Thanks to the black magic of data-based marketing, my social media feeds are plump with ads for “eco-friendly” products. Apparently, the data-deities have determined that I need to try Tru Earth Eco-strips laundry detergent. Who am I to resist this calling?
I finally broke down and bought a 32-pack. NOT because Facebook told me to, but to see 1) if this product works and 2) what makes it eco-friendly?
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Do Tru Earth Strips Work?
The short answer is yes. A 32-pack of Tru Earth strips cost $19.95 USD with free shipping and arrived at my house exactly two weeks after online purchase.
As advertised, the packaging is minimal — just a recyclable cardboard envelop with a packaging label. Much easier to handle than a giant jug of laundry detergent.
As usual, I had a full hamper of dirty clothes complete with a muddy pair of khaki pants. In compliance with the directions, I put one strip into the washer, loaded clothes on top and let ‘er rip. (The package suggests using two strips for heavily soiled laundry or half a strip for small loads. But I like to live dangerously, so I used one.)
To be honest, I really doubted a 2″ x 4″ strip weighing under 3 grams would get the job done. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a fresh smelling, clean load of laundry in my washer. Better still, my khakis were mud-free and ready to fight another day. The “Fresh Linen” scent even passed my wife’s smell test.
Who knew laundry could be so exciting?
Before After
Is Tru Earth Eco-Friendly?
Tru Earth is based in British Columbia, and gets its eco-friendly stamp largely for its efficient packaging. The brand claims that 400 loads-worth of strips take the same space as a 100-load jug of detergent.
A 3-gram strip weighs 94% less than the 40 grams of detergent needed for a single load. With regard to the environment, Tru Earth’s efficiency translates into less plastic and less carbon emissions from transport.
According to Tru Earth, if everyone switched from detergent to Eco-Strips, we would:
- Eliminate one billion plastic jugs and save 700 million from landfills.
- Reduce trucking emissions equivalent to 27 million cars per day, or planting nine million trees.
I don’t know how they reached these numbers or whether they are accurate. However, there’s no question Tru Earth strips are much more efficient to package and transport than jugs of liquid detergent.
Try Tru Earth laundry strips for just $15.50 in the Emeraldology Shop and use promo code Ship4Free for free shipping on single packs of laundry strips.
Tru Earth Ingredients
In terms of ingredients, Tru Earth claims to be vegan but I haven’t found a meaningful cruelty-free certification to back it up. However, its parent company, Dizolve, made the following statement:
“Dizolve laundry detergent is a vegan product: no animal-derived ingredients are used in it, and no testing on animals has been conducted by us or our ingredient suppliers. We voluntarily publish our ingredients list and MSDS as part of our commitments to transparency and sustainability.”
Dizolve distributes to Australia, Canada (under the brands Tru Earth and DSolve), the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine.
Tru Earth strips are paraben-free, phosphate-free, dye-free, chlorine bleach free, certified hypoallergenic (by an “independent dermatologist”) and readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 310D.
The full ingredients list, along with a Material Safety Data Sheet, can be found here. Many of the ingredients are listed as plant-based or plant-derived.
Related: Lumehra Natural Laundry Detergents: Do They Really Work?
The Bottom Line
I think Dizolve and Tru Earth are on to something here. In fact, months after publishing this review we partnered with True Earth to sell Fresh Linen and Fragrance Free laundry strips right on Emeraldology! By shipping only within the United States, we’re able to avoid international shipping fees and keep our price very low.
We stand behind these products 100% for their performance and Earth-friendliness, and you better believe I still wash my own clothes with them! (I’m a Fresh Linen guy, myself.)
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Best view i have ever seen !
I am loving this product. My husband is questioning if the creating process of this product may be harmful to the environment. I haven’t been able to find information on how the product is produced and if their is a byproduct ie harmful to environment outside of packaging and product itself, thanks!
I don’t understand why they cost more per load than a big, plastic jug. With fewer packaging and shipping costs, shouldn’t it be cheaper?
That’s a good question, Dave, and one better answered by Tru Earth itself. I tend to think it has something to do with sourcing plant-based ingredients and paying higher labor wages.
it’s to do with R&D (Research and development) as well as the reality that this is still a small company. The big brands like Tide, etc, use a lot of water in their product and they can also take advantage of bulk pricing in their ingredients. The ingredients they use are also, generally, lowest bid. they’re not worried if the ingredient has been tested on animals or is suitable for vegan customers.
