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Of 256 detergents in a test by Global 2000 and the Chamber of Labor of Upper Austria, a good 60 percent contain plastic. In quite a few products, manufacturers have dispensed with the addition of solid microplastics since a previous study in 2019 – this was only detected in 14 products. However, the proportion of products with water-soluble, synthetic polymers has doubled.
“Water-soluble plastic is now being used on a large scale, often as a substitute to solid microplastic,” said Lena Steger of Global 2000, adding that little is known about potential impacts. “In doing so, manufacturers are taking an enormous environmental and health risk.”
In total, 156 detergents contained industrially produced plastic. This time, it was mainly the water-soluble polymers that were found: in 2019, such substances had been found in 27 percent of the products, now already in 55 percent. By product category, it showed: 66 percent of washing powders contain water-soluble plastic. Plastic is most frequently found overall in gel pads – microplastics or the water-soluble variant were detected in 97 percent. In liquid detergents, 49 percent contained liquid polymers and four percent microplastics.
According to one study, people already ingest an average of about five grams of microplastics per week through a variety of sources, equivalent to the weight of a credit card, environmentalists said. The big problem, they say, is extreme persistence: even soluble polymers can remain in the environment as micro-pollutants, and they are usually not biodegradable.
According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), solid, intentionally added microplastics will soon be banned in detergents, among other things. A legislative proposal from the EU Commission is expected by the end of the year. However, it is to be feared that water-soluble plastic will be exempted, criticized Global 2000 and AK Upper Austria. They demand a comprehensive ban on all non-biodegradable synthetic polymers.
However, there are already many alternatives: 100 tested detergents manage entirely without plastic, 50 of which also contain no ingredients that are harmful to the environment or health, and they have been awarded the Austrian Eco-Label, the Austria Bio Garantie or other organic seals. These include two products from Spar’s own brand “Splendid Bio”, one from Müller “Blink Öko”, two products from the German manufacturer Frosch, as well as many sustainable products from smaller, domestic manufacturers, such as Planet Pure, Biobär or Cliir. “In response to our 2019 analysis, Rewe, Spar and detergent manufacturer Henkel have banned solid microplastics from their own brands,” Steger said happily. Lidl and Hofer have not yet fulfilled their commitments, he said, with Hofer announcing implementation in 2022.
- source: k.at/picture:pixabay.com
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