Almost like unpackaged: This is how sustainable detergent packaging works

They dissolve in water after just a few seconds – and they leave no residue: the paper sachets of the EccoClean Washing Sticks. How does this work? EccoClean co-founder Jason Zimmerer knows the ins and outs.

Paper in the washing machine? That doesn't evoke the most pleasant associations. If you've never left a ticket in your pocket, throw out the first pack of tissues.

 And yet, here everything is completely different. The paper sticks are a definite USP for the washing sticks from the Swiss start-up EccoClean: Seven grams of a sustainable and environmentally friendly washing powder in paper sachets that dissolve without leaving any residue.

 

How does this work? 

"The water-soluble paper is made from completely normal natural cellulose fibers. The difference is that they are bonded together using a starch-based composite," explains Jason Zimmerer. Together with his father, Michael, he is committed to producing sustainable cleaning products. And that, of course, includes their packaging.

 

The two EccoClean founders developed this special paper together with a partner. Upon contact with water, it takes only a few seconds for the cellulose fibers to dissolve from their structure, ultimately being washed away with the washing water. Incidentally, the dissolving effect also works in cold water—an important difference from the films currently on the market, which usually only dissolve in hot water.

 

Double barrier paper

But the special paper can do even more: It offers a dual barrier function. On the one hand, it protects users from any contact with the washing powder, which is especially relevant for people with contact allergies. At the same time, it protects the contents from reactions with oxygen and moisture in the environment. "Of course, it should be stored as dry as possible," says Jason Zimmerer, "but there's a lot of flexibility with our sachets; they keep the product extremely stable." 

And this over a long period of time: Stability tests made up a large part of the long development period, explains Jason Zimmerer. The sachets performed just as well at room temperature as in a warming cabinet. Retention samples prove that the contents have remained absolutely stable even after three years.

 

Guaranteed lint-free

The Zimmerers also tested something else: They ran well over a thousand washes with their sticks, including all dark and black laundry items they could find. The result: not only deep cleaning, but also the complete and environmentally friendly dissolution of the sachets.