If you buy washing-up liquid, experts are urging you to make a change in 2025 to help reduce harm to the environment.
Most washing-up liquids come in plastic bottles, and UK households use millions of these bottles every year. However, both the ingredients in the liquid and the plastic bottles can damage the environment every time you wash dishes.
Washing-up liquids contain chemicals called “surfactants,” which help remove dirt from dishes. But many mainstream brands use surfactants made from fossil fuels, which can end up in rivers and harm aquatic life.
Ethical Superstore explains that common surfactants like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) don’t break down easily and can linger in waterways, damaging marine ecosystems.
A study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology highlighted how surfactants can harm marine life by damaging fish gills and even causing blindness in fish. Additionally, plastic bottles contribute to the UK’s waste problem, with only one-third of plastic packaging being recycled.
In 2018, a 47-year-old washing-up liquid bottle was found on a beach, showing how long plastic can last in the environment.
To reduce plastic waste, Fairy offers refillable cartons for its washing-up liquid, which can refill a standard bottle more than twice and cut plastic use by 85%. Other options include solid washing-up bars (better for soft water areas) and plant-based, refillable liquids.
By switching to these alternatives, you can help protect marine life and reduce plastic pollution.
