How to choose the right environmental bubbles.
This is the Future Fighters blog where anyone can be an environmental hero.
Hi Future Fighters, this week we are talking about soap🫧! I know that soap can be boring, but the amount of waste that soap containers contribute is astounding 😱. Here's the question, how am I going to make soap fun? I'll turn it into an old-fashioned bubbly contest! Which laundry soap will win the title of most eco-friendly?
How much plastic?
Did you know that the average amount of plastic laundry jugs thrown away each year in the US is over 700 million😱!! Some of these bottles can even end up in the ocean. That means an average family of four uses 8 bottles a year. But the good news is that we can make the number of bottles we use go down to zero!
The competitors!
There are lots of eco friendly soaps and laundry detergents but, we had to pick just three detergents to do the job. The competitors are:
Soap refill station
Pros
You can bring and use your own reusable containers to fill up 🫙
Supports local businesses
Up to zero waste
Cons
They still produce plastic waste
Not widely available
Pros
Comes in card board 🥹
Carbon offset 🚐
Donates to charity with every load 🥳
Available in subscription form
Cons
Works well for general use but not super effective on tough stains 👎
Needs more than one sheet per load
Does not dissolve well in cold water 💦
Pros
Clean ingredients
EPA Safer Choice
• Refills come in a compostable paper pouch 🌎
Good for sensitive skin 👶
Cons
Does not dissolve well in cold water💧
“We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.” — Barack Obama
So, who won?
The winner is... well sadly it's not that simple, everybody's different, we have different preferences, needs, and locations. A detergent we love up here in Washington might not be available wherever you live. It's impossible to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution that will work for everybody. So you can pick any of the options listed above, just make sure that the one you choose suits your lifestyle. What's your favorite eco-friendly cleaning product? Comment Below!👇
Now what?
Now that you are a certified soap genius, you can pick the best environmental soap for you and the planet!
🌱Until next time stay green!🌎
About the author
Hi I’m Vida! I’m 11 and live on Orcas Island,
Washington. I am a Future Fighter, even
though I don’t live in LA. I hope this blog can
help other kids connect with the Future
Fighters mission.
I had no idea how much I did not know about all things soap. Now I know, and as they say, "when we know better, we do better". Thanks Vida.
Oh thank you! This is very thought provoking. I’m sorry to the ocean for all the plastic I’ve been using. Personally, I’m going to look for a soap refill station here in San Antonio!