By CongCong Li, Frank van Steenbergen, Salma Enan, Meghna Mukherjee
Cold water laundry practice
A notable trend in global laundry is the shift toward lower-temperature washing. Cold water washing is common in the US and is gaining popularity in other well-to-do economies. Cold water laundry is a major energy and carbon emission saver. Most energy consumed during a household machine wash goes toward heating the water. The US market suggests that if just one load of laundry per week was washed with cold instead of hot or warm water over a year in households doing laundry, 2.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be averted yearly (Mars, 2016). Washing with cold water has other advantages, such as preserving fabric quality, maintaining colors, and minimizing shrinkage. However, it requires longer washing cycles, improved washing techniques, and most importantly, the application of more effective detergents.
Cold washing in emerging economies
Cold water washing is also practiced in emerging economies, yet in a different way and for various reasons. For millions of poor people, washing clothes by hand in cold water is a daily reality. Many wash their clothes and linens in streams, ponds, or by drawing water from courtyard wells. Furthermore, heating water is difficult and time-consuming. White clothes and linen may be washed with hot water and bleach, but dark clothes are usually not. Similarly, even for some that have access to machine washing, frequent power load shedding makes it not impossible to use high-temperature laundry programs.
However, washing with cold water is less effective at removing stains and controlling odors, and, more critically, it fails to eliminate pathogens from the laundry. This is important because soiled clothes and linens harbour many bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites (see Table 1). With regular soaps and detergents, clothes need to be washed in water at 60°C with sufficient soaking time to kill off pathogens effectively. Extended sunlight drying is another important practice to remove pathogens. As a result, laundry becomes a potential source of disease, affecting not only the person wearing the clothes or reusing the towel but also the individual doing the washing. It is a major factor leading to public health and hygiene issues within households and health care facilities.
Enzyme-based detergents
This blog, therefore, calls for actions to develop and promote improved laundry practices in energy-constrained environments. In particular, there is a need for affordable yet more effective detergents that include special cold-water enzymes and sanitizing agents to ensure proper cleaning at temperatures below 30°C, especially against certain viruses and bacteria.
Enzyme-based detergents are emerging as promising solutions. Enzymes are also called “green chemicals” and are widely applied in laundry, textiles, and other industries. The idea of using enzymes dates back to 1913 when Otto Rohm introduced the idea of using pancreatic enzymes as a laundry cleaning aid (Kumar et al., 1998). The product was marked as a presoak detergent under the brand name Burnus. It enjoyed moderate commercial success and was sold for about 50 years in European markets. Other manufacturers also have a strong record with cold water detergents, such as Tide and Unilever, that sell the classic enzyme-enriched Biotex.
Enzymes are very efficient in breaking down various types of stains, including proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, even under lower temperatures and high pH conditions. For instance, proteases break down protein stains, while lipases target fat stains. Importantly, enzymes in detergents also break down the protein shells of viruses and bacteria and thereby contribute to better health and hygiene. Enzyme-enriched detergents could help enhance fabric quality and maintain color vibrancy, which are important for those who cannot afford too many clothes. Additionally, Enzymes could put lower pressure on water quality.
Market opportunities
The potential market opportunities for cold-water detergents tailored to the specific conditions of emerging economies are huge. The entire detergent industry sells USD 300 billion. According to a recent market report, the global detergent enzymes market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to around USD 2.7 billion by 2032 (Sharma et al., 2024). Enzyme-based detergent is most prevalent in Europe and the US, expanding in other regions as well. The potential is particularly high in emerging economies. There is a need to support a shift toward low-temperature machine washing in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which can help save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, there is significant potential to cater to those who still wash primarily by hand. This involves developing effective and affordable detergents that can compete with low-quality or counterfeit products in these conditions. A major challenge with enzyme-based detergents is maintaining their stability. As they may lose effectiveness when exposed to high temperatures, long shelf lives, or harsh chemicals. Therefore, it’s necessary to look both at detergent formula and supply chains, while
while a large, underserved people waiting to be served.
(This blog is prepared as part of the LIFT-US Initiative.)
Reference List
Cameron, B. A. (2007). Laundering in cold water: Detergent considerations for consumers. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 36(2), 151-162.
Detergent Enzymes Market Research Report 2032. https://dataintelo.com/report/detergent-enzymes-market
Downes, S. (2024, April 27). Walmart and Tide Campaign: Why Cold-Water Laundry is Best. Sustainability Magazine. https://sustainabilitymag.com/articles/walmart-and-tide-campaign-why-cold-water-laundry-is-best
Filip, H. , Ratna, H. (2024, April 26). Cold Wash: Embracing a Central Growth Strategy in Laundry Care. https://www.euromonitor.com/article/cold-washw-embracing-a-central-growth-strategy-in-laundry-care
Kind Laundry. (n.d.). What Is an Enzyme Laundry Detergent? https://www.kindlaundry.com/blogs/educational/what-is-an-enzyme-laundry-detergent?
Kumar, C. G., Malik, R. K., & Tiwari, M. P. (1998). Novel enzyme-based detergents: an Indian perspective. Current Science, 75(12), 1312-1318.
Mars, C., Cold Water Wash Initiative, Home & Personal Care Working Group, The Sustainability Consortium, & Arizona State University & University of Arkansas. (2016). Technical Brief: Benefits of using cold water for everyday laundry in the U.S. 4. https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/sites/default/files/assets/1/Page/Cold-Water-Wash-Technical-Brief.pdf
Novozymes(n.d.). A beginner’s guide to enzymes in detergents https://biosolutions.novozymes.com/en/dish/insights/article/beginners-guide-enzymes-detergents
Sustainable Brands(2024). Cross-Industry Collaborations Turning the Tide on Cold-Water Washing. https://sustainablebrands.com/read/collaborations-turning-tide-cold-water-washing
