Manufacturer of biodegradable laundry, cleaning and dishwashing detergents with an ecological factory in Malle, Belgium
Ecover
Malle (BE)New on Amplifa
About Ecover
Ecover is a Belgian manufacturer of ecological laundry and cleaning products, founded in 1979 by scientists who, in response to water pollution caused by phosphates, developed a phosphate-free detergent formula. The range includes laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dishwashing liquids, dishwasher tablets and hard-surface cleaners with biodegradable formulations. Production takes place mainly at the company's own ecological factory in Malle (Belgium), built in 1992, featuring a green roof and eco-bricks made from recycled coal waste ash; the plant is certified as a Zero Waste Certified Factory with a 98% waste diversion rate. Ingredients and materials are sourced regionally or from Europe wherever possible. In 2009 the company developed an eco-surfactant based on sugar fermentation instead of petrochemicals, and since 2011 it has relied on bottles made from renewable or recycled plastics. The products are distributed via supermarkets, health food retail and online retailers; in addition, Ecover maintains a network of over 650 refill stations in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland.
- Site
- Malle
- Processes
- Refill station system (650–700+ stations in the UK), Production at a Zero Waste factory, biodegradable formulations, Recycled packaging (100% post-consumer recycled bottles, Plantastic, Ocean Plastic), palm-oil-free recipes, ecological ingredient sourcing (European/local preferred)
- Materials
- Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic, Sugarcane-based plastic, Plastic recovered from the North Sea, Eco-surfactant from sugar fermentation, Rapeseed oil-based fabric softener
- Certificates
- Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free), Zero Waste Certified Factory, Zero Waste Certified Factory (98% diversion rate)
- Founded
- 1979
- Industries
- Household cleaners (laundry and dishwashing detergents), Retail/supermarkets, Health food and organic retail, Organic/natural cosmetics retail, Food retail (Ecover Essential, ECOCERT-certified)
- 01
Ingredient sourcing (regional/European preferred)
- 02
Formulation development
- 03
Production at the Zero Waste factory in Malle
- 04
Filling into recycled packaging
- 05
Distribution via retailers & refill stations
Formulations & Packaging Materials
Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic
Since 2018, bottles made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, 100% recyclable.
Sugarcane-based plastic
100% recyclable bottles introduced in 2011, made from renewable sugarcane instead of petroleum.
Plastic recovered from the North Sea
Limited-edition bottle from 2014 with 10% plastic recovered from the North Sea, remainder from recycled plastic.
Eco-surfactant from sugar fermentation
Since 2009, nature-based surfactants produced through sugar fermentation instead of petrochemicals.
Rapeseed oil-based fabric softener
Since 2017, palm-oil-free fabric softener with a softening agent made from French rapeseed oil.
Sites
Malle
BEEcological production factory (Zero Waste Certified, green roof)
- Materials
- Biodegradable formulations, recycled packaging plastic
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
Production takes place mainly at the factory in Malle, certified as a Zero Waste Certified Factory, with a 98% waste diversion rate. According to the company, all cleaners are approved as cruelty-free under the Leaping Bunny programme and are regularly audited.
| Evidence | Malle |
|---|---|
| Zero Waste Certified Factory (98% diversion rate) | |
| Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free) |
Company History
- 1979
Founded by Belgian scientists; development of a phosphate-free formula against water pollution and launch of ECOVER.
- 1989
First laundry powder reaches supermarket shelves in Belgium.
- 1991
UK market launch with the 'Washes Righter' campaign on recycled posters.
- 1992
Construction of the ecological factory in Malle, Belgium, with a green roof and eco-bricks made from recycled coal waste ash.
- 1993
Induction into the UN Global 500 Roll of Honour; the Environmental Stewardship Award followed in 1999.
- 2008
Time Magazine names Ecover and then-CEO Mick Bremans 'Eco Pioneers'; partnership with WaterAid.
- 2009
Eco-surfactant breakthrough: surfactants produced through sugar fermentation instead of petrochemicals.
- 2011
First 100% recyclable bottles made from sugarcane (Plantastic).
- 2014
Limited-edition Ocean Plastic bottle with 10% plastic from the North Sea.
- 2017
Palm-oil-free fabric softener based on rapeseed oil; launch of the ECOCERT-certified sub-brand Ecover Essential.
- 2018
New dishwashing liquid bottle made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.