As Tru Earth grows, the price will come down. Think of this as being the Kickstarter phase: not enough customers at this end means there will be no Tru Earth strips at the other end (except those reverse-engineered by knock-off companies).
I’m not sure if this can be considered the ‘kickstarter’ phase really. The name Tru Earth is new, but the product is not. As mentioned somewhere in this article, it’s parent company is Dizolve Group. I am presently holding in my hand a trial size packet of 10 squares of Dizolve. I have been moving this packet around with me for a minimum of 8 years…8 years is a long time for a kickstarter phase, no? I’ve just unpacked AGAIN and found them. I have Tru Earth, so finding the Dizolve (again) prompted me to do some research to compare the two…to find out they are the same company. FYI.. As an aside, I would like to add that the hardness of your water will have a direct affect on the efficiency of any soap product. Case in point. My daughter uses Tru Earth, 1 strip (meaning 1/2 of the perforated square they come as) per load, and it does the trick on any laundry nightmare her husband or kids can cook up, and they work brilliantly. She lives in a city with quite soft water. My clothes don’t get ‘dirty’, they just get stinky because, well, humans stink. So to get just the ‘stink’ out of my clothes, I must use an entire square, but I am on a well with very hard water.
I have found the opposite to be true. I just compared a discount store’s price for major brand pods (in the orange bottle), 48 count for $21.44; that is $.4466 cents per pod. In comparison, Tru Earth sheets, when purchased with subscription, cost 12.95 for 32 strips; that is$.4046 cents per strip. AND, Tru Earth strips clean at least as well as that major brand. I have been using Tru Earth for several weeks now, and find it does an excellent job of cleaning and refreshing my washables. And no, I do not work for nor sell Tru Earth products.
And RJ’s calcs assume a full strip per load. I love this stuff, but I do a fair number of smaller, not very dirty loads. I’ve settled on 1 strip for an extra large load of something I want super clean, like towels and linens, 2/3 strip for a regular sized load of clothing, and 1/2 strip for a small load of delicates, like wool socks, merino shirts, bras, etc. There’s a pair of scissors that live inside the packaging…
Thanks for the honest review. I’m curious about the fabric softener component of laundry. Did you use any (which also comes in big plastic containers) or does the strip have fabric softening capabilities? Thank you!
I wouldn’t say the strip itself has any softening capabilities. I haven’t noticed any myself and Tru Earth doesn’t advertise it.
Tru Earth sells these Wool Dryer Balls that they say naturally softens laundry. I haven’t tried them myself, so I can’t endorse this product. However, they are natural and plastic free.
(I should probably try and review those, too!)
I actually bought those wool balls. I don’t notice any softening nor do I notice that they help the laundry dry quicker .
The laundry balls work great. I also got hooked into buying their steel straws and they’ve become a fun piece of gear around the house..
I use dryer balls all the time. For maximum efficiency, 6 balls is about the right number. I also throw some white vinegar in the softener compartment, which also helps.
Wool dryer balls soften laundry and last a LONG time. They sell those too. No chemicals.
I use a mix of wool dryer balls and plastic dryer balls with great results.
I received my Tru Earth detergent 32 load package today. Can you please tell me how to use via size of laundry load? I usually do Medium size loads so 1 strip? Large once in awhile, how much? And extra large, how much? Thank you!
One strips works well for medium and large loads. For extra large loads, a strip and a half should do the trick. Adding too much detergent of any type actually has a negative effect on clothes, as the excess detergent builds up and can actually trap odors instead of removing them!
I also recommended throwing in a half cup of distilled white vinegar as a natural “booster” for heavily soiled loads or to wash off built up detergent as described above.
Please stop sending your Truearth product!!! I like using. You are sending me too much. I need to use up what I have. Thank you!
Hi Jan,
This is not Tru Earth’s website, this is just a review of the product. If you set up a subscription through them, you should go to this web page to find out how to cancel it.
I’ll even save you a trip: just email info@tru.earth that you want to stop automatic deliveries.
I’d like to try the unscented product. I normally use ECOS liquid or a Proctor & Gamble powder with OXYCLEAN and BORAX. If I continue to use my supplements, will I do any harm to the effectiveness of the strip product?
