Ecover takeover by American Co

[Whitilocks]

Ecover was taken over by the American company, S C Johnson in September 2017. They produce products such as Pledge and Glade air fresheners which have a lot of chemical perfumes in them like Persil etc. I am horrified to find that I have just bought 3x.5 litre bottles of laundry liquid that smell very similar to that , oh so disgusting, Persil. My last bottle of Ecover laundry liquid just smelled of natural soap, which is how I like it. I am sure artificial perfumes aren't good for any of us especially children's sensitive skins and noses. Anyway that's the last lot of Ecover I am buying. Any recommendations ?
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You could try Eco Leaf products that are made in the UK? I am not sure of the ethics of the company but maybe check out ethical consumer and see if they have any recommendations.

Interesting and panic inducing.

Until recently it was easy to buy the Ecover Laundry Liquid in our local Coop. Now they've started stocking Ecover concentrated instead- it's a totally different formula to the original. We can't use it as there is something in it which sets off DPs allergies. I'd assumed we would be able to get the original elsewhere bit you've worried me now. Especially as I bought some of their wool wash recently and it smelt really artificially fruitily floral so I'm now wondering what else has changed.

I don't know what else to try either, I wonder if pure soap flakes would work in the machine or if they'd be too sudsy.

I like the Method super concentrated - not too much scent. The new method laundry liquids are highly scented sadly.

Oh. Well that explains a lot. The new formula fabric conditioner smells vile, truly horrible.
I have used Ecover since the 80s, paying a premium price even when I found it difficult, because I respected the values it represented when few companies did so. As a result of recent changes, I have now moved to Bio products sold via the Oxfam shop. They are good are sometimes out of stock, which is annoying.

I'm relieved that that I'm not the only person that finds these artificial, chemical 'scents' truly awful. Thank you so much for your recommendations. If I find something good I'll post it after a fair trial.
Good hunting!

We use Surcare -it has no scent at all. It's the only thing my dd's eczema will tolerate.

Ohhhhhh someone at Casa fekko has been saying that they’ve been itchy recently and asked if I’ve changed laundry detergent.

They wouldn’t would they???

I'm pretty sure both Ecover and Method have been bought up by the same company.

I'm going to try the Surcare!

I've also been itchy more recently. Also use Ecover. And I'm shocked to read this news... off to google...

Bio-D is good and totally fragrance-free. Independently UK-owned.

biodegradable.biz/laundry/washing-powder-1kg.html

Good reviews too:
www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-d-TRTAZ11A-Bio-D-Washing-Powder/dp/B000NCBSOM?tag=mumsnetforum-21

They also do a liquid but I haven’t tried that.

Ah, interesting! I bought some Ecover new scent Apple Blossom fabric softener before Xmas. It made me VERY itchy in all sorts of parts you wouldn’t mention in polite company. I don’t usually have sensitive skin so this was quite a surprise. I had to throw it away.

I don’t tend to use softener as it doesn’t make a jot of difference in really hard water areas and I has noticed that the liquid didn’t smell the same. Oh poo.

The BioD (hadn't realised there was a D!) laundry liquid and fabric conditioner are nice too - faint, pleasant lavender scent.
And while in the Oxfam shop buying them I look for books. Win win.

I think I’m going to have to change. The itching is driving me nuts.

DP had had to be hospitalised I. The past due to the severity of his eczema. The original formula of Evover non bio liquid was the only one he could tolerate. There was an ingredient change in the concentrated version that irritated his skin.

I worry because if the standard non-bio formulation has been changed and we use it, and it adversely affects him he could be I. For a lot of pain. This isn't a few creams, it's light therapy and the issues that causes.

I don't want to test out Surcare or BioD I case they cause a flare up but I might have to. Wash a few things in each.

We've tried not using any liquid, or at least separating his cloths and using no detergent t on them. The trouble is it's more work and it doesn't really get clothes, towels or sheets visually or hygienic really clean.

So grrrrr to Ecover

MARIGOLD that is really tough.
My friend is super allergic/sensitive to anything that goes on her skin. Her favs used to be Ecover (though I bet she doesn't use it anymore) and Surecare. Also the Boots sensitive non perfumed one.

I know poor DP. I'm going to have to buy a bottle of Surcare and wash a pair of his socks in it aren't I? It's not worth doing a full load of his stuff as if it does set him off I'll need to track everything down and re wash.

That’s awful, Marigold.
I’ve got Surcare atm, but it does say it contains optical brighteners which apparently can be irritant so 🤷🏻‍♀️
I think I’ll then go back to Bio-D. Which (confusingly) isn’t biological, but biodegradable.

Oh no, optical brighteners are a big no no.

Not biological means non-bio which is good for skin, no ?

Hmmm, I might stick my head in The sand for a bit longer. Our local health food shop does the ecover refills, you take your bottle and refill from a tank. I'm assuming they are old skool Ecover as the packaging looks old. I'll stock up.

Yes, non-bio(logical) = enzyme-free so less irritant.
I was surprised to see optical brightners in the Surcare.

Big business - it's all down to the profit motive !!!- who or what the heck can you trust. Requires more investigation. Allergies are such a big problem - when is big (American /petrochem) business going to start taking some responsibility for all the problems that they are creating??

Herbwoman you are absolutely spot on - Method have also been taken over by S C Johnson (of Pledge - synthetic Lavender fame) so I will not be bothering to try that brand. Why is it that American companies always reduce something good to something worthless - ? Motives ? Profit!!!

Shame Method has been sold. This explains why my beloved super concentrated laundry stuff has been discontinued and replaced with highly coloured very smelly stuff.