Washing capsules are impractical and much more expensive

Detergent capsules are the latest fad in stores, and some brands even mistakenly advertise all-purpose cleaners. But a real all-purpose cleaner can be used undiluted, to clean the tub or shower area, for example. With these capsules, you can only use the diluted.

See selection of all-purpose cleaners

The idea is the right dosage: one capsule dissolved in a bucket of water, and everything is ready to wash the floor. The environmental claims of this new form of presentation focus on plastic reduction with a high degree of focus. DECO PROTESTE has analyzed the environmental impact of packaging two brands in capsules: Continente Eco Capsules Wash All Apple Concentrate (20 doses), priced at € 2.39, and Clean Essence Lava Chão Eco Perfume Lavender (16 doses), priced at € 3.99. And compare it to Uni Vert, the best in the test, which is a liquid detergent sold in conventional PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles.

The effect of traditional packaging is eight times greater than that of capsule packaging

The effect of the conventional packaging is about eight times higher than that of the Continente capsule substitute, given the average value of the 18 effect categories. But this does not wash everything and is more expensive.

At the supermarket, the environmental claims of these capsules vie for consumer attention. They focus on reducing plastic to a high degree compared to the traditional alternative. Because less plastic does not in itself mean better environmental performance, DECO PROTESTE has compared solutions. In comparison, it was considered that all solutions would have the same potency and the same ingredients, allowing focus only on claims of increased packaging sustainability.

The packaging is completely different. to Continente and Clean Essence packaging Made of low density polyethylene (LDPE). uni vert packaging It’s from PET. For weight, the lightest package belongs to Continente, even with four more capsules than Clean Essence. UniVert packages are the heaviest packages under examination. In fact, it should be able to hold a liter of liquid detergent. On the other hand, this is also the one that lasts the longest 33 washes. The amount of detergent used in UniVert can be decreased or increased, depending on consumer preference. The same is not possible with capsules, so results may be slightly different. Ultimately, the Uni Vert alternative is not expected to have less environmental impacts than the Continente alternative.

To compare the three solutions, it was necessary to determine a period of use, taking into account one year, which means that the amount of packaging required will be different depending on the variant. For Uni Vert, 1.58 packs would be needed over the course of a year. For the Continent, 2.6 packs and 3.25 packs of Clean Essence will be required.

The environmental impact associated with classical packaging is superior to the two alternatives for all groups in the study. In contrast, Continente packaging has lower environmental impacts. The result is easy to explain: Continente cans are the lightest and Uni Vert cans are heaviest. Even taking into account the need for more Continente and Clean Essence packaging, the difference is not enough to offset the environmental impacts of the production stage.

With less plastic, it’s a lot lighter, but it’s just a floor cleaner, and it’s a little pricier on the wallet. With the exception of Sodasan All-Wash Detergent – Lemon, green options from DECO PROTESTE are cheaper per wash and are good for everything. Assuming all contents are used to wash the floor, the price is about 6 cents per use. With Continente capsules, each wash is 12 cents and Clean Essence is 25 cents.

A little really washes everything away

Most all-purpose cleaners fall far short of expectations. In the comparison, you can see the full prices and results. More than half of them fail, with mediocre performance. Only six have successfully passed the exams, and five shine with titles awarded by DECO PROTESTE.

In the composition of all three, there are no components with a significant environmental impact, which allows them to win the title of Green Choice. These all-purpose cleaners effectively clean medium to tough dirt, leaving no residue, and do not require the use of products with antiseptic or germicidal properties. Regular cleaning is sufficient, because bacteria quickly re-establish themselves. Numerous studies show that the pursuit of a clean environment is counterproductive to the development of immune systems in children, who need to learn how to deal with bacteria early on. More: These ingredients have a negative impact on the environment.