Unilever clarifies the facts regarding phosphates in laundry detergents

It is important to note however that in countries that have a well managed domestic waste water system, such as Australia, only low levels of detergent phosphates reach waterways as it is often effectively removed from waste water by sewage treatment plants.  The vast majority of the phosphate reaching Australian waters comes from agricultural sources and not from laundry detergents.  Phosphate is commonly used in laundry washing products as an effective water softener and cleaning agent. 

“We’ve responded to consumer preferences in our decision to offer non-phosphate across our laundry range despite the fact that Australia’s effective waste treatment means that only very low levels of phosphate reach Australian waterways, “ said Sebastian Lazell, Chairman, Unilever Australasia.

“Additionally Unilever takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and when we investigated the full life cycle of our laundry products globally, our environmental metrics work suggested that phosphate has a higher Greenhouse Gas impact than alternative ingredients. So as part of our ongoing sustainability work, we have substituted phosphate with lower GHG alternatives.”

Unilever is committed to delivering outstanding laundry results with superior products that help consumers reduce the impact of laundry on the environment.   As such, Unilever has developed the Cleaner Planet Plan (CPP) which sets out how Unilever will address ingredients sourcing, product design and consumer use across it laundry range to reduce the GHG, water and waste impacts of washing clothes.

One of the best ways consumers can reduce the environmental impact of their wash is through the use of concentrated formulas. In 2008 alone, the introduction of concentrated OMO/Persil Small & Mighty saved around 1.3 million litres of product and the equivalent to 22 million plastic shopping bags, as well as the removal of 650 trucks off the road.

Further details on Unilever’s Cleaner Planet Plan can be found at www.cleanerplanetplan.com.au.

* Some older product manufactured in 2010 that contains phosphate (indicated by ‘P’ on pack) may still be available in some smaller stores where sales rate is slower. This stock will be replaced by NP as new stock becomes available.