Ecover strives to minimize its impact on nature and
people by using ingredients that are screened for their environmental
effects or by developing innovative molecules that are sustainable. The
components that form the basis of products such as dish washing liquids
are chemicals known as surfactants. These work by dissolving party in
water and partly in food and grime. Detergent generally end up in the
aquatic environment (rivers, ponds, reservoirs, etc.) It is therefore
vital that they degrade fast and completely.
Surfactants derived
from petrochemicals are often toxic to aquatic life and do not
completely biodegrade in all conditions, aerobic and anaerobic.
Legally,
only surface active substances in the product need to be biodegradable.
Ecover tests the complete product and not just the surfactants which
make up just a part of the total formula. Ecover's tests include
measuring aquatic toxicity and calculating critical dilution volumes,
which is the amount of water needed to neutralize a functional dose of
Ecover Toiler Cleaner, takes about 400 times less water to neutralize
than its nearest competitor.