Washing clothes is a routine task in any home, but we don’t always think about the environmental impact that can be hidden in small everyday choices. Among the most popular options are detergent capsules, which are practical and easy to use, but whose composition raises doubts regarding their safety for the environment.
In recent years, the detergent tablets that most people use to wash clothes have become a popular choice due to their practicality. However, few consumers know that these tablets are wrapped in a type of soluble plastic that can pose environmental risks that are still poorly studied.
Most capsules available on the market are covered with a film of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a synthetic polymer designed to dissolve in water during the wash cycle. Although it is considered safe for domestic use, the final disposal of this material raises growing environmental concerns, according to Spanish digital newspaper HuffPost.
According to Charles Rolsky, a researcher at the Shaw Institute, an independent, non-profit scientific organization based in the United States, significant amounts of PVA have already been detected in marine waters, which raises doubts about the real impact of this compound on aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental risk behind convenience
PVA is promoted as biodegradable, but studies indicate that its complete decomposition depends on very specific conditions, rarely achieved in wastewater treatment systems. Therefore, part of this material may end up reaching rivers and oceans, potentially contributing to microplastic pollution, says the same source.
Authorities recommend caution
While researchers seek to better understand the scale of the problem, environmental authorities recommend caution.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises consumers to opt, whenever possible, for liquid or powder detergents, which pose less risk to both the environment and children, especially in the case of liquid capsules, which can be accidentally ingested by little ones.
What is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
Also known as polyethanol or vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol is a synthetic polymer widely used for its ability to dissolve in water and for its adhesive, emulsifying and film-forming properties. It is a non-toxic material, resistant to aromas and oxygen, and used in multiple sectors, according to the previously mentioned source.
In addition to detergent capsules, PVA is present in feminine hygiene products, children’s toys, industrial adhesives and chemical protective glove coatings.
May not disappear from the environment
However, the fact that it is technically soluble does not mean that it completely disappears from the environment, and it is precisely this distinction that scientists are now trying to understand more rigorously.
At a time when domestic sustainability becomes increasingly relevant, experts, cited by , reinforce the importance of choosing products with a smaller environmental footprint and evaluating the impact of “invisible” materials that we use on a daily basis, such as PVA which, although practical, may be silently leaving its mark on the oceans.
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