The Environmental Impact of Tableware

It’s your turn to do the dishes!

We’ve all heard that phrase before — and it says a lot about how much of a chore washing the dishes can feel like. Doing the dishes is hardly appealing: nobody wants to spend time washing plates, cutlery and piles of dirty cookware. On top of that, we often overlook its environmental impact. It may seem counterintuitive, but today’s most efficient dishwashers can actually be far more environmentally friendly than washing dishes by hand under litres of hot running water.

To better understand the environmental impact of washing dishes, we looked at the main factors involved: water consumption, sponges and, of course, the famous washing-up liquid we often use far too generously.

Water flowing freely

The environmental impact of our water consumption largely depends on our dishwashing habits. On this point, there are several schools of thought:

• Those who prefer cold water: more environmentally friendly, but not always very pleasant for the hands and potentially less effective on greasy surfaces.

• Supporters of lukewarm water: more comfortable and more effective, but less environmentally friendly.

• The toughest among us, who almost burn their hands using hot water: an effective technique, admittedly, but potentially disastrous for the environment when we consider the ecological impact of heating that water.

Hot water is inevitably more polluting because it requires more energy. So while the carbon impact of cold water is almost negligible, lukewarm water can generate around 540g of carbon emissions. Very hot water, meanwhile, can generate between 770 and 990 g of carbon emissions when its temperature is between 55°C and 65°C.

Water flow also needs to be taken into account. There is a clear difference between those who use water sparingly and those who leave the tap running for long periods of time. The carbon emissions associated with leaving a tap running are estimated at around 8,000 g.

Depending on individual habits, washing dishes by hand can therefore have a significant environmental impact. In these cases, investing in a dishwasher can be a much more responsible option.

Not all sponges are environmentally friendly...

Used since the time of the Cretans, two centuries before our era, sponges remain one of the main tools used for cleaning. The invention of the cellulose sponge in 1932 helped reduce costs, as natural sponges were still being harvested from the Mediterranean Sea. However, it also started a new wave of innovation that was not always environmentally friendly.

A few years later, fully synthetic sponges marked the decline of biodegradable sponges in favour of highly polluting plastic-based materials, with consequences for both the environment and consumer health.

SpongeBob?

Natural sponges harvested from the Mediterranean have the advantage of being completely natural and biodegradable. As these animals do not have nerve endings, they do not experience pain when harvested.

Although they are used less frequently today, the idea of using animals for everyday cleaning tasks is increasingly being questioned. The renewed popularity of natural and environmentally friendly sponges also raises concerns about the impact of harvesting on the seabed.

There are sponge “farms” where sponges are propagated and cultivated for commercial use, but marine ecosystems remain fragile environments, made even more vulnerable by rising temperatures.

Overexploitation of this marine wildlife is therefore viewed negatively by many specialists.

The cellulose sponge

This one is something of a French success story, as it was invented by the famous hedgehog-branded company Spontex.

Made from plant-based materials such as wood, flax or cotton fibres, cellulose sponges are theoretically biodegradable and infinitely recyclable. The reality is more complicated, however, because the numerous chemicals added to their composition can considerably increase their environmental footprint. Hydrogen sulphide and sodium sulphate are among the main additives used in what starts out as a natural material.

Although the Beauvais-based brand has not made specific commitments regarding the origin of the raw materials it uses, it says it has introduced measures to reduce water, gas and electricity consumption in order to limit the environmental impact of sponge production.

So is it greenwashing or a genuine environmental commitment? Either way, Spontex sponges still have a significant environmental footprint, particularly because of the chemicals used and their abrasive surface.

You know the part — that green side used for scrubbing stubborn stains.

Its composition, along with the glue used to attach it to the yellow part of the sponge, significantly affects the environmental footprint of cellulose sponges. Both the abrasive layer and the adhesive are synthetic, meaning they have a much greater environmental impact.

The synthetic sponge

Made from petroleum-based resin foam, synthetic sponges are designed to reproduce the absorbent properties of natural sponges. However, they rank among the least environmentally friendly options, with a particularly high environmental impact.

From manufacturing and distribution to use and end of life, synthetic sponges perform poorly from an environmental standpoint.

Their production requires significant amounts of resources and energy. Unlike natural or cellulose-based sponges, synthetic sponges are made entirely from petrochemical materials. Their abrasive side does little to improve matters, as it further increases their environmental impact.

Their packaging is not particularly eco-friendly either. The numerous wrappers and packs used around both synthetic and cellulose sponges only make the situation worse.

We need bubbles!

In France, 137 million litres of washing-up liquid are consumed every year. This product, which we all use to make our dishes foam up, is mainly made from surfactants. This thick liquid is produced in petrochemical plants before manufacturers add colouring agents and synthetic fragrances.

However, it is once the bottle reaches the edge of our kitchen sink that washing-up liquid can have a particularly significant environmental impact. While its production requires substantial amounts of energy and non-renewable raw materials, it is often consumer use that has the greatest environmental consequences.

We tend to believe that more foam means better cleaning, so we often press the bottle two or three times to increase the amount of washing-up liquid we use. In reality, more foam does not necessarily mean more effective cleaning.

Using too much washing-up liquid also increases the environmental impact of washing dishes. Certain surfactants, such as cationic surfactants, can be particularly harmful to the environment, especially aquatic environments. Other substances contained in washing-up liquid may also be harmful to our health.

Washing the dishes may seem like an ordinary and familiar everyday task, but its environmental consequences are greater than they first appear. When all the different aspects of dishwashing are combined, its overall impact on the planet can quickly increase.

Poor habits — such as leaving very hot water running continuously, using excessive amounts of washing-up liquid or buying synthetic sponges — can further increase the environmental footprint of this everyday chore.