Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons shoppers issued washing up liquid warning

Shoppers across the UK have been issued a warning over washing up liquid. This year, all shoppers who buy washing up liquid are being encouraged to make a change to benefit the environment.

Washing up liquid typically comes in a plastic bottle, with millions of bottles used by UK households every year. According to Ecover, less than half of plastic bottles made for household items were collected for recycling.

Just seven per cent of those collected were actually recycled. An alarming 12.7 million tonnes of plastic bottles ends up in the sea each year, causing significant harm to marine life.

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The firm is now urging shoppers to stop buying new plastic bottles of washing up liquid, Mirror reports. Instead, it wants shoppers to opt for refills.

Ecover said: "In 2016, less than half of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling and only seven per cent 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 biggersupermarkets ."