The environmental profile of Ariel Actif à froid,
a laundry detergent that allows washing at colder wash temperatures
Download leaflet (PDF format)Download full LCA report (PDF format)Introduction to cold wash
As a result of continuous laundry detergent innovation in Western Europe over the last 5-10 years, recent formulations have allowed consumers to wash their laundry textiles at lower temperatures, whilst maintaining well-accepted cleaning and care performance for the majority of the home laundering tasks.
More and more, a significant part of the laundry basket in developed countries is represented by garments which are typically not heavily soiled: trousers, skirts, jackets, shirts and sweaters changed frequently, etc…. Not surprisingly, even when laundry is washed at lower temperature conditions, the required cleaning and whiteness performance is well preserved for the majority of the laundry jobs, partly due to the advanced technologies used. Furthermore, washing at colder temperatures is perceived and proven to be gentler for colored items and for the cleaned fabric. However, for heavily soiled wash loads or for hard-to-remove stains, it is still recommended to wash at elevated temperatures.
Considering the product communication via advertising and media towards "cold" wash, it is expected that consumers will change there traditional habits with respect to laundry wash temperatures, and that an average reduction of 10°C can be achieved. In France, the product is now offered as "Ariel Actif à froid". Similarly, Procter & Gamble has also made such products available to consumers in the US and Europe.
Considering the product communication via advertising and media towards "cold" wash, it is expected that consumers will change there traditional habits with respect to laundry wash temperatures, and that an average reduction of 10°C can be achieved. In France, the product is now offered as "Ariel Actif à froid". Similarly, Procter & Gamble has also made such products available to consumers in the US and Europe.
The background and objectives of the study
Based on existing information that shows the relevance of the wash temperature with respect to the environmental burdens of the overall product life cycle (see the LCA on laundry detergents in the UK,
http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/sustainability/laundrydetergent_en.html), a Life Cycle Assessment study
(LCA) was performed that compares Ariel Actif à froid in France in 2006 with Ariel in France in 2001 and Ariel in
France in 1998. Herein, this comparative study focuses on the dilute liquid and regular powder detergent variants
which represent 70% of the French laundry detergent market.
This study evaluates the expected energy savings in the use phase and puts them into a life cycle perspective with the objective to identify the key environmental impact potentials related to changes in product formulation and use. Another important driver for this study was to evaluate whether Ariel "coolclean" chemistry has any negative impacts, e.g. on emissions into water.
The study approach and methodology
Per definition, the LCA includes all relevant aspects from the product life cycle such as the ingredient and packaging environmental emissions derived from this "next generation" product in France are calculated for 1 laundry job (the functional unit), and compared to 1 laundry job in 2001 and 1998.
Key aspects within this comparative study are the differences in product formulation and dosage (more compact product with improved chemistry) and the temperature reduction as result from the cold wash habits. Herein, "the representative-for-France cool wash - scenario" is a conservative scenario that estimates an average reduction of ~8.5°C versus the 2005 wash temperatures before introduction of Ariel "Actif à froid" (average wash temperature of 41.5°C). Such scenario was validated by the French environment and energy agency ADEME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maitrise de l'Energie). It is based on a realistic assumption on consumer behaviour ("turn the T°c dial 1 step down"), as well as the conservative assumption that 20% of loads will still be washed at unchanged temperature.
The LCA evaluates results against a broad set of 11 environmental indicators that are considered relevant for the product category: primary energy consumption, total solid waste, water consumption, and the potential impacts on aquatic eco-toxicity (2 methods), eutrophication, acidification, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, depletion of the ozone layer and climate change. The study was performed following the ISO14040 standards and has undergone an external critical review.
Key aspects within this comparative study are the differences in product formulation and dosage (more compact product with improved chemistry) and the temperature reduction as result from the cold wash habits. Herein, "the representative-for-France cool wash - scenario" is a conservative scenario that estimates an average reduction of ~8.5°C versus the 2005 wash temperatures before introduction of Ariel "Actif à froid" (average wash temperature of 41.5°C). Such scenario was validated by the French environment and energy agency ADEME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maitrise de l'Energie). It is based on a realistic assumption on consumer behaviour ("turn the T°c dial 1 step down"), as well as the conservative assumption that 20% of loads will still be washed at unchanged temperature.
The LCA evaluates results against a broad set of 11 environmental indicators that are considered relevant for the product category: primary energy consumption, total solid waste, water consumption, and the potential impacts on aquatic eco-toxicity (2 methods), eutrophication, acidification, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, depletion of the ozone layer and climate change. The study was performed following the ISO14040 standards and has undergone an external critical review.
The environmental fingerprint and key conclusion
Following "spiderchart" compares the environmental profile of the 1998 and Actif à froid Ariel products on a relative scale versus the 2001 Ariel product as reference (100%).
Based on a significance margin of 20% versus the Ariel product of 2001, the study has quantified significant savings on primary energy consumption and a range of other relevant environmental indicators such as climate change, acidification and photochemical oxidant formation potential. Importantly, the study has also confirmed no significant environmental downsides regarding all evaluated environmental indicators, including the aquatic eco-toxicity potential.
The impact of the temperature reduction
In separate calculations (sensitivity analyses), the study has quantified which of the environmental differences are related to the difference in Ariel product (formulation and dosage) and related to difference in usage habits (wash temperature).
The latter is demonstrated by following spiderchart which compares the use of Actif à froid product at different temperatures, i.e. the actual average wash temperature in France in 1998 (reference), 2001, 2005 and the "representative-for-France cool wash temperature" from the base scenario.
The results indicate that energy savings from the wash temperature reductions that have been taking place over the course of the past 8 years, have already led to lower potential environmental impacts. From that starting point, it seems realistic that the Actif à froid product will now enable consumers to realize an extra step change with respect to energy and overall environmental savings. This graph also indicates which of the indicators are more and which are less sensitive to changes in the wash temperature, disregarding the effects of changes in product formulation and dosage.
The latter is demonstrated by following spiderchart which compares the use of Actif à froid product at different temperatures, i.e. the actual average wash temperature in France in 1998 (reference), 2001, 2005 and the "representative-for-France cool wash temperature" from the base scenario.
The results indicate that energy savings from the wash temperature reductions that have been taking place over the course of the past 8 years, have already led to lower potential environmental impacts. From that starting point, it seems realistic that the Actif à froid product will now enable consumers to realize an extra step change with respect to energy and overall environmental savings. This graph also indicates which of the indicators are more and which are less sensitive to changes in the wash temperature, disregarding the effects of changes in product formulation and dosage.
Further learnings from the Life Cycle Assessment
On the functional wash unit, the primary energy saving obtained when comparing the "cool wash" scenario equivalent to 0.36kwh electricity /wash. As a matter of comparison, this "one wash" electricity saving (obtained on the whole life cycle) is equivalent to the electricity consumption of two incandescent light bulbs of 60 watts used during three hours each (estimated as an average daily usage).
Specifically for France, since the electricity used to heat the water in the washing machine is predominantly produced through environmental indicators. Hence, the environmental savings in countries which depend more on fossil fuels for electricity production rather than nuclear and/or renewable energy are expected to be considerably higher.
Specifically for France, since the electricity used to heat the water in the washing machine is predominantly produced through environmental indicators. Hence, the environmental savings in countries which depend more on fossil fuels for electricity production rather than nuclear and/or renewable energy are expected to be considerably higher.