about simply making dishwasher powder yourself? In fact, it’s not rocket science: you just need 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.
Fill the finished powder mixture into a resealable jar.
Put a tablespoon of powder in the dishwasher before each wash.
Source: Stiftung Warentest
You might also be interested in:
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.