What is sugar plastic?
We’re committed to making products that are safer for people and our world. So it’s natural, that we also look to continually improve our packaging. We wanted a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastic and we found one. It's plastic made from sugarcane. It comes from a completely renewable, sustainable source, and it’s 100% recyclable. Plus, the sugarcane we use for our packaging removes carbon from the atmosphere, which helps reduce climate change. We think that’s a pretty sweet start.
Find out more.
Why do your Dish Tablets have a wrapper?
The reason we have our dishwashing tablets in a wrapper is to avoid direct contact with the skin. Even though most people would have absolutely no problems touching the tablets, we have a lot of customers with skin sensitivities and it is with these customers in mind that we decided to have the wrap. The wrap is safe for your dishwasher and for the environment. You do not need to remove the wrapper as it is completely dissolvable as the wrap is made of PVA, which is a Poly Vinyl Alcohol. PVA is colourless, odourless, biodegradable and non-toxic. It dissolves completely upon contact with water. Based on current studies, it does not persist in the environment or contribute to micro-plastic pollution.
Do your Dish Tablet wrappers contribute to micro-plastic pollution?
No, our dish tablet wrappers are completely dissolvable as they are made of PVA, which is a Poly Vinyl Alcohol. PVA is colourless, odourless, biodegradable and non-toxic. It dissolves completely upon contact with water. Based on current studies, it does not persist in the environment or contribute to micro-plastic pollution.
Why have my Dish Tablets changed colour?
At ecostore, we avoid using nasty chemicals. This means our Dish Tablets may change colour over time or in humid conditions. Rest assured, the change in colour will not affect performance and it is still safe to use in your dishwasher.
Why have the Dish Tablets ingredients changed?
We have recently reformulated our Dish Tablets. Rest assured, our formulation is still plant and mineral-based, with the same strong performance.
Why hasn't my Dish Tablet completely dissolved?
If you find the Dish Tablet not dissolving properly inside the dispenser, this may be because it is too large. To fix this issue, we recommend putting the Dish Tablet in the cutlery basket instead.
Why are the Dish Powder bottles sometimes hard to open?
The product is required to maintain an effective child resistant cap with the bottle design to make it safe from kids as the product may become accessible from the kitchen cupboard or drawer where it is normally stored. The cap has been kept loose and only engages with the lock from the bottle neck and can be readily opened by positioning the cap as it engages on top of the lock and pressing on the sides of the cap as indicated by the 2 arrows on top. Lastly, after using just turn the cap until the lock engages with a “click” and do not over-tighten. Please follow
instructional video provided.
Instructions:
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- Unscrew Cap anticlockwise until it hits a stop.
- Screw the Cap 45° clockwise.
- Squeeze tabs together as shown on the top of the cap.
- With tabs squeezed, unscrew cap anticlockwise past the locking tabs.
- Unscrew the cap anticlockwise
- When replacing the cap, DO NOT overtighten.
Are your products tested on animals?
No, none of our products have been (or ever will be) tested on animals.
Are your products suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, all of our products are suitable for vegetarians.
Are your products suitable for vegans?
A lot of our products are vegan-friendly, however some of our products do contain goat's milk, Manuka honey, beeswax or propolis from bees. These ingredients are carefully selected and must meet certain criteria before we use them. They must be sustainably harvested and animal welfare assured.
Are your products GE / GMO free?
None of our plant-based ingredients come from genetically modified crops such as corn or soy. While we’re against GE field trials, we agree with organisations like Greenpeace that there’s a place for the ethical development of GE in laboratories, for producing medicines like insulin, or useful enzymes. The enzymes used in our auto dish powders, dish tabs and laundry products are a result of genetically engineered micro-organisms.
Are you products gluten free?
Our products are not certified as gluten free. While the chance of our products triggering an allergic reaction to gluten are low, it cannot be ruled out. Our Manuka Honey & Kelp Soap, Manuka & Oatmeal Soap and Baby Soap may contain gluten. Some of the surfactants in our products can be derived from corn eg: coco-glucoside but it's the fatty acid component (not the protein which is what triggers an allergy). If a sensitivity is severe to any material derived from corn then please avoid our Dish Liquid, Baby Shampoo, and Bubble Bath. As well as the specific products containing gluten mentioned above, any ingredient that ends with GLUCOSIDE will have come from corn.
Are your products organic?
No, our products are not organic. While we do work with our suppliers to try and trace our raw materials to source and of course work with suppliers that we know have strong ethical sourcing criteria we cannot currently claim organic as some of our ingredients do require chemical processing. We do undertake continuous improvement and as new technologies become available we switch out those chemically processed materials for the most sustainable options.
Can I recycle the packaging?
Yes. Our bottles are made from sugar plastic which is 100% recyclable at kerbside. Our FSC Cardboard packaging is also 100% recyclable. Our bulk containers (5L and 20L) are made from standard HDPE plastic, which may have some restrictions on recycling due to the size. Please check with your local council as to their own restrictions.
Do any of your products contain alcohol?
Yes. Some of our products do contain Benzyl Alcohol which occurs naturally in apricots, snap beans, cocoa, cranberries, mushrooms and honey. It also occurs in some essential oils such as Jasmine and Ylang Ylang. We use it as a preservative to ensure our products are adequately protected from expiring. It's one of the few preservatives allowed in Ecocert certified products. It is a safe, globally approved and effective preservative that we believe is our best option for now and the near future.
Do any of your products contain palm oil?
Palm oil is a complex and emotive topic. We are committed to using certified, sustainable palm oil as it is a healthier and safer alternative to petrochemicals. It requires significantly less land than coconut for an equivalent yield. Our goal is to contribute positively to the overall transformation of the palm oil industry, through support of certified and sustainable sources. While we believe certified, sustainable palm oil is the best option for now, we also regularly assess alternatives.
Find out more.
