The Green Company Eco Laundry Sheets: An Honest Review of Green Sheets
This review includes samples I received free of charge in return for sharing my thoughts with you. All opinions are my own.
Laundry is one of those jobs that never really goes away. The pile builds up and somehow you always end up running out of wash pods at the worst possible time. So when eco-friendly laundry sheets started popping up everywhere, I was curious. Could a thin little sheet really clean your clothes as well as a wash pod I usually use? And is it actually better for the planet, or is it just clever marketing?
I put The Green Company’s Eco Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ to the test, and this review covers everything you need to know before you decide to try them yourself. I’ll share what they are, how they work, what they’re made of, how much they cost, and of course, whether they actually clean your clothes.
What Are The Green Company GreenSheets™?
GreenSheets™ are ultra-concentrated laundry detergent sheets made by The Green Company, a small independent business based in Dundee, Scotland. The idea is simple: instead of a heavy plastic bottle of liquid or a tub of powder, you get a flat, lightweight sheet that you drop into the washing machine drum. It dissolves in water and gets on with cleaning your clothes.
Each sheet is pre-measured, so there’s no guessing how much to use. You tear the sheet in half for a regular load, use a full sheet for a heavily soiled or very large load, and add a little extra if you live in a hard water area. The sheets work on every cycle, including cold, quick washes, woollens, and delicates, which is a real bonus.
They come in three scents: Lavender, Fresh Linen, and Fragrance Free. The fragrance-free option is great if you have sensitive skin or prefer your clothes to smell neutral.
You can try them with a 4-load sample pack for just 95p, which is a genuinely low-risk way to see if they work for your household before committing to a bigger pack.
The brand also have fabric conditioner available if you feel you can’t do without that.
What Are They Made Of?
This is the part where some eco products start to feel a bit vague, but The Green Company is refreshingly transparent. The full ingredient list for GreenSheets™ natural laundry detergent is:
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate, Palm-Free Decyl Glucoside, Water, Coconut Oil Derivative (Cocamidopropyl Betaine), Glycerol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Trisodium Citrate, Parfums.
Here’s what that actually means in plain English:
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate is a plant-derived surfactant. Surfactants are the cleaning workhorses in any detergent. They lift dirt, oil, and grease off fabric and into the water so it can be rinsed away.
Palm-Free Decyl Glucoside is a gentle, biodegradable surfactant made from coconut and glucose. The “palm-free” part is worth noting because palm oil farming is a significant cause of deforestation, so this is a thoughtful swap.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a mild foaming agent derived from coconut oil. It boosts cleaning without being harsh on fabrics or skin.
Glycerol (also called glycerine) helps keep the formula stable and gives fabrics a slightly softer finish.
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is the water-soluble film that holds the sheet together. This one sometimes raises eyebrows because people associate PVA with plastic, but the grade used in laundry products is specifically designed to dissolve completely and biodegrade during wastewater treatment. The American Cleaning Institute has published a detailed breakdown of the science behind this, noting that the EPA has confirmed the safety and biodegradability of detergent-grade PVA (source). To be fair, there is ongoing debate about PVA in some corners of the environmental community, so it is something worth being aware of, but the current scientific consensus supports its use in this context.
Trisodium Citrate is a natural water softener that helps the detergent work more effectively, especially in hard water areas, and helps protect fabric colours.
Parfums (in the scented versions) are described as non-toxic and free from harsh synthetics. The Fragrance Free version skips these entirely.
All of the ingredients are listed on the EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List, which means they have been verified as safe for people, pets, and the environment. The product is also vegan, cruelty-free, GMO-free, and PFAS and phthalate-free.
Are They Actually Eco-Friendly?
Let’s look at this honestly, because “eco-friendly” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot.
The packaging is compostable and plastic-free, which is a big improvement over the standard plastic bottles most detergents come in. Traditional liquid detergent bottles are bulky, heavy, and difficult to fully recycle, partly because they often contain residual detergent that contaminates the recycling process.
The sheets themselves are around one-tenth of the weight of traditional detergent, which means significantly lower carbon emissions from transport. Fewer lorry journeys and lighter parcels add up over time.
Using pre-measured doses also prevents overdosing, which is a surprisingly common problem with liquid detergent. Overdosing not only wastes product but can clog your machine and actually make it less effective, meaning you might end up running a second wash and using even more energy.
Speaking of energy, the sheets work on cold washes, which is worth mentioning because wash temperature has a big impact on your home’s carbon footprint. The Energy Saving Trust advises that washing at lower temperatures uses significantly less energy, with the EU’s Ecodesign initiative making a 20-degree option compulsory on new machines since 2013. Clothes that aren’t heavily soiled genuinely do not need a hot wash, and using a detergent that dissolves effectively in cold water makes this easier.
If you are trying to make other parts of your home more eco-friendly too, there is some helpful guidance over on my eco-friendly home guide and some specific tips for eco-friendly cleaning in the kitchen here.
WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) has also highlighted that washing clothes less frequently when they aren’t actually dirty, and airing garments to freshen them, can make a meaningful difference to the environmental impact of laundry. You can read more in their Sustainable Clothing Guide.
How Do You Use Them?
It really is as simple as it sounds. Tear the sheet in half along the perforation, drop it into the drum (not the detergent drawer), and start your wash. The sheet dissolves as soon as it hits water, even on cold cycles.
