Hey, it’s Dan

In Today’s Issue:

• I ran the numbers (and the wash cycle) on laundry pods vs. traditional detergent.

• What I found? It’s a lot more spin cycle than science.

• And yeah, I have opinions now about dissolvable plastic film.

🌎 Our Mission

Eco Hustle is about getting paid to save the planet—one plastic project at a time.
Usually that means building something weird out of bags.

This week? It’s about how big “eco” branding can make you feel green without being clean.

This Week’s Plastic Problem

Laundry pods are everywhere.

They’re compact. Pre-measured. “Eco-friendly,” according to… well, themselves.

But most pods are wrapped in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) — a dissolvable plastic film that vanishes in water.

Or so we’re told.

Here’s what you’re not seeing on the box:
That PVA doesn’t actually disappear — it dissolves into microplastic particles

The water treatment systems in most U.S. cities can’t fully filter it

It ends up in rivers, oceans, and back into the water we drink

One study estimated 8,000+ tons of PVA go down the drain annually in the U.S. alone.

And I was worried about one shampoo bottle.

🛠 This Week’s Hustle:  Is It Actually Better?

Here’s the breakdown I found comparing pods to traditional liquid or powder detergent:

If you’re looking at eco impact, pods are convenient but sketchy.
If you want price control + less chemical weirdness, the old stuff still wins.

💡Pro Tip a Guy With Too Many Opinions

If you want to actually reduce your impact without breaking the bank:

Reuse your existing jugs by refilling from a bulk bin or concentrate

Try a powder or strip-based option with no PVA wrapper

Don't fall for “eco” branding without ingredients or sourcing transparency

And yes — you can make detergent at home. I probably will. (Stay tuned.)

 You Pick, I Test

Want me to try making my own detergent?
Or test strip brands like Blueland or EarthBreeze?

Reply and tell me what to try next.

I’ll turn it into a future issue. Suds, skepticism, and spreadsheets included.

One Last Tangle

I’m not anti-pod. I’m anti-greenwash.

If you’re gonna sell me an “eco” product wrapped in dissolvable plastic, don’t get offended when I ask:

“Where does the plastic go?”

Because if the answer is:

“The ocean, probably.”

Then we’re back to square one.

P.S. I Read Every Reply

Already tried a better solution? Hate pods too?
Email me your wins and fails. I’ll include the best ones next time.