Beyond the Drain: How Natrie Products Help to Protect our Rivers, Oceans and Wildlife

Beyond the Drain: How Natrie Products Help to Protect our Rivers, Oceans and Wildlife

We all strive for a sparkling clean home, but what happens after the water swirls down your drain? The chemicals we use in our daily cleaning routines don't just disappear; they enter our waterways, posing a significant risk to the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.

At Natrie, our mission is to provide genuinely powerful cleaning without compromising the planet. That's why Natrie products are designed to be safe for aquatic life - a promise that speaks directly to the purity of our ingredients and their minimal environmental impact.

What does “Safe for Aquatic Life” really mean?

When a product is certified or designed to be safe for aquatic life, it means the formula has been assessed to ensure that, even after being diluted and entering the water system, its components will not harm fish, invertebrates (like mussels and crustaceans), or aquatic plants.

This designation is built on two core principles:

  • Low Toxicity: The product’s ingredients must have low acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic species.

  • Rapid Biodegradability: The components must break down quickly and naturally in the water system - often defined as "ready biodegradability" - so they do not persist in the environment or accumulate in the tissues of marine organisms- a process called bioaccumulation.

In essence, a safe product ensures that what cleans your home won't pollute the rivers and oceans that sustain our planet.

Toxic ingredients to avoid!

The cleaning industry is full of powerful ingredients that are highly effective in your home but catastrophic when they enter the natural environment. To protect aquatic life, here are some of the most common chemicals found in conventional cleaners that must be avoided:

Phosphates: These Acts as a fertiliser in water, causing excessive growth of algae. This leads to algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels, creating "dead zones" where fish and other aquatic life cannot survive.

Chlorine Bleach:Highly toxic and lethal to many forms of aquatic life even at low concentrations. It can also react with other organic compounds to form dangerous, persistent toxins.

Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPES): A common surfactant that breaks down into Nonylphenol, a known endocrine disruptor that interferes with the hormonal systems of fish and other organisms, affecting reproduction and development.

Synthetic Fragrances: Many artificial fragrances contain phthalates, which are also endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with the hormones of aquatic life.

Microbeads & Microplastics:Tiny plastic particles used in some abrasive cleaners or as fillers. They pass through wastewater treatment, are ingested by marine life, and introduce toxins into the entire food chain.

Ammonia: While less persistent than some others, high concentrations are directly toxic to aquatic organisms.

The Warning Labels: Brands Carrying the Aquatic Threat Symbol

Many large, conventional cleaning brands are legally required to carry a specific pictogram and warning message on their concentrated products, such as: "Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects."

This warning is a classification based on the raw ingredients in their concentrated form. If a large amount were to enter the water system untreated, it would be severely hazardous.

While the manufacturers argue that proper sewage treatment reduces the risk, the presence of this label confirms that their ingredient - like those listed above - are inherently toxic to the environment.

Common products from the following major brands often carry this environmental warning in the UK and EU markets:

  • Fairy Dishwashing Liquid

  • Persil Detergent

  • Ariel Washing Gel

  • Flash All-Purpose Cleaners (especially those with bleach)

  • Bold Laundry Pods

  • Surf Washing Powder

Switching from these conventional products to truly aquatic safe alternatives like Natrie is the most direct way to ensure the water flowing out of your home is free from harmful toxins.

By choosing Natrie products, you're not just cleaning your surfaces; you're actively protecting the aquatic life below the surface.

 

 

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