I was thinking this early this morning! Also the diapers could have it too! Isn't it like corn based or something?? I know it takes about 1,000 years for plastic to begin breaking down!

Why is the containers of the liquid detergent in such thick heavy plastic bottles. A lot of places don't take these for recycling. Wouldn't it be better to come up with some other biodegradable container? It certainly does take years for plastic to break down.

Yes! I'm a graphic design student in a packaging class and I'm researching 7gen products. First question I had was why in the heck are they using that thick, heavy plastic on their detergents and liquid soaps??? There are better options out there.

I totally agree. I would like to be able to put everything into my compost pile. We need to get away from adding to landfills.

Keeping the smaller, heavy duty plastic container is cool for first time users or if you take your wash to the coin machines. For the rest of us, like people with kids or jobs that generate LOADS of soiled fabric, a great big 'milk' carton would be just fine. Better yet, a 5 gallon lined box with a convenient tap, refill the little bottle or just measure into the cap!

I think it would be great if you could come up with a way to refill the big plastic containers. Maybe sell large biodegradable bags of your products .

I did some research into packaging solutions. Seems that poly plastics may be the way to go in the future (they are plastics that are completely biodegradable) but they are currently cost prohibitive from a production stand point from what I've read. But, a lot of companies are using tetra paks for liquids such as wine, milk, juice, soy milk, etc. I'm wondering if they can be used for detergents? They are a paper packaging product that is recyclable.

The company give a *very* good response, and there is a educated discussion started. (You're still using Petrochemicals in your..)
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/youre-still-using-petrochemicals-your-p...

But basic response- a lot of bio-based 'plastics' use foodstuffs (which are not an ideal use of food, think bio-fuels...), and the crops used to make said plastics can contain GM (genetically modified) plants, which is a real no no... and not everyone uses/cares/has access to composting... and in dumps said 'compostable' materials don't have access to the environment they need to actually bio-degrade.

I agree with the other folks, Something has got to be done, I live in a small town where ther is not recyling at all. I store them for when I go into Austin and drop off there. With gas prices I don't go as often. I have also wondered about some type of packaging that break down or even dissolve. I don't know the answer not a scientist. Your packaging never allows the last laundry detergent/softener to come out of the container?

I agree with the others regarding the plastic pkg. And, in R&D that the tissue could be softer (my family's #1 complaint to the green change). My suggestion has to do with the packaging of the facial tissue. The way the tissue is cut and folded for the cube (I don't know if it's true of the long box) makes removal of the tissue a chore, especially the last 5 or so tissues (come out in a lump). The tissues aren't completely separate from each other, and it usually takes two hands to remove the tissue from the box.

As user of many organic, natural and local products including Seventh Generation, I too feel their might be a better way. Seventh Generations article is an excellent article so was the one I got from Stony Field Farms (The New Hampshire Organic Yogurt and Dairy company). Personally, i would try not to live anywhere that doesn't have single stream recycling. The cool thing about plastic bottles it recycles very cheaply into new plastic. CT has very little land fill space left, so recycling as been big for a long time. We have nearly single stream in our town, some neighboring ones have it now. Ours is close. Plastic bottles, cans, aluminum (including foil and food containers), milk and OJ cartons, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, paperboard, any other type of paper). My wife and I throw a measly 13 gallon trash bag per week. Once a year we have a toxic waste, chemical, and electronic equipment recycle day as well.

It should also be noted paper, cardboard etc do not break down readily in a landfill. A compost bin yes, landfill no. There have been "digs" done in land fills that have found readable newspapers from 40+ years ago.. Also, one brand of organic lettuce I buy comes in a container which is made of corn but looks like #1 clear plastic. Alas, we can't put that in our recycling "bin" so it has to in the trash where it eventually gets incinerated and dumped with all the other toxic ash in a landfill.

BTW Tetra packing is usually not recyclable. It is layers of paper, plastic and foil, almost impossible to separate. Despite how much we can recycle, this one thing we can not.

I would love to see the liquid detergent come in a box like a half gallon milk container, with a little plastic cap on the side for easy pouring. I can put these in my regular recycle bin and feel good about leaving a somewhat smaller carbon footprint. I also think it would make it easier to get the last little bit of detergent out of the container, because I always have to remove the "spout" from the big plastic containers to do this (messy).