ecostore, the innovative environmental and sustainability company, is challenging the country to once again embrace No Laundry Day this Friday 30 August, highlighting how making conscious choices when it comes to everyday tasks can positively impact the environment.
Laundry is a part of life for everyone, but ecostore is giving the country a pass to recognise the environmental impact of this everyday chore and to spark conversations about the many benefits of embracing more sustainable laundry habits.
This year, No Laundry Day invites Australians to consider not just what goes into a load of washing, but what it leaves behind—thousands of microfibres, many of which are microplastics.
As global awareness of microplastics and their environmental impact grows, so too does the research into how these tiny particles have ended up everywhere—from the highest mountaintops to the deepest ocean trenches. Studies suggest that microfibres, often shed from synthetic fabrics, are among the most common microplastics in our environment. Every load of laundry can release hundreds of thousands of microfibres, which then enter our waterways[i].
Adding to this is the significant amount of water Australia’s daily laundry habits consume – it’s estimated an astonishing 337 billion litres of water is used every year to wash clothes[ii], the equivalent of 134,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools[iii]. For perspective, if you laid those pools end to end, you could swim from Brisbane, through to Sydney, onto Melbourne, then Adelaide, and all the way to Perth and still have some laps to do[iv]. It’s a reminder to rethink how often we reach for the laundry basket.
“We understand that thinking about the environment can feel overwhelming, but small changes can lead to big impacts, especially when we’re all in the same boat, moving toward the same goal. No Laundry Day is our way of encouraging households to take a break from laundry for a day, while also reflecting on how mindful laundry habits can make a positive difference for the planet,” says ecostore CEO Pablo Kraus.
“Whether the only day you skip doing a load of washing is No Laundry Day or you challenge yourself to one less load a week, you’ll be reducing your impact on the environment while also saving money—washing clothes less frequently conserves water, power, and the clothes themselves, meaning you don’t have to replace items as often,” says Kraus.
Laundry habits have a significant impact on the environment. By being more mindful about how we wash our clothes and choosing products that minimise environmental harm, we can get the washing done in a better way. Ecostore recommends adopting the following practices to make positive changes to your laundry routine:
- Wait until you have a full load before starting a wash, rather than doing several small loads.
- Wash clothes only when necessary, and consider the care requirements for different fabrics. For instance, Vogue suggests washing woollen knitwear only at the end of the season[v].
- Commit to doing one less load of washing per week—No Laundry Day is the perfect time to start!
- Use lower temperatures for regular washes, saving warmer settings for heavily soiled garments. This reduces energy consumption.
- Whenever possible, dry clothes on a washing line instead of using a dryer, as this helps reduce the release of microfibres.
- Opt for concentrated high-performance laundry products like Ecostore’s 3X Concentrated Laundry Liquid, which require less energy and resources to produce and transport, and are cost-effective per use. Check the recommended dosage on the packaging – often people use more than they need, which isn’t economical.
- Choose eco-friendly products that are greywater safe. Ecostore’s concentrated laundry range is made with naturally derived ingredients that are gentle on your skin and free from harmful chemicals, making them safe for you and the planet.
For more information on No Laundry Day visit the website.
Enjoy the day off doing laundry on ecostore’s No Laundry Day, Friday August 30.
About ecostore:
Ecostore is a leading environmental brand offering shoppers home, body and baby care products for over 30 years.
Ecostore was built on being ‘safer for you,’ removing harmful or unnecessary chemicals and prioritising people’s health. Over the years, they have pioneered innovation in sustainability, developing products like sugar cane plastic bottles and launching initiatives such as Refill Stations in supermarkets. Their focus on reducing plastic consumption and creating plastic-free alternatives has saved tonnes of new plastic from being created.
Ecostore began in a small ecovillage in New Zealand and has grown to be a brand synonymous with sustainability, available across Australia, New Zealand and exporting across the Asia Pacific Region. In 2021, ecostore became B Corp certified, joining a global network of businesses that meet the highest standards for corporate social responsibility.
Today ecostore continues its mission to help families care for their homes, their health, and the world. This care goes into every home, body and baby product, because ecostore believes it should be easy to create a safer home, a healthier world and a better tomorrow.
To find out more information visit www.ecostore.com.
References:
[i] Microfibres – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722056108?via%3Dihub
[ii] See note 7 below.
[iii] An Olympic sized swimming pool is approximately 2,500,000L.
[iv] The journey from Brisbane to Perth via Pacific Hwy/A1 and M1is approximately 5,277 km. 134,800 Olympic sized pools end to end (50m in length) equals 6,750 km.
We use the following for our calculations, these are based on the best available information.
- There were 10,852,208 private dwellings counted in the 2021 Census (source).
- The latest available figures show that 97.8% of Australian households have a washing machine (source).
- We estimate there are approximately 10,613,000 washing machines in Australia (97.8% of 10,852,208, rounded).
- Both Australia’s Energy Rating and Water Rating programmes are based on households using their washing machine seven times a week or 365 times per a year (source, source).
- We estimate there are approximately 3,873,745,000 domestic machine loads done each year in Australia (Number of washing machines, 10,613,000, times the number of times each machine is run per year (365).
- The Australian standard test (full capacity load, warm wash) says a front loader will use 79L per load and a top loader will use 95L per load. We’ve taken the average of 87L per load for our calculations (source).
- Australians use an estimated 337,015,815,000L of water each year for washing clothes (3,873,745,000 washing loads per year x 87L).
- Australians use an estimated 923,331,000 of water each day for washing clothes (337,015,815,000L / 365 days).
[v] Vogue – https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/how-to-care-for-knitwear
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