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9 best eco-friendly laundry detergents that actually work
There's no need to sacrifice cleaning power for ethics with these tried and tested buys
Tested by Blossom Boothroyd and Reshma Akhter
Whether itchy skin is getting you down or you’re trying to live more sustainably, swapping your regular laundry detergent for the best non-bio or more eco-friendly alternatives could be a household move worth making.
Happily, there’s no need to sacrifice performance for greener credentials either, as these more environmentally friendly products have improved considerably since the Good Housekeeping Institute first started testing them back in the 1980s and 1990s. So if past experience has put you off, we recommend giving them a second chance!
What's the best eco-friendly laundry detergent?
The Good Housekeeping Institute experts tested a range of products to find the ones that best balance cleaning power with environmentally-friendly efforts. Read on for our buyer’s guide and full verdicts, or snap up one of our top picks right now:
Best refillable non-bio laundry detergent
Faith in Nature Aloe Vera & Rosemary Laundry Liquid
Read review
What makes laundry detergent eco-friendly?
Whether a detergent is ‘eco-friendly’ comes down to many factors, from the way it's made to how it's disposed of, and everything in between.
One element is packaging. Lots of the products on our list have more sustainable packaging, be it entirely plastic-free, or made from recycled materials. Also, consider buying a concentrated detergent as this requires less packaging and saves on the energy involved in shipping heavy volumes.
When it comes to formulas, it’s harder to define. There is legislation in place in the UK, for example, to ensure that ‘surfactants’ (the ingredients that make detergents bubbly) do biodegrade, albeit in very specific circumstances. Similarly, the quantity of phosphates allowed in laundry detergents is also limited by law. This means that some claims made by ‘eco’ products may be equally true of many products that don’t claim to be ‘eco-friendly’.
For more certainty about the formula you’re buying, look for certifications from trusted environmental bodies such as the Soil Association or The Vegan Society (if you’re after a palm-oil free product, for example). They will have investigated claims and ingredients to ensure they meet their own environmental standards.
Whichever detergent you buy, there are also more sustainable ways you can use it at home. Running your cycle at a lower temperature, for example, is a good start, as you’ll also be using less energy to wash your clothes.
In fact, according to Cold Water Saves, if your household switched to cold water washing for a year, you’d save enough energy to charge your iPhone over 30,000 times.
How we test laundry detergent
To find the best eco-friendly laundry detergents on the market, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute dirtied a pile of cotton and polycotton clothes with common household stains such as tea, mud and makeup. We then ran them through a series of 40-degree cycles with each detergent, before assessing stain removal, whiteness retention and any colour fading using a high-tech piece of lab equipment called a DigiEye.
The same detergents were also handed out to a panel – their feedback was taken into consideration when awarding each product an overall score. You’ll find our favourites – including bio and non-bio – below.
Because environmental claims are varied – from plastic-free packaging to the formulas themselves – our scores are focused on cleaning performance only. Instead, we’ve listed the eco claims of each product – and explained what to look for – so you can prioritise what’s most important to you.
Ecover Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Ecover Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Score: 91/100
If you care about the environment but are also faced with a mountain of grubby laundry, our winning bio detergent saves you from having to compromise. It banished 89% of stains from our polycotton clothes and proved particularly effective against baby food and sebum (the body oil that contributes to acne). It scored top marks for colour retention too, with only minimal fading after several spins in the machine, and it left all our white garments sparkling.
Tea stains got the better of it on both cotton and polycotton, but the majority of our panel said they would keep using it. Our only niggles involved the limited user guidance – we weren’t sure whether to dispense it into the drum or drawer – and the fact that the bottle doesn’t come with a handle and is therefore slightly tricky to grip.
Key specifications
| Format | Liquid |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Drawer |
| Capacity | 1.5L or 42 washes |
| Eco claims | Plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, bottle made from 100% recycled plastic and widely recyclable, made in Ecover’s Zero Waste certified factory, certified cruelty-free |
Smol Non-Bio Capsules
Smol Non-Bio Capsules
Score: 90/100
Determined to be as plastic-free as possible? Try these non-bio capsules. You need to sign up for a postal subscription, but you can give the nine-wash trial a go first – it’s free, bar £1 postage. It’s up to you how regularly a box arrives through your letterbox, and you can change the frequency at any time.
Not merely convenient, they also work a treat. They dissolved effectively and over 80% of stains disappeared from our cotton pile, including coffee, foundation and baby food. Once again, tea wouldn’t budge, and there was some colour fading after a few cycles, but whiteness retention was strong and most of the panel said they planned to use these vegan capsules again.
