Ecover was born from seeing first-hand the devastating effect that phosphates from laundry and dishwashing products were having on aquatic life.
Now we’ve got an arguably bigger challenge on our hands – facing up to the world’s over-reliance on single-use plastic. In 2016, less than half of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling and only 7% of those were turned into new bottles [Source: The Guardian, A million bottles a minute: world’s plastic binge ‘as dangerous as climate change’, June 2017]. The resulting impact on waterways and marine life is, to put it bluntly, horrifying – with an estimated 12.7 million tonnes ending up in oceans each year.
RETHINKING PLASTIC
We want to be a role model to show the way forward for manufacturers like us to use better, more sustainable types of plastic and reduce our ‘plastic footprint’. To do this, we need to work out how to ‘close the loop’ by recovering and reusing as much packaging as possible and not let it go to waste. And we’re stepping up our efforts to find new biodegradable materials so we can move away from plastic altogether.
“Ecover needs to totally rethink plastic. Today we are making public our long-term ambition to stop using virgin plastic. It may take us several years, but it is an important goal for us and the planet.”
We’re on a journey towards closing the loop. You can select the different parts of the loop to read a little more about how we’re doing it.
Our PLASTIC Goals
We’ve made an ambitious set of new goals to do what we can to help stop plastic pollution.
Our New Bottle
Introducing our new Washing Up Liquid bottle. Made from 100% recycled, fully recyclable plastic.
Double fist bump.
So that’s PLASTIC.
When we say we live and breathe clean, we mean it. From the way we do business to how we source our ingredients to out war on ocean plastic – it’s all about finding new ways to put our clean values into practice. Even if it’s going to take a while to get there. Check out what we’re doing below.
Clean business
Being good to the planet and the people we work with is just as important to us as the bottom line.
PLASTIC
We’re waging war on single-use plastic. And we’re aiming to make all our bottles from recycled plastic by 2020.
Clean water
Our original phosphate-free formula helped clean the world’s waterways. Now we’re on the case to use less water, full stop.
Clean sourcing
We’re making our supply chain more responsible. Like buying local when we can, and using suppliers who share our values.
ingredients
You get out what you put in. Which is why most of our ingredients are made of biodegradable plant-derived substances.
Clean fragrances
We use fragrances that are designed to smell natural, fresh and wonderful – not overpower you with toxic chemicals.
Clean manufacturing
First we built the world’s most ecologically sound factory. Next stop: a zero-waste, zero-carbon footprint.
DESIGN
We believe that packaging design can have a positive impact on people and the planet.