I don’t see why it would cause any harm, but that might be a good question to ask Tru Earth directly (I’m just a reviewer, not the manufacturer). Personally, I throw in a quarter up of white distilled vinegar every couple of loads as a booster.
I use Borax with my laundry strips to the same good effect as with liquid detergent, powder or pods.
A 30 minute cycle?! You’d do the planet a much bigger favor using a longer, more energy-eficient program.
I bought and received my unscented strips and found they worked great.
I have to use up what I have right now but I definitely will be ordering them again . This will be my standard laundry detergent!
Giving the product 5 stars!
What about the cost? Liquid detergents cost 9 cents to 19 cents per load where these strips cost .62 cents per load.
AH what price do you put on the environment? My family have been into recycle, reduce and re use for decades and we are willing to pay the price.
Is this available in any retail outlets?
Hi Lucy, check out Tru Earth’s store finder. There are a few retailers in the United States, but most are in Canada.
Wanted a more earth friendly packaging for my laundry detergent and thought these were worth a try. They took a long time to arrive but they are worth the wait. My husband has the stinkiest clothes and even the unscented works well cleaning-wise and smell- wise! Iâm sold……actually sharing with friends. Ready to place a year supply order!!
I think these are a fantastic idea although I am sad to see the scented products carry synthetic ingredients, these synthetic scents wreck havoc on your body, especially the hormone system I wish they had stuck to pure essential oils only.
Thanks for clarifying that. I was trying to find the ingredients for their “fragrance” before purchasing. I’m not interested in supporting a product that uses synthetic fragrance, even if they have a “fragrance free” option.
He has an Aussie! That makes him OK with m e.
I looked at these and love the idea of cutting back on packaging and plastic . Sadly though your review didnt show any whites being washed . I watched another review and the reviewer found that the product just cant clear stains.
Thanks for your input Pam! I don’t count on Tru Earth to lift deep stains either. I have found that adding 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar gives it a little boost for heavier loads.
Where is it produced?
The eco-strips are manufactured in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Just received my first-time order, prompt delivery to Trail BC Canada. Glad to read positive reviews and looking forward to trying them.
I ordered the smaller packages of scented and unscented through the company. Arrived within 4 days. Easy to use and works well. A quick email canceled my automatic renewal option without any issues.
Recently purchased 2 packages. Ad said hot and cold water, however for my front loading machine if using cold water you must put sheet in warm water until it melts, then put in soap dispenser. A big disappointment!
This is a big disappointment. I wonder if it would melt in warm water. I wash the majority of my loads in a front load washer in warm/cold cycle. I’m uncertain I want to go through the extra work of melting the sheet prior to starting a load of laundry.
My wife puts the strip right in with the clothes on a front load washer and always on cold cycle. The strip dissolves and clothes wash.
I have a front loader and I have found the most efficient way of using these sheets is to tear them in 4 pieces and put them in the drum before the washing goes in. I’m very pleased with the results
Is this product no phosphate? Phosphate free?
Phosphate-free according to Tru Earth’s website.
ordered mine about 3 weeks ago and just got it today going to try it tomorrow will let you know what I think huggles oh and I’m n=in Hanna Alberta
Hi Eileen, did you order from Emeraldology or directly from Tru Earth?
I ordered my eco strips 6 weeks ago. Still havenât arrived. Looking forward to trying them out. Thanks for all the info posted here. Very helpful.
I can’t wait to try this! I just placed an order.
I’ve been using the strips for 2 months now and get the same results as I do from the ECOS liquid I was using; minus the big plastic jug! That works for me. Just ordered two more packets without using the subscription option.
We’re in our third month now and I really like them! At first I felt like I was treating them like the one size fits all but after advice from customer service I’ll use one or two strips. We have a top loader without an agitator and find that tearing up the strips and putting them in the dispenser is fine.
I am totally in love with this product and unlike a previous person find that it works excellent in my front load washer. Where the laundry pods do not dissolve the strips do fine. I just throw it in with the clothes and do not use the dispenser. My daughter who has a water softener even used less than a strip and had great results. she saved the bit she tore off for hand washing. Never a fan of the subscription for anything, I emailed and they accommodate. I have just recently broken down and done the subscription for now.
I’m always looking for items that will not harm our planet so these caught my eye. For everyone’s information this wonderful product is now available on Amazon and my first time purchase of Tru Earth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent is on it’s way!!!
