Tablet soaps fight plastic pollution

Dishwashing liquid soap and other household cleaning products are full of irony. While they clean eating and kitchen utensils, they add up to the mountain of plastic waste polluting the environment and oceans. That’s because the cleaning liquid is packaged in plastic sachets and bottles which are discarded after use.

Innovator Dan Cruz is aware of the sheer volume of plastic waste generated by everyday cleaning tasks. Rather than waiting for systemic regulation or corporate action, he took the initiative to develop a practical alternative that individuals could adopt instantly. Drawing inspiration from effervescent tablets like vitamin supplements, Cruz experimented with solid soaps that would dissolve in water and eliminate unnecessary packaging. 

After four years of work, Cruz founded the Ecowise brand of dishwashing tablets and sachet-free soaps as waste-free alternatives to conventional plastic-packaged cleaners. The products were launched in February 2024.

The heart of Ecowise’s mission lies in tackling one of the most overlooked contributors to plastic pollution. Discarded soap containers make up a significant portion of plastics entering landfills and waterways every year. Cruz saw this problem not just as an inconvenience but as an opportunity to innovate. 

Ecowise’s flagship product, the dishwashing tablet, is simple in concept but profound in impact. Instead of buying bulky bottles of liquid dish soap — most of which come in disposable plastic containers — consumers can now purchase concentrated tablets that dissolve in water to create an effective dishwashing solution. These tablets are formulated to cut through grease and clean effectively while being biodegradable and gentle on hands. 

The innovation doesn’t stop with dishwashing tablets. Ecowise’s product line includes hand soap tablets and multi-surface cleaner tablets, all designed to be dissolved in water and used just like their liquid counterparts — but without the need for single-use plastic packaging. 

Ecowise’s dishwashing tablets drew attention for sharing the same ethos as refill hubs — community-based stations where customers bring their own containers to refill cleaning products, avoiding new packaging altogether. 

But Cruz said that his vision for Ecowise was not just about selling products but about changing consumer habits and reducing reliance on plastic bottles and sachets. 

An important aspect of Ecowise’s sustainability mission is its compostable packaging made from cornstarch, which can break down much faster than traditional plastics. By pairing biodegradable products with eco-friendly packaging, Ecowise minimizes the environmental footprint of every purchase. 

Customer feedback reflects appreciation for both the environmental and practical benefits of the products. Users have described them as effective at cleaning, easy to use, and part of a “guilt-free” shopping experience that aligns with broader efforts to reduce waste at home. Many customers report that the tablets are economical and that they value the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. 

Ecowise also offers bundled refill packs, enabling households to stock up on multiple tablets at once. This not only improves convenience but also reduces waste further by replacing multiple individual containers with a single refill solution. 

At its core, Ecowise represents a shift toward zero-waste living and everyday sustainability. By transforming how cleaning products are packaged and consumed, Cruz and his team are proving that small household choices can contribute to a cleaner home and a healthier planet — one tablet at a time.