Facility managers and BSCs are typically concerned about the impact the soap will have on a building’s plumbing rather than the impact it may have on the environment, distributors say. For starters, many dishwashing detergents contain phosphate – it’s a naturally occurring substance, but if too much of it gets into waterways, algae and phytoplankton feed on it and reproduce in massive numbers; causing an algal bloom.

For the sake of your health and that of the aquatic environment, get to know what’s in your dishwashing liquid. Dish Detergent – Environmental Impact.

Even though it’s a naturally occurring substance, too much phosphate that gets into waterways will cause algal bloom. The ingredients in your cleaning products fall into several different categories, added to provide different characteristics and cleaning functions. DIY Homemade Dish Soap: 1 3/4 cups water 1/4 cup grated castile bar soap, tightly packed 1/4 cup + 2 T liquid castile soap 2 t super washing soda 1 t vegetable glycerin 30-40 drops essential oil (I use 20 lemon to help cut the grease, 10 lavender and 10 tea tree) Mix water and grated bar soap in a pot. Phytoplankton and algae love to feed on it, which causes a massive reproduction. (first published November 2006, updated June 2009) Even the simple task of washing dishes can have an impact on the environment. The volume of detergent packaging heading to landfills, given the weekly purchase of detergent-based household products by a significant portion of consumers, creates an enormous environmental impact. The two prime areas of concern include Laundry and dishwasher detergents come in plastic containers that are generally non-reusable and non-recyclable, according to the EPA.

One of the biggest problems with commercial dishwashing detergents is that they contain phosphate.

It is not possible to do justice to soap's fascinating history in a single web page, but this overview ought to give many people incentive to reflect on the many, many soap products they use daily: liquid soap, bar soap, shampoo, liquid and powdered dishwasher and laundry detergents, and a host specialty cleaning products, all of which have a major impact on health and the environment. Soap is designed as a product to be used once and then flushed down the drain, so as expected, the environmental implications of soap manufacturing process are not nearly as important as its several other chemical processes.

According to a new meta-study, in which international scientists examined more than 250 different papers on soap, it appears that soap is not as harmful to the environment as we previously thought.

The age of a building’s plumbing is a big factor when choosing the right industrial soap.