Dishwashing Detergents - Machine

Some 30% of Australian households own an automatic dishwashing machine, which consume millions of kilograms of powder and liquid machine dishwashing detergents annually. These detergents present a significant burden on the environment. Direct environmental loads of machine detergents include phosphorous, a major nutrient to aquatic plant life and contributor to algal growth and waterway eutrophication (oxygen starvation); surfactants (cleaning agents) which can bio-accumulate in plant and animal tissues; and hazardous compounds and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances, among others. Furthermore, machine dishwashing detergents place loads on the environment indirectly via the sourcing and disposal of product packaging.

Like other detergent products, innovation in product formulation has encouraged the supply of environmentally preferable machine dishwashing detergents to the market. These detergents are low in phosphorous, do not contain hazardous compounds such as EDTA's, NTA, trichlorethane, chlorine or chlorine compounds, xylene sulphonate, opacifiers, APEO's or carcinogenic substances; they contain biodegradable surfactants (cleaning agents); contain fragrances approved by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA); use EU approved colourants; are packaged in recyclable, non-toxic packaging which is clearly labelled as recyclable; and are accompanied with full information regarding the best-use and environmental performance characteristics of the product. The environmental performance of these detergents can be assessed using an environmental scoring matrix which considers the total chemicals used in the detergent, its critical dilution volume toxicity, phosphate content, and its aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability.

Consumer Behaviour Tips

• Choose products with EU approved colourants, or none at all;
• Choose detergents that are low in or do not contain phosphorous or sodium;
• Only purchase detergents that do not contain hazardous or carcinogenic substances;
• Choose detergents supplied in recyclable packaging;
• Opt for products that have minimal packaging to start with;
• Select detergents that are biodegradable;
• Use a water-saver or similar device to divert wash-water onto gardens, rather than into drains;
• Avoid detergents that have excessive fragrance, or ensure that the fragrance in question is IFRA approved;
• Recycle all waste packaging where possible;

For specific information view our Environmental Standard for Machine Dishwashing Detergents: www.geca.org.au/standardsregister.htm