No Laundry Day: The whats and whys of our new initiative

Step away from the machine, Hong Kong. Discover the benefits of washing less.

Did you know that every year, we Hong Kong people use 96.2 million litres of water for laundry? For perspective, that’s like leaving your shower running for 13 years.

Wow.

Laundry is a high water consumption household activity, accounting for anywhere from 10% up to a quarter of your household water usage in Hong Kong. Not only that, but every load of washing you throw into your machine uses power, with a hot wash using 10 times the amount of electricity as a cold wash.

We may have formulated concentrated laundry products that use less water and require less carbon to produce and freight, but as always, we’re taking things a step further. We’re proposing that Hong Kong people stop washing their clothes for a day. Because even just this simple act has the power to save enough water to fill a bathtub 689,000 times!

Here’s what our CEO, Pablo Klaus, had to say on the subject.

“We believe that making small changes to embrace sustainable living sets off ripples that accumulate over time. Our newest initiative, No Laundry Day, aims to create a positive environmental impact by inspiring households nationwide to forgo laundry activities for a day.”

One less load per week = happier clothes and a healthier planet

Better for your clothes

The truth is, your clothes actually don’t need to be washed after every wear. In fact, many wardrobe staples, like jeans, last a whole lot longer when you wash them less. And some denim clothing manufacturers even advise against regular washing as a way of prolonging the life of their garments. Other fabrics, like Merino and other wools, do not need to be washed often because their natural, breathable fibres don’t absorb odours like other textiles. A good rule of thumb is to wash your clothes when they need it, and not when they don’t.

Better for the planet

The carbon footprint of a garment is reduced significantly by only washing it when it’s dirty or smells. This simple shift in attitude is super important, because around 35% of the microplastics contaminating the world’s oceans come from washing our clothes. Due to their tiny size, these particles are easily ingested by marine animals, inhibiting growth, disrupting reproductive ability, affecting feeding and even causing death. Also, 25% of the carbon footprint of a garment can be influenced by how we care for it. For example, we throw away 90% of our clothing before it should be disposed of, due to a combination of poor quality “fast fashion” fabrics and manufacturing, and over-washing.

 

So why not get on board and give your washing machine a break on 25th August?

Your clothes, and your world, will be glad you did.

Ask your friends to get on-board.