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American Cleaning Institute Challenges Petition on Polyvinyl Alcohol Film in Laundry, Dish Detergent

In response to efforts from Blueland and the Plastic Pollution Coalition regarding PVA and PVOH placement on the EPA Safer Choice List.

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The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) issued the following statement in response to a new petition from Blueland and the Plastic Pollution Coalition calling for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit the use of polyvinyl alcohol film (also known as PVA or PVOH film) in laundry packets and automatic dishwasher detergent tablets.
 
According to ACI, detergent packets contain highly concentrated cleaning formulas encased in a water-soluble film which is made of PVA/PVOH. These films are designed to dissolve completely in washing and dishwashing machines and then flow down the drain with the wash water. The films used in detergent packets, along with the ingredients they encapsulate, are safe to use in the home and meet rigorous test methods to ensure they fully dissolve and biodegrade after use.
 
The PVOH used in detergent products is accepted by the U.S. EPA Safer Choice program and other eco-labeling organizations around the world. PVOH is listed on the EPA’s Safer Chemicals Ingredients List.
 
According to ACI, the design innovations in this format allows for more concentrated formulas to deliver effective cleaning power. The form also uses significantly less water than traditional detergent formats, allowing for less CO2 emission from shipping activities because of the products’ reduced weight and packaging, and they are very effective in washing clothing in cold water temperatures.
 
ACI contends in a statement: “Because this chemistry has enabled these innovative laundry and automatic dishwashing product formats, it is extremely disappointing to learn about the misinformation that is being spread about PVA/PVOH.
 
“We believe this recent effort by NGOs to petition the EPA is part of an ongoing marketing campaign funded by a company with an interest in preventing other companies from using this technology. This marketing campaign, which aims to discredit PVOH and the companies that use it, ignores decades of science and research demonstrating the biodegradability of this chemistry.”
 

Blueland, Plastic Pollution Coalition Counter PVA Safety

On Nov. 15, Blueland and Plastic Pollution Coalition announced a formal action to petition the EPA to regulate the use of plastic film (PVA) in consumer packaged goods, including all laundry detergent pods and sheets by requesting health and environmental safety tests of Polyvinyl Alcohol and removing it from the Safer Choice List and Safer Chemical Ingredients List until the EPA can complete the requested health and environmental safety testing. 

The efforts are joined by Made Safe, Beyond Plastics, Plastic Oceans International, 5 Gyres, Lonely Whale, and the Shaw Institute and hope to garner support from the public with their petition, said Blueland in a media statement.

This announcement follows research published in the International Journal of Environmental and Public Health, conducted by researchers at Plastic Oceans International and commissioned by Blueland on the plastic film used in plastic PVA laundry and dishwasher pods. The study shows that over ~75% of intact plastic particles from laundry and dishwasher pods can be released into our oceans, rivers, canals, and soil, highlighting that pods are plastic and not readily biodegradable.

In addition to laundry detergent pods and sheets, Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is widely used to produce a wide range of consumer goods such as fishing gear and hospital laundry bags, said the Blueland statement.

“We are thrilled to join forces with our Coalition member Blueland to help raise awareness around PVA and take action to prevent additional plastics and toxic chemicals from entering our environment and bodies. We want everyone to understand in simple terms that Pods are Plastic, and PVA—like all plastics—threaten the health of people and the planet,” says Julia Cohen, MPH, co-founder and managing director of Plastic Pollution Coalition. “This new study commissioned by Blueland is a giant step toward setting the record straight on PVA plastic. We ask the EPA to review the research, understand the findings and eliminate PVA from the Safer Choice List and prohibit the use of PVA in consumer packaged goods.”
 

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