We’ve also tested Smol’s Stain Gel, which scored 79/100. It’s not available to buy separately but you can get it as part of Smol’s cleaning bundle, which includes the stain gel, nine non-bio capsules, nine dishwasher tablets, a multi-purpose spray, fabric conditioner, and washing up liquid.
All our panellists found the gel effective at removing general stains and loved that it kept their whites bright. It struggled a little with tougher stains such as red wine, but for things like baby food, sauces or blood, it's a handy cleaner to have in your cupboard.
Key specifications
| Format | Capsules |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-bio |
| Use | Drum |
| Capacity | 24 capsules |
| Eco claims | Lower levels of added chemicals per wash, 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging, certified cruelty-free and vegan |
Method Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Method Concentrated Laundry Detergent
Score: 89/100
This concentrated bio detergent comes in a choice of three fragrances – we tried peony blush. It smelled pleasant, but note that it’s not entirely plant-based, in case you're adversely affected by synthetic perfumes. In terms of effectiveness, it removed 90% of stains from our polycotton pile and only struggled with tea and foundation residue.
There was next to no colour fading, which is impressive for a bio formula, and it didn’t drop a point for white retention on nylon. Our panel unanimously agreed that they would buy it again, but it’s fairly bulky to store and the lack of a handle makes pouring an accurate dose a bit trickier. We noticed some slight signs of greying on our white cotton and polycotton clothing, too.
Key specifications
| Format | Liquid |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Drawer |
| Capacity | 5.6L or 39 washes |
| Eco claims | Naturally derived enzymes, 98% biodegradable ingredients, bottle made from 100% recycled plastic and is recyclable, certified cruelty-free |
Faith in Nature Aloe Vera & Rosemary Laundry Liquid
Faith in Nature Aloe Vera & Rosemary Laundry Liquid
Score: 85/100
This refillable laundry detergent comes as a five-litre bulk buy that provides you with a hefty 150 washes...that’s a lot of laundry! The aloe vera and rosemary scent was a big hit with our panellists and they praised the natural ingredients that are cruelty-, paraben- and sulphate-free.
In terms of cleaning power, it effectively removed baby food, tomato puree and coffee marks from our laundry. Red wine stains on cotton lifted well too; however, mud and grass proved tricky.
It was a little messy to refill bottles or pour the liquid directly into the washing machine drawer due to the bottle size, but that’s a small price to pay for an effective, eco-friendly detergent.
Key specifications
| Format | Liquid bulk buy |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-bio |
| Use | Pour direct into machine’s drawer or dilute 15ml with 5ml of warm water for hand washing |
| Capacity | 5L or 150 washes |
| Eco claims | Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben and sulphate-free, 100% natural origin aroma and essential oils, recyclable refills |
Ecover Bio Laundry Capsules
Ecover Bio Laundry Capsules
Score: 81/100
Everyone who tried these bio capsules was satisfied with their cleaning capabilities. In the lab, they impressed with their stain removal on both cotton and synthetic fabrics, lifting an average of over 80% across all our tests. Our testers also said they cleaned clothing well, even at colder temperatures.
The lilac and rose scent was a hit, and all our panellists found them easy to use, as there’s no messy pouring required. They dissolved well too, meaning our experts didn’t find any residue left on their laundry when they were hanging it up to dry afterwards.
Key specifications
| Format | Capsule |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Drum |
| Capacity | 34 capsules |
| Eco claims | Carbon neutral, recycled packaging, soluble capsules, made with 50% upcycled ingredients, suitable for 20C washes |
Persil Bio Biological Liquid Detergent
Persil Bio Biological Liquid Detergent
Score: 78/100
This recyclable bottle’s handle made it the most comfortable to hold and easiest to use of all the bio detergents on test. It triumphed over baby food, makeup and blood stains, fully erasing them from cotton and polycotton, and it did not fade our coloured items.
Unfortunately, our white cotton, nylon and polycotton clothes lost some of their brightness and we could still detect some tea stains after washing. You also have to order dosage caps separately. The price feels reasonable, especially if you have a colourful wardrobe, although quality could be better.
Key specifications
| Format | Liquid |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Drawer |
| Capacity | 1.43L or 53 washes |
| Eco claims | Plant-based and biodegradable stain removers, bottle is 100% recyclable and contains recycled plastic |
Green Edge 360 Laundry Detergent Sheets
Green Edge 360 Laundry Detergent Sheets
Score: 77/100
These super-compact detergent sheets are a convenient choice for anyone short on space or keen to cut down on plastic. In our tests, they removed over 80% of stains from both cotton and polycotton, while white cotton and nylon fabrics stayed bright after repeated washes.
Our panel also praised the easy dosing, mess-free, and compact sheet format, with many saying they liked the fresh fragrance and recyclable packaging. That said, darker colours faded more noticeably over time, especially black, and several testers found the fragrance didn't last after washing.
