Any thoughts on the cost of production, transportation and environmental impact of liquid vs powder laundry detergent?
Laundry detergent liquid vs powder
- Thread starter sarahperdue
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grwasher_expert
Well-known member
Powders are surely less expensive to manufacture and have smaller environmental impact than liquids(think about how much water is used to make a liquid).On the other side,liquids are often more convenient to transport but again the plastic bottles are much less biodegradable than powder boxes that are made of cardboard.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
I'd guess that powders are better for transportation. You aren't shipping heavy water with a powder detergent. You don't need to worry about powder detergent freezing. The rectangular boxes can probably be packed more efficiently, too.
As for the environment, cardboard boxes are probably better. They can be made from a renewable resource.
I have no idea about the cost of production.
All this said, liquids seem to have taken over. Most people adapted liquid and have never looked back. And the companies making detergents are happy. (They may be happy because they represent better profit margins between the detergents and all the additives on the market!)
As for the environment, cardboard boxes are probably better. They can be made from a renewable resource.
I have no idea about the cost of production.
All this said, liquids seem to have taken over. Most people adapted liquid and have never looked back. And the companies making detergents are happy. (They may be happy because they represent better profit margins between the detergents and all the additives on the market!)
They aren't in wide distribution
But P&G does sell those refill pouches for Tide and IIRC some of their other detergents and fabric softeners.
But P&G does sell those refill pouches for Tide and IIRC some of their other detergents and fabric softeners.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
Yes, I've seen refill pouches. Maybe not for P&G products, though. It's a good idea, although I'd still guess that cardboard is a better choice.
Powders are in fact more expensive to manufacture. You need drying tower and granulation equipment - very expensive initial investment. Drying process is related with energy costs. They contain expensive ingredients like activators (TAED or NOBS), oxygen bleach, etc.
When you manufacture liquids, you need two things - giant mixer and filling machine.
Liquids are supposed to be sold cheaper, but they are not. Why? Another reason I don't buy them - cheaper product at the same price as the more expensive one. Not for me, thank you!
Transportation - I have no idea, maybe the same.
Environmental impact - both are biodegradable. In powder production less water is used, but you need more energy for drying, however, in liquid detergent production there is also heating.
Powders with high zeolite content leave behind mountains zeolites, which are very expensive and energy costly to re-activate (phosphates were better and easier to process).
When you manufacture liquids, you need two things - giant mixer and filling machine.
Liquids are supposed to be sold cheaper, but they are not. Why? Another reason I don't buy them - cheaper product at the same price as the more expensive one. Not for me, thank you!
Transportation - I have no idea, maybe the same.
Environmental impact - both are biodegradable. In powder production less water is used, but you need more energy for drying, however, in liquid detergent production there is also heating.
Powders with high zeolite content leave behind mountains zeolites, which are very expensive and energy costly to re-activate (phosphates were better and easier to process).