For soft water areas, one perforated half is usually enough for a regular load. For a very large or heavily soiled wash, use a full sheet. If you live in a hard water area, you may need to add an extra half sheet to compensate. After just one or two washes, you will get a feel for what works best for your machine and load size.
They also work brilliantly for hand washing and travel, which is a genuinely useful bonus. The sample pack is small enough to slip into a bag or suitcase.
What Do They Cost?
Here is the pricing breakdown:
4-load sample pack: 95p
64-load pack: £14.95 (one-time purchase)
128-load pack: £14.95 (one-time purchase)
Subscribe and save: 16% off, bringing the 64-load pack to £12.56
With the 64-load pack at £14.95, that works out to about 23p per load on a one-time purchase, or around 19p per load on subscription. Compared to many premium eco-friendly detergents, that is pretty competitive.
The subscription is flexible, meaning you can change delivery frequency, skip deliveries, switch pack sizes, or cancel whenever you want. You can manage it all through an online account or just email the team directly.
Free UK postage is available on orders over £10, and orders are dispatched from Dundee via Royal Mail with tracked delivery. Standard UK delivery is usually within 2 business days.
What Do Customers Think?
The GreenSheets™ have over 2,200 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. Here are a couple of examples from verified customers:
“Loving the laundry sheets! My laundry smells great and I love how eco friendly and convenient it is to have them on subscription, plus it’s saving me a fortune! Win win all round!” (Anonymous, verified customer)
“Easy to use, saves on storage and does a great job. What’s not to love.” (Nancy Hudson, verified customer)
The product has also been featured in The Independent, The Times, and The Evening Standard. The Independent named it their Best Overall Laundry Sheet, noting that “these sheets left our clothes feeling soft and both smelling and looking clean.”
What I Liked
There is quite a lot to appreciate here about these laundry sheets:
- The 95p sample pack makes it very easy to try before committing
- No mess, no crusty caps, no heavy bottles to lug home from the supermarket
- Works on every cycle, including cold and quick washes
- Suitable for sensitive skin, babies, and children
- Genuinely transparent about ingredients
- Compact and easy to store
- Travel-friendly
- The subscription is flexible, not the kind where cancelling requires a phone call and a small miracle
What Could Be Better
In the spirit of an honest review, here are a couple of things worth mentioning:
The sheets are only available online, so if you run out unexpectedly, you can’t just nip to the shop. It’s worth staying on top of your supply, which the subscription model does help with.
If you are used to the strong scent of conventional detergents, the fragrances here are noticeably more subtle. The product page describes the laundry sheets as “delicately balanced,” which is accurate in my opinion. Some people love this; others might miss a bolder scent.
FAQ
Do the laundry sheets work in cold water?
Yes. The laundry sheets dissolve quickly in cold water and work effectively even on a cold or quick wash cycle. This also makes them better for your energy bills.
Are they suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes. The GreenSheets™ are hypoallergenic approved and free from toxic chemicals, PFAS, and phthalates. They are described as suitable for sensitive skin, babies, and children. The Fragrance Free version is a good choice for anyone with extra-sensitive skin.
Can I use them in any washing machine?
Yes. They work in all standard washing machines, including HE (high-efficiency) machines. They are also suitable for hand washing.
Do I put the sheet in the drum or the drawer?
Drop it directly into the drum before adding your clothes. Do not put laundry sheets in the detergent drawer.
How many sheets will I go through?
For most regular loads in a soft water area, half a sheet is enough. A 64-load pack would therefore give you around 128 washes if you consistently use half sheets. In hard water areas or for larger, dirtier loads, you will use more.
Is the PVA in the sheets a plastic?
This is a fair question. PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is used as the film that holds the sheet together. The detergent-grade PVA used in products like these is specifically designed to dissolve completely in water and biodegrade during wastewater treatment. This is different from the insoluble grades of PVA used in other industries. The EPA has confirmed the safety and biodegradability of this grade of PVA (full details here).
What is the difference between bio and non-bio detergent?
The GreenSheets™ laundry sheets are non-bio. Non-bio detergents do not contain enzymes, which makes them gentler on skin and fabrics. They are generally recommended for people with sensitive skin and for washing delicates. Bio detergents contain enzymes that break down protein-based stains like grass or blood more effectively at lower temperatures. Neither is universally better; it depends on your needs.
Can I cancel the subscription easily?
Yes. You can cancel, skip, pause, or change your laundry sheets subscription at any time through your online account. You can also email the team directly at hello@thegreencompany.online.
So Are They Worth It?
For most households, yes. The GreenSheets™ do what they say on the box. They clean clothes effectively, they are kinder to the planet than plastic-bottled alternatives, they are easy-to-use laundry sheets, and they are genuinely suitable for sensitive skin. The 95p sample pack means there is very little reason not to give them a go.
They are not the cheapest detergent on the market if you compare by raw price, but when you factor in the reduction in plastic waste, the lower transport emissions, the prevention of overdosing, and the convenience of a flexible subscription, they represent good value. If you are already trying to reduce your household’s environmental impact, switching your laundry detergent is one of the simpler and more painless changes you can make.
Try the 4-load sample pack from The Green Company and see for yourself.
Let me know what you think in the comments below. Is this a swap you could make to start using laundry sheets?
