A concerning secret about laundry detergent pods is bubbling up on TikTok.

According to sustainability scientist Alaina Wood (@thegarbagequeen), those convenient little pods are wrapped in plastic that doesn’t biodegrade effectively.

@thegarbagequeen ⚠️GREENWASHING ALERT⚠️ Laundry detergent pods and sheets are wrapped in plastic that doesn’t fully dissolve; it just breaks down into tiny plastic particles. An estimated 20 billion of these Polyvinyl Alcohol, or PVA, pods are sent down the drain each year in the United States alone, and although a strain of bacteria can biodegrade PVA under very specific conditions, it doesn’t exist in the majority of wastewater treatment plants. New York City Councilmember James Gennaro introduced the Pods Are Plastic Bill that would make it illegal to sell both laundry and dishwasher pods and sheets that contain PVA. Check out the link in my bio to send a letter to your representative! #PodsArePlastic #Microplastics #PlasticWaste #PlasticPollution #Greenwashing ♬ original sound – Alaina Wood

In a recent video, Wood explains that polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA, used for pod casings, is a petroleum-based plastic. When pods go down the drain, this plastic pollutes the environment

“That might come as a shock, considering pods are marketed as an eco-friendly alternative to liquid detergent jugs since they’re single-dose and typically packaged in cardboard,” Wood says in the video.

“But in reality, polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA, is a petroleum-based plastic that goes down your drain and pollutes our environment.”

The impact of these common household products is staggering. An estimated 20 billion plastic-encased pods are used in the United States each year, with PVA winding up in oceans, rivers, soil, drinking water, and even human breast milk.

The same hidden plastic is used in most or all laundry detergent sheets, too.

Fortunately, there’s now a way for consumers to take action. Wood spotlights the Pods Are Plastic Bill, introduced by New York City Council member James Gennaro. This legislation would ban the sale of laundry and dishwasher pods and sheets containing PVA in New York City, which could influence how products are made across the country.

“This bill would set an important signal to businesses and individuals that plastic products should not be designed to go down our drains, into our water, and into our environment,” notes Wood. She encourages viewers to show support by writing their representative.

Sustainability-focused cleaning products company Blueland is promoting the bill as well. It is one of the only brands that makes dishwasher and laundry detergent tablets — effectively unwrapped pods — featuring no PVA. 

TikTok commenters are fired up about the issue.

“I just can’t understand how they allow this to get out without proper research! I find it mind-boggling,” one said.

“Ditched these for powdered detergent last year. Comes in cardboard, it’s cheaper and you get more,” another user commented.

A third commenter said: “I had no idea! Never buying those again.”

By harnessing the frustration elicited by videos like Wood’s, we have an opportunity to galvanize support for smarter solutions. Converting that into meaningful communication and accountability can make a real difference. Together, we can shape a cleaner future for our families and our planet.

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