So far Iâm very happy with these strips! They are cheaper than what I was using either from Grove Collaborative or the grocery store. I was concerned that they wouldnât clean as well but so far they seem to be doing a great job!
I used DSolve that I bought from a Showcase store. I really like the concept. However, I have found that it does not work well in my LG front load washer dispenser. A film of it was left behind and a big gob of it was under the dispenser when I cleaned it. I did tear the sheet into smaller pieces and even tried dissolving it in some warm water first. However, i must say the it does dissolve great when running water in the sink to hand wash some items.
I was wondering about that! My biggest regret is trading in my top loader for a front loader! Nothing comes out clean or fresh smelling!
Our appliance repair guy suggested using 2 cups of white vinegar “once a week” in an empty washer load for 6 weeks to keep musty orders away. This is even though he saw my front load washer is free of mold. He explained that a small amount, 2 Tbsp., of detergent is enough. I can see how using 1/2 strip for smaller loads would be fine. As explained above, too much detergent causes the build-up that causes unwanted musty orders. Problem solved.
I second the use of vinegar once in a while. Our front load washer was always smelling musty and seemed to have gummy detergent buildup (using liquid detergent) between the diispenser and drum. After adding vinegar in the dispenser to wash a smelly sheet, the odour has totally disappeared and no more dripping from the entry tube once the wash is finished.
Just received my first order. And so far, so good. Clothes are clean. Thatâs all I need.
Thanks Emeraldology for being such a bigger supporter of our eco-strips laundry detergent. I’ve noticed that some of you have had issues in receiving your orders during the months of December and January. We definitely want to get this fixed for you as soon as possible, please email our CARE team at care@tru.earth or if you have Facebook, send us a private message and one of our team members will assist you in getting this fixed. Thanks so much for your support and we are going to continue to do our best to serve you going forward.
With PVA listed as an ingredient, I’m skeptical. It may readily bio-degrade, but PVA has also been identified as a microplastic polluting our oceans. I’d rather stick with a plastic jug that can be properly recycled until there is more proof that this, as well as laundry ‘pods’ are truly harmless and not just adding to our troubled waters.
Thanks for your concern, Karen, and I appreciate your skepticism! I’ll only point out that although recycling may delay it, those plastic jugs will inevitably break down into microplastics, too. As we like to say, “buy as if nothing gets recycled.”
I have been using the strips for many months now. I also didnât want the subscription and called their help line. The woman I spoke with was fantastic. She cancelled the subscription and told me how to just order them as I needed them. They are more expensive than the big plastic containers, but well worth it to reduce our plastic waste!!
Thanks for the input, Sherri! I’ve found calling in to be very helpful as well.
Still waiting on mine. Itâs been a month.
You haven’t rec your order either me either they keep telling me I’ll get it by the end of the week
yours came in cardboard? Mine comes in a plastic bag.
Everything I’ve ordered has come in compostable cardboard packaging, but I know they used to package in plastic. They made the switch within the last few months.
I have been wondering how the soaps are processed to form these compacted sheets, but can’t find the answer nowhere. Seems the production of the sheet should be calculated into the total cost to the environment
I’m beginning to think this company is a scam. I placed my order over a month ago, still haven’t gotten it. Swapped numerous emails with them–including one notifying them to cancel my subscription–and I removed my credit card number from their site. Yet they had the audacity to bill me again this month. Still haven’t gotten any products from them. Tracking number shows nothing. This company is at best inept at fulfillment and customer service, and at worst are totally ripping people off.
Boy, that’s not good to hear! I would try calling customer service. I had a minor issue during my first transaction and it was resolved relatively quickly over the phone.
Just a follow up on this, Robert, I spoke with a Tru Earth rep on the phone this morning about a wholesale order I made for Emeraldology, and he said the company (which started March 2019) was absolutely overrun during their first holiday season and is still playing catch up. All evidence toward them being inept at fulfillment and customer service, as you guessed. Apparently, Canadian Post has a terrible tracking system which is making it all the more difficult.
My hope is that Emeraldology (whenever our wholesale order arrives) will take the pain out of ordering and shipping this product for American customers.
Canadian post does not have a terrible tracking system. If you have a number you can find out what you need. Everything I’ve ever ordered through Canada Post has been delivered without fail. I would say they are having a difficult time fulfilling orders.
