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New product good for travel (and the environment)

I'm originally from Cincinnati and did some test panels for P&G years ago, so I still get marketing stuff from them. This time I succumbed. They have a new brand/product called EC30 that is interesting. Basically they have removed the water and other liquid fillers from soap products, which makes them more energy efficient to transport. EC30 products are small lightweight swatches of various toiletry and cleaning items that are packaged in compostable cardboard (no plastic anywhere). https://ec30clean.com/

I just bought a trial kit as they're on sale right now and I wanted to check them out. I received a kit contained laundry detergent, hand wash, body wash, toilet cleaner and shampoo. The shampoo, for example, is a 1.5" square pad that is a about 1/8" thick. To use it, you soak it for 3 seconds, then activate the lather with your hands. My test kit came with 10 pads. The hand wash pads are about 1 square inch and there are 24 pads in the box. They are all extremely lightweight: the shampoo pads weigh a little less than one gram.

I tried one of the hand wash pads and it worked really well. I was thinking that I might take these and use them for laundry. The laundry pads are a lot bigger and designed for regular loads. Although if you were renting an apartment in Europe with a washer, you could conceivably bring some of these along instead of having to buy it there. And if you are hiking or camping, I think these would be invaluable. I showed them to my daughter and that was the first thing she thought of.

These are not all-natural products - they have the same ingredients most other soaps do - but I did like the idea of the packaging and that it is all compostable. And of course, its potential use as a travel product. :)

Posted by
1606 posts

Thanks Mardee, that's very interesting. I use solid shampoo and conditioner but have to cut the bars up because I don't need a full size bar for just a couple of weeks. Plus the sheets mean not having to schlep a container for the wet bars. This might save me some of that hassle. And I agree with your daughter. Great idea for camping.

Posted by
180 posts

I've been using the laundry sheets for a while for ecological reasons but I took some on a trip last fall and discovered how great they are for travel. The sheets can be torn into smaller pieces for smaller loads (or hand laundry). I also use bar shampoo but I'll have to try the shampoo sheets.

Posted by
4295 posts

I too have been using similar products since the pandemic, specifically laundry detergent sheets from Canada. I take one or two with me for sink washing. Since each sheet is for a full wash, not too much is needed.

Posted by
11942 posts

The cost is somewhere between eye watering and makes my ears bleed.

Looking at the laundry soap, it's a $1.00 per load. The typical liquid laundry detergent is $0.15 per load.

For travel it may be useful, but for everyday use at home, not happening.

Posted by
8153 posts

I've been using the laundry sheets for a while for ecological reasons but I took some on a trip last fall and discovered how great they are for travel. The sheets can be torn into smaller pieces for smaller loads (or hand laundry).

Katie, I was wondering if that would work. Definitely a good idea!

Joe, I agree they're pricey and I will not be using it right now for ordinary household cleaning (which is why I posted it here on the travel forum). I am hoping the cost will come down in the future, though, as I cringe when I think of all those heavy plastic containers of detergent and all the fuel it takes to transport them.

Posted by
11798 posts

Wow, a dollar a load is crazy! I buy EarthBreeze and my average load is only 10 cents as a half sheet is sufficient. I love them at home although I originally bought them for travel and yes, they can easily be cut down for sink washes. I would like some hand soap sheets, though!

Posted by
5097 posts

I use something similar for travel laundry also--found it on Amazon and it's fragrance-free. I hope they make the personal care items fragrance-free eventually, as I only recently realized the savings on packaging waste (doh!).

Posted by
2756 posts

Cool info! I do like the concept of reduced packaging - I hope they find success and expand the options.

I too use laundry sheets (these - no longer available unfortunately) and they were definitely less expensive and fragrance free. I cut them in strips for sink wash and take whole ones if I plan to do regular load of laundry.

Posted by
4657 posts

I guess I am a little surprised this appears new to travelers. There have been small (albeit plastic) containers of dehydrated travel products for over 10 years. Granted, I found them useless unless you used a number of sheets, but they are not new.
I have been using the laundry sheets for over 2 years now, and last purchase was 90 sheets for 19.99 Cdn, so $.22 a sheet - so, roughly .16US. I also take they traveling and tear them smaller for sink wash or just use the soap on hand. In India, I would never use that soap on my skin, but great for cleaning clothes.
I have several bar or solid items, even a solid hand cream which is lovely. It feels good, but (for the sewists and quilters in the room), it isn't greasy so no transfer of 'stuff' to your fabric when working.
Take a visit to Lush to see all the alternate items in solid form. even mouthwash..

Posted by
7874 posts

I also take the Earth Breeze laundry soap sheets when traveling. Be sure to dissolve them in hotter water in the sink, and then add your clothes. I use about 1/4 sheet per sink load - wash my travel clothes each evening.

Posted by
8153 posts

I guess I am a little surprised this appears new to travelers.

It's not that it's brand new, but I think it's pretty cool that a major US corporation is working to reduce emissions by coming up with something like this. I've used various products before like Earth Sheets and so on, but the quality is a lot better, imo, and much sturdier. The travel sheets that I have used are very flimsy and do not produce a lot of lather (again, my opinion). These, on the other hand, are thicker (like a small cotton pad) and you don't run the risk of tearing them (which is what happened to me on my last trip).

Yes, it is more expensive than a big plastic bottle of Tide, but I like the idea of working towards reducing large heavy plastic containers that use up a lot of fossil fuels to ship.

Posted by
1606 posts

Mardee, can you cut or tear the pads? And would you really need the whole 1.5" square to wash your hair? Just thinking it might be more product than necessary if you have short hair (like me).

Posted by
4657 posts

It's not that it's brand new, but I think it's pretty cool that a major US corporation is working to reduce emissions by coming up with something like this. I've used various products before like Earth Sheets and so on, but the quality is a lot better, imo, and much sturdier. The travel sheets that I have used are very flimsy and do not produce a lot of lather (again, my opinion). These, on the other hand, are thicker (like a small cotton pad) and you don't run the risk of tearing them (which is what happened to me on my last trip).

I guess the point of a major corp converting is cool. And I certainly agree the past soap and shampoo sheets were poor. Do they sell them in stores? Which may make them more environmentally friendly than delivery to the door? I will admit, I haven't looked for similar at the supermarket, but don't think any sheets have made it to the shelves yet...at least in my area. But I can buy liquid laundry soap in a paper recyclable container if I want to go back to liquid. As you are weighing these...an off topic question...what scales are you using that weigh a gram?? and other than weighing clothing, what do you use it for? I find Canadian options rather pricey for a non baker, so curious.

Posted by
180 posts

I use these both at home and to travel with: TruEarth Eco Strips (fragrance-free). They come in biodegradable packaging. They last me several months per package. They cost about $.60 a strip but it's worth it to me.

Posted by
8153 posts

Trotter, I don't see why you couldn't cut them - I might try that and let you know how it goes. My hair is longer but I don't usually use a lot of shampoo. I'll report back once I try it.