Washing up liquid warning as shoppers urged to take action

Feb 20, 2025

Shoppers are being urged to make a big change when buying washing up liquid as fewer than half the bottles used to package the detergents are collected for recycling and just 7% are actually recycled. Ecover says 12.7 million tonnes of plastic bottles end up in the sea each year, and the company is urging people to stop buying new plastic bottles of washing up liquid and instead opt for refills.

An Ecover spokesman said: "In 2016, less than half of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling and only 7% of those were turned into new bottles. The resulting impact on waterways and marine life is, to put it bluntly, horrifying – with an estimated 12.7 million tonnes ending up in oceans each year.

"Why melt a bottle to make a bottle, when you've already got a bottle? Does seem kinda crazy when you say it out loud. But where to start with that reusable plastic bottle? Be it washing-up liquid, laundry detergent or loo cleaner, you can refill it at one of over 700 Ecover refill stations. Find them at your local health food store, zero waste shop or some bigger supermarkets."

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Detergent bottles are typically made from durable and chemical-resistant types of plastic to ensure they can safely store the contents without degradation or leakage. The most common types of plastic used include:

Properties: Strong, lightweight, and resistant to chemicals.

Common Usage: Widely used for liquid detergent bottles, including laundry and dishwashing detergents.

Recyclability: HDPE is highly recyclable and is often recycled into new bottles, piping, or plastic lumber.

Properties: Transparent, lightweight, and strong.

Common Usage: Occasionally used for detergent bottles, especially when a clear bottle is preferred for aesthetic or marketing reasons.

Recyclability: PET is highly recyclable and is often turned into fibers for clothing or new containers.

Properties: Durable, resistant to heat and chemicals.

Common Usage: Often used for caps or closures on detergent bottles, though sometimes for entire bottles.

Recyclability: Recyclable, but less commonly recycled than HDPE or PET.

Properties: Flexible, soft, and resistant to impact.

Common Usage: Occasionally used for squeeze bottles or pouches for detergents.

Recyclability: Recyclable, but often less so than HDPE and PET due to limited collection facilities.

Properties: Made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane.

Common Usage: Starting to be used as an eco-friendly alternative for traditional plastics in some detergent brands.

Recyclability: Depends on the type; some are compostable, while others need special recycling processes.

Detergent bottles often include labels, dyes, and multilayer designs that can affect recyclability. Efforts are ongoing to develop more sustainable packaging solutions, such as refillable containers and packaging made entirely from recycled plastics.

Washing up liquid is not the only problem. In the United Kingdom, approximately 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are purchased annually and of these, about 61% are collected for recycling, equating to roughly 4.7 billion bottles.

Consequently, around 3 billion plastic bottles are not recycled each year, often ending up in landfills, incinerated, or contributing to environmental pollution.

It's important to note that recycling rates can vary depending on the type of plastic and local recycling facilities. Efforts are ongoing to improve recycling infrastructure and public awareness to increase the proportion of plastic bottles that are recycled.