Our Ingredient Safety Process | Tide (2024)

FAQs

Our Ingredient Safety Process | Tide? ›

Tide's Safety Process

Dermal laundry pod exposure can result in significant chemical burns. Health-care providers should be aware of this complication and should perform thorough dermal decontamination in the event of an exposure. Skin should be thoroughly washed with copious amounts of water, and contaminated clothing should be removed.

“There's hundreds of chemicals in [Tide Pods], such as quaternium-15,” Boone said. “When absorbed in the human body, [quaternium-15] can actually release formaldehyde [….]

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is the film that contains detergent in Tide Pods and other similar products. It dissolves when coming into contact with water, but studies have argued that the process leaves behind microplastics that go on to pollute the water supply, according to the New York Post.

The chemical byproduct, 1,4-Dioxane, is present in many popular laundry detergents. In recent tests, Arm & Hammer Clean Burst, Tide Original, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear, and Gain Original + Aroma Boost all contained more than 3 PPM of 1,4-Dioxane, over the NY State limit.

All ECOS laundry detergents and other laundry products are made with safer ingredients. ECOS laundry products are made without dyes, formaldehyde, 1,4 dioxane, parabens, phosphates, phthalates, pearlizers, and optical brighteners, or hundreds of other harmful ingredients.

Nonylphenol ethoxylate

According to the EPA, nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) are listed as chemicals of high concern because they are identified as endocrine disruptors and are persistent, toxic and bioaccumulate.

However, over ~75% of PVA from plastic pods persist in the environment after they've dissolved in dishwashers and washing machines and washed down the drains. It is possible for PVA to biodegrade, however it requires extremely specific conditions in order to break down.

Tide is one of the most popular and widely-used laundry detergents. Tide also contains dioxane and ethylene oxide, which is already bad news. Alarmingly, it also contains sodium borate. At best, sodium borate is a skin irritant, but it has also been linked with cancer and endocrine disruption.

Does Tide have carcinogens? ›

Chemicals found in Tide detergent include surfactants, enzymes, water softeners, and fragrances. Some of these chemicals may be carcinogenic, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer. The presence of these chemicals may also disrupt the body's natural defense mechanisms and contribute to carcinogenesis.

Instead, they break down into microplastics and nanoplastics and are a major wastewater pollutant in the U.S. And that's why the bill (also supported by Blueland) aims to ban these PVOH-coated pods and sheets.

Reading Labels and Ingredients

Some of the most common natural ingredients to look for include soda ash, baking soda, and coconut castile soap. Choosing a laundry detergent free of optical brighteners, phosphates, and synthetic ingredients is also vital.

One of the standout Tide ingredients is 1,4-Dioxane, a chemical compound also found in paints and varnishes. When we sweat, we absorb these chemicals sitting in our clothes, and these may cause rashes, allergies, lung irritation, and in extreme cases these chemicals have been found to cause cancer.

Ingredients: Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate), Sodium Metasilicate, Sodium Chloride, Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate. Key Feature: Hypoallergenic, biodegradable, non-toxic laundry soda.

Arm and Hammer laundry detergent may contain chemicals that have toxicity concerns. Highly branched alkyl groups, specifically those with quaternary carbons, resist degradation in sewage treatment plants, leading to environmental pollution. This is why detergents with such compounds are often regulated or banned.