Surprising statistic
Everybody uses them. In every home, the ubiquitous pack or jar of detergent lurks, ostensibly leading to improved hygiene and shining cleanliness. India's use of detergent has doubled and trebled many times since it took over from the bar of soap. While its per capita use is still not much in comparison with detergent use in the West, the higher number of consumers here immediately puts us in the top bracket as far as the overall use goes.
Another surprising statistic is that washing time has actually gone up since washing machines arrived, contrary to expectations from the so-called labour-saving devices. And more washing is often more water being used up, despite claims otherwise from different detergents and washing machine manufacturers.
All this adds to the environmental impact. When detergent-laced water flows out from homes, it reaches the pipeline and thereafter the waterbodies.
Higher detergent use is a cause for concern. With every household, from those in A list cities to those in the B towns, putting detergents on their shopping list, it becomes vital to see what this common household product is all about. Strangely enough, while manufacturers have gone ballistic on the advertising gimmicks and promise every kind of special wash, information on actual, factual content is hard to get. Unlike regulations in Europe, the us and Canada, India has no rules that make disclosure (of ingredients used) on pack mandatory by the manufacturers of detergents. In other words, they can put in anything, but we'll never know. Call that an informed choice?
The funny thing is, we do have voluntary standards. But companies just don't want to go for them. Not even manufacturers that have abided by regulations and even opted for voluntary ecological labelling under eu guidelines. Getting the standard certification would involve disclosure of content, more lucid labels and a certain commitment to environmental safety. Not surprisingly, not a single company has an eco-mark in this country.
It's time the industry came clean. And time the Indian consumers demanded more from the detergents they pay so much for. In money. But also in health and environment costs.
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