True that mate. I use Canada post for medical prescriptions and other items. Always on time or they notify you. Sounds like the supplier is blaming the delivery service.
I’ve had very poor experience with deliveries by Canada Post. Recently I had to request 3 refunds because orders didn’t arrive at all. A 4th order is overdue with no tracking date at all any more – contains lilies to plant so I’m hoping they are viable if/when they arrive.
I convinced well.ca and amazon.ca to deliver my orders by courier rather than Canada Post and I’m a happy online shopper again.
do they carry any whiter brighter kind of stuff that actually works
Doesn’t look like it. For now it’s just Fresh Linen, No Fragrance and Baby-Friendly.
Meh. You can get 90 loads of Down East detergent (enviro friendly in the extreme) for 12.50 and then refill your jug at the local home hardware. 13 cents a load. This stuff is 62 cents a load and I have to rely on it being shipped to me – not worth it and not convenient. I know they ponsored this post but ince they hiked the price I got a chance to see there are better options.
Glad you found an Earth-friendly option, I’d like to see that model catch on in the United States! From what I can see, Down East is only available at select stores in Atlantic Canada.
For the record, True Earth did not sponsor this post. If they did, I would have disclosed it in the review. I was genuinely curious about the product and thought I’d share my experience with those interested in Earth-friendly products.
Spot on a 100 load jug costs me 15 bucks they want 109 bucks for 384 loads, do the math. This is not a deal and plastic is reusable and can be recycled.
I won’t argue with the cost comparison, but only 9% of plastic gets recycled and plastics can only be recycled once or twice before they inevitably ends up in a landfill and eventually biosphere.
I can’t tell you how much I love this!! They clean so well! Little to even recycle! My worst fear….P&G will buy up the patent. I truly support this product! We must stop plastic pollution!
I saw the same ad as you on FB. When looking for product reviews (like yours), I also found that I could order these on Amazon. So I can try them out without getting on the company’s automatic subscription plan.
Thanks for the review.
(I have NO idea why every field here becomes initial Caps! đ
Thanks for the comment. Yes, they are available on Amazon but supporting small companies like Emeraldology and Tru Earth is part the Earth-friendliness! Check out my “There’s No Place for Amazon in an Earth-Friendly Holidays” article to see why.
Whew. I just ordered some of these and was worried that the review would say I wasted my money. now I am even more excited to be getting some.
Thanks for the comments! Emeraldology will be selling “Fresh Linen” Tru Earth Eco-Strips in the coming weeks for lower price and with no subscription. We feel this is a great zero-waste product and can drastically cut down on plastic pollution and shipping emissions.
I love the idea behind your product and plan to order soon. I am, however; wondering about your manufacturing process and the ingredients used to make it. Is it as eco friendly as your product? I would love to know that I am purchasing something that is eco friendly from start to finish.
Thank you –
Hi Linda, thanks for the question. Emeraldology is just a retail outlet for Tru Earth – we don’t have any part in the manufacturing. You may want to contact Tru Earth directly for questions about manufacturing. Their contact info is in one of the comments above or you can visit their website here.
If you are a US customer, come on back when you are ready to order!
Do you supply overseas ? We’re in NZ and Id love to have a product like this.
I would check with their Australian brand, Dizolve.
Good luck with your venture, Sam. It is such a great concept. I would love to be able to do away with all the plastic. I ordered the Fresh Linen sheets. They took about ten days to arrive, in a small cardboard package. They work very well. I tear the sheets in four and put them in the soap dispenser of my front loader machine. I havenât had any issues with them not dissolving in cold water. Overall, they clean very well.
But – I do wish they were more heavily scented – using essential oils! I like my clothes to have a nice clean smell. They just donât have a scent at all. If it ever stops raining here I will hang my laundry outside to try and freshen the scent.
I am axiously awaiting my Order! Noticed on receipt that even tho’ I ordered 32 fresh linen they say also sending plain ones as well and for a total less than expected. I hope it’s not a mistake đ
The true test would have been if you washed half your clothes in just water and then washed the other half in the laundry strip water. Check to see if there was a difference.
I ordered a pkg. and was pleased with the results so I just ordered some more. I didn’t have any trouble ordering and they arrived within 2 weeks.