NB 6th July 2020. This post below was written in 2016 and is now out of date. There seem to be additional products by Ecover which contain isothiazolinone preservatives, so check websites and labelling carefully. In the US, the dishwasher liquid is no longer safe, for example.
Original article:
Most Ecover household cleaning products are free from isothiazolinones – but not all. Here are the ones to avoid if you are allergic.
Ecover US
Ecover 2x Liquid Laundry Detergents (all varieties, including fragrance-free) contain MI and BIT
Ecover Stain Remover contains MI and BIT
Ingredients for all Ecover products are provided on their site, together with their function. Alternative preservatives used in the safe products, which are isothiazolinone-free, include benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid.
As only the above named products are unsafe for those with MI allergy, it means all the fabric softeners and the non-laundry products are isothiazolinone-free.
For more information see the Ecover US site. For availability see the Ecover Store Locator or browse on Amazon.
Ecover UK
Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Gel contains MI and BIT (being discontinued)
Ecover Bio Laundry Gel contains MI and BIT (being discontinued)
Ecover Stain Remover and the Multi Action Wipes contain MI and BIT
Again, this means all the fabric softeners and non-laundry products (wipes aside) are safe.
Ingredients for all Ecover products are on the Ecover UK website. Available via Big Green Smile or see the Ecover Store Locator or some products via Amazon UK.
I wrote to Ecover some time ago about this, since then I have decided to stop using their products altogether as I feel I can’t trust them any more, and it’s too complicated to work out which products do or don’t contain the nasties. They were almost the first on the market to produce chemical free products, and I used them for years. It’s sad that they’ve felt the need to change their ingredients. Any Method product is also lethal for me. I am now using Alma Win and hoping that it’s safe.
I get the feeling from Ecover that they might be planning on going entirely MI-free in future – it is, after all, just a few products now that have the preservatives. Lots of Method products have them – will not be writing about them! Yes, Alma Win is safe – I blogged about them not long ago here – https://mi-free.com/natural-cleaning-products-by-alma-win/ – although the current distributors (Pravera) say they are discontinuing it, so availability may become an issue. Might be worth contacting the head office in Germany to see what plans there are for it.
I ordered through Violey direct from Germany. It’s an amazing site, lots of things I’d never heard of. I ordered a lot of stuff and it cost me around £10 postage. Worth it every now and again to get chemical free products.
I will go check it out – thanks for the heads up, Karen!
I would like to inquire with you whether the Ecover UK website is accurate currently -as it does not list MI or BIT ingredients in the ingredient listing on website for the NON BIO ecover laundry liquid . I can email you more info . Need to share and get clarifications .
Yes, the laundry liquid is safe. The laundry gel isn’t, but is being discontinued (think it has been discontinued online, but may still be around in some stores).
Ecover washing up liquid in the US is not m-i free.
You’re right – I just checked. (Deleted link as looked a bit suspect.) I have often contacted Ecover for updates for both UK and US as to their products which do and don’t contain isothiazolinones, but have struggled to get replies. I might just delete this content. Thanks for the update, PG.
I have been using Ecover products but having done my research I have stopped. Thank you for the info. I have now switched to Young Living Thieves Household products ie Thieves dish Soap, Thieves Laundry Soap, thieves Dishwashing powder. I am confident of the Young Living as a company and the quality of their products. I am a consumer who is well informed now.