EU agrees to clean up dirty detergents

Used to wash clothes, dishes, and surfaces, we encounter detergents every day. But existing EU rules do not sufficiently protect human health or the environment from harmful substances found in many detergents — much of which travels to our water supply [1].

The revised EU Detergents Regulation — now provisionally agreed — will help to clean up some of the dirtier parts of this sector. Including:

An improved text with stronger environmental protections

• Improved biodegradability requirements for organic substances added to detergents to make sure fewer substances are released into the environment.
• Biodegradability requirements for the polymer films around some detergents (commonly known as pods). This is a new measure to provide more certainty that these films and wraps will not lead to more micro- and nanoplastics in the environment.
• Facilitating the functioning of bulk sales and refill stations at retailers, which can decrease the amount of plastic packaging used for detergents.

The European Commission’s initial proposal did not tackle any of the issues above, so them being included will make this law better for the environment. However, the agreement still falls short on some points, ECOS says. Including:

Possibilities to introduce more ambition using other legislation

• The Commission will investigate lowering limits on phosphates and phosphorus content of most types of detergents — however, they have not set any limits. This is a major missed opportunity because limits would help to conserve this important resource, reduce demands on wastewater treatment facilities, and prevent pollution. This must be addressed as soon as possible via a new proposal or under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
• Long timelines for improvements to be implemented — including in delegated acts that will be accompanied by long transitions. This will allow the worst performers to continue polluting for years.
• A missed opportunity to minimise the use of substances of concern that harm human health or the environment. For example, the text does not make progress on substances like endocrine-disruptors or allergens, which are still used in many detergents.

Policymakers could address these issues in other legislation — for example, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Detergents were not prioritised in the first ESPR Working Plan published earlier this year, but they could be included in the review in 2028, or in the second Working Plan in 2030.

Quote

Emily Best, Programme Manager at ECOS — Environmental Coalition on Standards, said: This outcome is better than what was originally proposed for biodegradability, microplastics, and bulk sales and refill, which is fantastic — but with incremental changes and long timelines it isn’t perfect. We had hoped for more protections against harmful substances and pollution from detergents. To plug these gaps, policymakers must stay ambitious when implementing this law — and use the ESPR to establish stronger measures when needed. Nobody should have to choose between staying clean and staying healthy, especially when there are non-toxic detergents on the market.

*** ENDS ***

Notes to editors

[1] The updated Detergents Regulation was an opportunity to align with the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition with concrete action to improve water quality and resilience. It unfortunately does not go far enough on this, especially on microplastics that are released into the environment. See the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan_en

Further reading

• Joint letter, (April 2025), ‘An opportunity to reduce the harmful effects of detergents’: https://ecostandard.org/publications/detergent-regulation-revision/
• ECOS asks ahead of the Detergents Regulation revision (March 2025): https://ecostandard.org/publications/detergents-trilogues-regulation-revision/
• ECOS press release (February 2024), ‘European Parliament committee votes to clean up weak EU Detergents Regulation, but overlooks chemicals’: https://ecostandard.org/news_events/european-parliament-committee-votes-to-clean-up-weak-eu-detergents-regulation-but-overlooks-chemicals/

Contact

If you have questions, please contact:

Alison Grace
Senior Press & Communications Manager at ECOS
alison.grace@ecostandard.org
+32 493 19 22 59

ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws.