A man washing up (file photo)(Image: Getty Images/Image Source)

Warning issued to shoppers buying washing up liquid in 2025

15 Jan 2025, 04:16 by Alex EvansDeputy Audience Editor, Anita McSorley · Irish Mirror

With 2025 now in full swing, households across Ireland are being urged to rethink their washing up liquid habits to help combat plastic pollution in our seas.

Every year, thousands of plastic bottles from washing up liquid are bought across Ireland and some aren't recycled. This is said to be contributing to a global plastic waste crisis.

According to Ecover, a company that manufactures ecologically sound cleaning products, globally, less than half of plastic bottles produced for household products are even collected for recycling, and a shocking 7% of those are actually recycled. Meanwhile, an estimated 12.7 million tonnes of plastic bottles end up in the ocean each year, wreaking havoc on marine life.

To help reduce this, Ecover is encouraging consumers to make the switch from buying new plastic bottles to purchasing refillable options.

A spokesperson said: “In 2016, less than half of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling and only 7% of those were turned into new bottles. 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.

“Why melt a bottle to make a bottle, when you’ve already got a bottle? Does seem kinda crazy when you say it out loud. But where to start with that reusable plastic bottle? Be it washing-up liquid, laundry detergent or loo cleaner, you can refill it at one of over 700 Ecover refill stations. Find them at your local health food store, zero waste shop or some bigger supermarkets.”

Washing up liquid(Image: Getty)

For those still loyal to the popular Fairy liquid brand, they also offer an eco-friendly alternative, Express reports. Fairy sells a refill carton for its plastic bottles which allows you to refill a typical Fairy liquid bottle “more than twice.”

A spokesperson said: “Fairy Max Power antibacterial washing up liquid refill carton allows you to refill your 370ml upside-down bottle more than twice and helps you to save up to 85% of the plastic. The refill is recyclable. The Max Power bottle with no flip cap gives you Fairy’s ultimately convenient cleaning experience. It helps you get out of the kitchen faster by making washing dishes fast and easy.”

Alternatively, Lidl Ireland sells one litre bags of washing up liquid that can be used to refill old bottles.

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