They’re on the expensive side too, but considering you can get up to 64 washes from this little box, it’s a great alternative to bulky plastic bottles.
Key specifications
| Format | Sheets |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Drum |
| Capacity | 64 sheets, up to 64 washes |
| Eco claims | Plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, plastic-free packaging, cruelty-free, made without parabens or phthalates |
BioD Concentrated Non-Bio Laundry Detergent
BioD Concentrated Non-Bio Laundry Detergent
Score: 75/100
This non-bio detergent’s bottle is made entirely from recycled material, earning it serious brownie points. Happily, it ticked many other boxes too. It delivered a flawless performance in our colour retention test and scored highly for whiteness retention.
It picked up 71% of stains from cotton, which isn’t bad, but it could have been better at getting make-up smudges out of polycotton. The carton’s handle made it easy and mess-free to use, but we struggled to read the measuring stick inside the dosing cap.
Key specifications
| Format | Liquid |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-bio |
| Use | Drawer |
| Capacity | 1L or 25 washes |
| Eco claims | Bottle made from 100% recycled material, ingredients are naturally derived, made in the UK, certified cruelty-free and vegan |
Dr Beckmann Magic Leaves Bio Laundry Detergent Sheets
Dr Beckmann Magic Leaves Bio Laundry Detergent Sheets
Score: 74/100
These great value Dr Beckmann laundry sheets come in a recyclable wallet and are easy to store if you’re tight on space. They release their cleaning agents by dissolving in the wash and our testers found they performed well, leaving no deposits on our clothes after the cycle had ended.
If you like a neutral fragrance, these sheets will please as their scent doesn’t linger on clothes. They removed at least 80% of stains from cotton and polycotton too, although some colours dulled a little and our whites weren’t the brightest. Our experts said they’d be an excellent pick for hand washing, whether that’s at home or on holiday when you want to give your clothes a quick refresh.
We tested the non-bio sheets too, awarding them a score of 72/100.
Key specifications
| Format | Sheets |
|---|---|
| Type | Bio |
| Use | Add sheet to drum - recommended dosage on back of packaging |
| Capacity | Up to 25 washes |
| Eco claims | Suitable for cold cycles, vegan, compact for delivery and transportation |
Which is better: washing liquid or powder?
When it comes to eco laundry detergent, there are many different choices. For a full breakdown, head to our piece on which is the right detergent for you. But, here's a quick breakdown.
The Good Housekeeping Institute has found that powdered laundry detergent is almost always the best at removing stains. That said, budget and personal preference should also play a role in your decision-making process.
Powder tends to be more affordable, but it's messy to use and it can be tricky to know how much to measure out per wash.
Liquids and gels dissolve more quickly and are bleach-free, which means they're gentler on coloured clothes. On the flip-side, this lack of a bleaching agent allows smells to build up in your washing machine, so you’ll probably need to clean it more frequently to avoid any washing machine smells.
Keen to minimise waste? You may wish to consider tablets and capsules, which provide you with the correct dose and dissolve more slowly, meaning less is lost down the drain.
Bio or non bio?
The difference between biological and non-biological detergent is that the latter doesn’t contain enzymes and is usually free from dyes and fragrances, too. The enzymes in bio detergents break down amino acids in protein-based stains such as blood and egg, boosting cleaning power, but they can also be an irritant and fade coloured garments.
If you regularly find yourself washing muddy clothes or wanting to brighten whites, opt for bio. If you have sensitive skin or wash a lot of delicate materials, give non-bio a try. We've featured both in our roundup.
Jasmine is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. With a background in design, she is committed to sorting the good products from the great –and helping Good Housekeeping readers do the same.
Throughout her career, Jasmine has written extensively about product quality, craftsmanship and sustainability, and is passionate about consumer rights. She previously worked as a writer and researcher at the product longevity platform Buy Me Once.
If she isn’t reviewing the latest gadgets for your home, you can probably find Jasmine cooking elaborate meals or crafting something weird and wonderful!
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
Reshma is the Junior Commercial Testing Manager at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she leads the commercial testing team, working with partners across a wide range of categories, including household cleaning products, home appliances, sports apparel, skincare, and travel experiences. With a master’s degree in chemistry from UCL, Reshma has a sharp eye for detail and product research, ensuring her market knowledge remains up to date.
Reshma has also appeared on the BBC’s ‘Inside the Factory’ feature representing the Good Housekeeping Institute on their Carpet Stain Removal Segment. While she enjoys dealing with numbers and the more technical aspects of testing, Reshma is also an enthusiastic foodie – and loves to explore London’s newest hot spot cafes and restaurants. She is also a whiz in the kitchen, keeping her team’s collective sweet tooth consistently at bay!
