Regular Vs. plant-based Detergents

The new trend in the detergent market is claims of being plant-based ingredient. Most traditional liquid detergents in the market are formulated using 10 or more ingredients. Each ingredient on itself or in combination will serve a certain purpose in the performance and functionality of the detergent.

Most of these ingredients are chemical materials both organic and inorganic which are artificially produced in chemical factories. Some are harsher than others but thanks to some new regulations put in place they are mostly non-toxic. Although they are safe to be used as a consumer product, they are not necessarily safe to the nature. One factor in determining if a detergent is eco-friendly, is the degree of the biodegradability. A biodegradable substance is capable of being decomposed by bacteria therefore going back to nature and are considered eco-friendly. PVA films are among that group of products unlike plastics they can be decomposed and return to nature.

Plant-based detergents are made using some ingredients that are derived from plants. Although there are many ingredients available nowadays that can act like their chemical counterparts, they tend to have much lower performance compared to the traditional chemical ingredients. This fact becomes discouraging to consumers that want to make the switch from regular detergents to more eco-friendly products.

Therefore, to make the switch to totally plant-based ingredients might not be always the best way to change consumer’s mindsets. Instead, use of a balanced combination of non-harsh ingredients and plant-based material to achieve comparable results can be a good marketing strategy to encourage consumers follow the new trend.