There’s nothing like fresh laundry. The chore itself, however, can be a laborious one—and wasteful at that. For those who have made the switch from water-laden detergents to laundry pods, the concentrated packets aren’t quite as eco-friendly as their diminutive packages could lead one to believe.

While the industry claims laundry pods are biodegradable, one study from ASU states that 75% of plastics from detergent pods go right into the environment. For this reason and more, we’re all about sustainable laundry pods.

Think about it—each container of laundry pods can contain over 50 individual pods, and some bulkier choices go well into hundreds. Unused pods get tossed, left to decompose in landfills and leach into our groundwater. But even those that are used can affect our water supply, leaking untreated PVC and affecting our natural resources.

The good news? A new guard of laundry pods is taking the environment into account, all while leaving you with fresh and clean clothes. Between the clean, planet-friendly ingredients and truly biodegradable packaging, you can feel good about tossing them into your washing machine.

More and more brands are rolling out sustainable options for your endless loads of laundry. We took a deep dive into the world of the washing machine, testing some eco-friendly options and narrowing the market to a handful of options that are efficacious and environmentally sound.

Here, six sustainable laundry pods to consider during your next shopping haul. 

We’re huge fans of Dropps. After testing sustainable options on the market, the staff-favorite was officially added to the Brightly Shop. Because the formula is fragrance-free, it’s safe for all skin types and conditions—yes, even your very, very sensitive skin. The blend of natural enzymes and plant-based ingredients combine to fight stains and odors better than many of the grocery store alternatives on the market. 

Nature First Laundry Pods are nut-free, vegan, fragrance-free, dye and color additive-free, non-GMO, and paraben-free. So, how do the hypoallergenic pods clean your clothes? Well, that’s all down to a natural formula made with wild-harvested berry extract, sodium carbonate, and silica. 

Rosey offers laundry pods that smell just like a spa day. The relaxing scent of lavender lingers on your clothes in the best (subtle) way. Just throw the water-soluble pack in with your clothes and wait—your pieces will be stain-free, odor-free, and oh-so-soft. 

Another favorite is Grove Co.’s Power Clean. These packets live up to their name because they are, in fact, very powerful, with the naturally-fragranced formula working hard to remove even the most stubborn stains from your clothes. Plus, Grove’s laundry pods are plastic-free.  

Buy two packs for the price of one when purchasing Blueland’s laundry pods. Blueland’s products are all made with refillable packaging, so these nix the outdated idea of single-use. Instead, these pods come in a dry form designed to dissolve in your washing machine, rendering a plastic shell unnecessary.

Grab Green’s laundry pods are crafted to do three things to your clean, eliminate stains, and brighten colors. They’re non-toxic, chlorine-free, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and have zero dyes or color additives. That pleasant lavender-vanilla scent comes from a blend of essential oils.

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