All the talk today of conserving energy, alternative energy, the o-zone, etc. Anyone remember all the talk of the 60's was phosphates in the environment, ruining our water supply? Anybody even know what phosphates are? I know I sure didn't. I just knew we didn't want any!
History
In the 1960s, detergent manufacturers waged an advertising battle over who had the longest lasting suds, and detergent compounds quickly appeared in the waterways. Suds began to appear in streams, rivers, lakes, and at the foot of Niagara Falls, piles of discolored detergent foam rose eight feet high.
Detergents also contain phosphate additives to soften the water and thereby improve the effectiveness of the detergent molecules. It was noted that between 1940 and 1970 the amount of phosphates in city wastewater increased from 20,000 to 150,000 tons per year.
With the increase in phosphates, algal blooms grew splendidly on the excess phosphorous and consumed the majority of all oxygen in the waters, killing fish and plants. It was at that time a little know company came out with biodegradable, phosphate-free SA8. It was also one of the first to come out with the power of concentration which means you use less per load!
In the January 2007 issue of Consumer Reports, SA8 with Bioquest was rated as the best performing laundry detergent, scoring 99 out of a possible 100 (the next best, Tide with Bleach, scored 87). It was the only detergent to score "excellent" in all three categories of Cleaning, Keeps dirt off, and Keeps dye off. It does not contain Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) which are considered toxic to the environment.
