Why won’t all manufacturers of detergents phase out phosphates to save the Baltic Sea?
Several manufacturers of laundry and dishwasher detergents in countries around the Baltic Sea insist on using polluting phosphates in their products, despite the fact that there are alternatives available. Some companies sell phosphate-free products in countries with stricter regulations, while they refuse to sell the same alternatives in others. Procter & Gamble and Henkel are the only major international manufacturers that plan to phase out the use of phosphates in their laundry detergents by 2009. Phosphates are a major contributor to eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. Earlier this year, WWF and partner organizations around the Baltic Sea contacted manufacturers of detergents and asked for a voluntary ban on phosphates in their products. After some months of dialogue, a number of companies have now agreed to switch to phosphate-free alternatives for their laundry detergents. “We congratulate the leadership shown by some companies, and we hope that the rest will follow now”, says Vick
