However, with conveniences comes some extra packaging. Each tablet is individually wrapped in plastic. It’s a #5 recyclable, but some recycling centers don’t accept #5. The cardboard box is a plus though — very easy to recycle. And it’s already made of 95% recycled cardboard.

I paid around $6 at Wild Oats for my box of 25 tablets.

I like Ecover tablets better than the Seventh Generation powder I tried. Ecover got my dishes cleaner, with far fewer food bits left on and no film at all. The packaging says the tablets leave “your dishes sparkling.” And, actually, they do sparkle!

Why I’ll probably buy Ecover dishwasher detergent again:

• Of the 21 loads, I only found food on two dishes. One was dried up pizza dough on a bowl which I probably should have scrubbed better. I also found sauce on a spoon. This isn’t bad considering that happens on occasion even with the heavy-duty phosphate detergents.

• I didn’t notice any harsh smell like you might with a detergent that contains chlorine bleach (like Palmolive Eco).

• Ecover tablets are phosphate and chlorine free. They aren’t afraid to give you a full ingredient list. Ecover features an oxygen-based bleaching agent, plus plant- and mineral-based ingredients.

• Biodegrades quickly and completely. There’s also no animal testing and minimal impact on aquatic life.

Things I’d like to see change:

• I can only find it locally at Wild Oats, which is a 20-minute drive for me. Sure, I can buy it online, but I’d prefer to just pick it up at the store. So, I guess I’m saying — spread the love and sell in more stores.

• Consider dropping the individual wrappings around the tablets. I’m not a scientist, but it seems that there should be a way to avoid the packaging without the tablets sticking together.

Ecover also offers automatic dishwasher powder in a box and liquid (for sink washing) in a polyethylene bottle. I’ll probably try the powder next time. Again, the tablets are convenient, but I don’t like the extra packaging.

Have you tried any Ecover automatic dishwasher products?

Image via stock.xchng

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in July 2008

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Makers of laundry detergent in the United States, Japan, Canada and some European countries no longer include phosphate as an ingredient. I know many people with clean clothes, so phosphate-free laundry detergent must be working.

Including phosphates in dishwasher detergent is still popular in the US and other countries. That doesn’t make sense to me. The practice was widely discontinued in laundry detergent since the phosphate was causing algae blooms that smothered aquatic life and otherwise made lakes and streams unhealthy and smelly.

The good news is that some US states are starting to ban dishwasher detergents with high levels of phosphates.

If you’re still buying dishwasher detergent with phosphates, look at the alternatives. I’m currently using Ecover tablets and love them, but I’m going to try them out a while longer before posting a review. I have reviewed Seventh Generation’s powder, and Jennifer reviewed the gel.

Method is another alternative, but I haven’t tried their automatic dishwasher product. Jennifer is planning a review of Biokleen dishwasher powder. Other phosphate-free dishwasher detergents are available as well. If you’ve tried a phosphate-free detergent you liked, please let us know.

A word of caution: Always read the ingredients in any product claiming to be “green,” “eco” or “earth-friendly.” A true green product will list its ingredients, and bleach, which can irritate your lungs, shouldn’t be one of them.

Visit our other green sin posts this month:

•Raid on Spiders
•Why Buy Recycled Paper
•Leaving Unused Appliances and Chargers Plugged In
•Reasons to Carpool
•Driving an SUV (choice added by reader)
•Recklessly Use the Printer

Algae bloom photo via flickr/soil-science.info photostream.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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I loaded my dishes as normal, put the phosphate and chlorine-free detergent in the regular wash cycle compartment, and left the pre-rinse compartment empty. According to Seventh Generation, using too much detergent for the hardness of your water may cause a harmless film on clean dishes.

After waiting an impatient hour or so for the cycle to finish, I opened my dishwasher to a load full of very clean and fresh dishes. No film, no food left on dishes. No complaints.

Well, I have to find something to complain about, don’t I?

It’s great that this detergent is chlorine and phosphate free. And the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper (minimum 40% post-consumer). Plus, the product isn’t tested on animals. And my favorite — they disclose ALL ingredients. However, it isn’t completely biodegradable.

Why not? Here’s the explanation from Seventh Generation’s FAQs:

Why have you taken the words Natural and Biodegradable off the Automatic Dish Powder package?

There were two ingredients in our Auto Dish Powder that we discovered were not natural. One was a petroleum-based surfactant; and the other a non-toxic polymer. After we printed new packaging stating that this product was natural and biodegradable, we learned that the non-toxic polymer had not been replaced by a natural ingredient. We also learned that this non-toxic polymer is not readily biodegradable. Therefore, we choose to remove these claims, since they were not authentic to our product.

Once we have replaced the polymer in question with totally natural, biodegradable qualities that meet our performance standards, as well as our health and environmental standards, we will readjust our claims on the packaging.

We apologize for the confusion.

Well, at least they’re honest about it. And they’re trying to fix it.

I must add that I love the free and clear (of perfumes and dyes) option. I enjoyed having no scent wafting out of the dishwasher when I opened it up. There are just too many scented products out there: shampoo, shaving lotion, hand soap, deodorant, lotion — pretty much anything! My nose can’t take it all.

What would I change about this product? Besides making it completely biodegradable, not much. Frankly though, I’m not a fan of powders. Next time I will try the gel. I tend to spill powder too easily, but the packaging does have a handy metal spout on the side. Overall, I am very happy with this product and will use it again. But I do hope to find the gel next time. You can go here to see Where To Buy.

If you’d like to try this product, go to Seventh Generation to download a coupon. If you’ve already tried it, please tell us what you thought.

UPDATE: Please visit my updated post on this product. I’m addressing a few issues I ran into after using this product several more times.

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