The latest comparative comparison of 60 Million Consumers on 24 liquid and capsule detergents reveals an unexpected ranking. Products from big brands, although effective, fall dramatically compared to their low-cost counterparts. The reason? A new parameter which sanctions the presence of substances controversial for health and the environment.
Faced with a plethora of options, consumers are no longer content with tracking down stains: they now demand impeccable health safety. The latest comparative test from the 60 Million Consumers association, relating to 24 referenceswas not limited to cleaning performance or laundry care; he emphasized the potential toxicity of the products. The objective: to identify the least toxic detergents for health and the environment.
Ménag’Score imposes its law
To decide between competitors, the association relied on the Ménag’Scorean indicator classifying products from A to E. Inspired by the Nutri-Score, it ruthlessly punishes risky ingredients. A product receiving an E has its overall rating capped, regardless of its stain removal effectiveness. It is the application of this strict scale which explains the results of the comparison of private label detergentsoften rated much better than the market leaders.
This rating system highlights a reality: certain complex formulations are real chemical cocktails that are harmful to aquatic environments and potentially irritating to the user. Like the Nutri-Score, it is not obligatory: for some references, the association based itself on the data provided by the manufacturers to calculate it.
The revenge of private labels
Contrary to popular belief, paying more does not ensure better quality. Mass retail brands are doing well with products that are both economical and respectful of new standards. In the liquid category, private labels Epsil (E. Leclerc) et Apt (Intermarché) rise among the four best products, Xeor (E.Leclerc) et Auchan for the capsules, take the first two places! They offer satisfactory cleaning effectiveness, even measured at half dose, while displaying a much healthier composition than their national brand competitors.
The fall of the department’s top brands can be explained by an overload of controversial ingredients. There chemical composition of major brand detergents sometimes reveals endless lists, reaching up to 52 components for a single reference. There we find allergenic preservatives from the isothiazolinone family, irritating enzymes and eternal pollutants such as silicones or poorly biodegradable polymers.
The dilemma: liquid or capsules?
The study also makes it possible to settle the debate between the different packaging. The analysis reveals a impact of Ménag’Score on capsule detergents overall more positive than on liquids. Less prone to bacterial growth, the capsules require fewer powerful preservatives. However, this virtue comes at a cost: the washing price remains higher.
Find out in our slideshow below the 7 lowest rated references in the 60 Million Consumers laundry detergent comparison, liquid and in capsules. Note that depending on the washing method used, 22 were deemed effective, this aspect is not called into question.
