Cleaning Products

The concern: Many conventional cleaning products contain synthetic polymer ingredients — often listed as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), or nylon on ingredient labels. These "liquid microplastics" wash directly down the drain and into UK waterways. Common UK supermarket brands frequently include acrylate crosspolymers and polyquaternium compounds that act as thickeners, film-formers, or opacifiers. Because UK wastewater treatment plants were not designed to filter out dissolved polymers, the majority of these synthetic ingredients pass through treatment and enter rivers, estuaries, and eventually coastal waters.

Why it matters: Cleaning products are used in every UK household, often daily. Unlike microbeads (now banned in rinse-off cosmetics), synthetic polymers in cleaning products are not yet regulated. The average UK household sends an estimated 1.5 billion microplastic particles into waterways annually from cleaning products alone. UK rivers including the Mersey, Thames, and Trent have been found to contain some of the highest microplastic concentrations in Europe. Choosing microplastic free cleaning products UK households can rely on is one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce your home's contribution to waterway pollution.

What to look for: Plant-based surfactants (from coconut, corn, or sugar cane), mineral ingredients, and essential oil fragrances. Look for certifications like Cradle to Cradle, EU Ecolabel, or AISE Charter for Sustainable Cleaning. Brands that publish full ingredient lists are more trustworthy. When reading labels, watch out for ingredients beginning with "poly-" (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester) or ending in "-siloxane" — these are synthetic polymers. Concentrated refill formats often have simpler formulations with fewer polymer additives. UK-specific certifications from the Soil Association and Allergy UK can also help identify genuinely clean formulations.