Test of chemicals in liquid detergents for colour washing

About the test

• Behind the test

  How we tested

  17 liquid detergents are included in the test. We have obtained the full ingredient lists online and confirmed by contact with the company.

  We have reviewed the lists of ingredients to see if the products contain problematic substances. The test is a declaration test. Therefore, no chemical analyses have been carried out and the test does not take into account concentrations.

  The test is part of the Danish Consumer Council THINK’s joint collaboration with Sweden and Finland called "Nordqual", where both the effectiveness of detergents and the content of problematic chemicals have been looked at. The EU Consumer Program funds the project.

  What we found

  How the products are distributed in the test:

  • Rating A: 12 products that are without a number of problematic chemicals.
  • Rating B: 1 product containing perfume.
  • Rating C: 4 products containing problematic chemicals, which among other things is allergenic preservation.

  We have found these problematic substances:

  • Isothiazolinons, allergenic, are found in 4 products - (methylisothiazolinone, octylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone).
  • Borates, which can damage fertility and are on the EU list of particularly problematic substances, have been found in 2 products (Boric acid, Sodium borate)
  • Butylphenyl Methylpropional, a perfumer suspected of being endocrine disruptor, to damage fertility and can cause allergies, has been found in 1 product.
  • LAS, which can be problematic for the environment, is found in 4 products - (Sodium Dodecyl Benzenesulfonate, TEA-Dodecyl Benzenesulfonate, Sodium C10-13 Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate)
• What the companies say

  Salling Group, which is behind Netto and Savin:
  
  "At Salling Group, we are very aware of and work intensively to phase out questionable substances in our Private Label products. This also applies to Savin, where we are working to make it produced without, for example, benzisothiazolinone and Butylphenyl methylpropional.

  Lidl, who is behind Formil Colour:
  
  "At Lidl, we constantly work to expand our product range in a more sustainable direction. This also applies to detergents such as Formil, where we already offer a Swan labelled product in the series. We keep up to date with any problematic substances and follow the ongoing debate closely - and will of course always comply with the applicable legislation."