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Plant power

Kirkland Signature laundry detergent shows its roots

by STEVE FISHER

Costco is committed to sustainability, and Costco buyers are always looking for solutions. Enter the new Kirkland Signature™ Ultra Clean Plant-Based Liquid Laundry Detergent. For information about this innovative product, the Connection spoke with buyer Martin Beam.

Costco Connection What does “plant-based detergent” mean?

Martin Beam The formula is 100% plant-based: no synthetic or petroleum-derived sources. All ingredients are responsibly sourced without any animal testing. The bottle itself is made with 80% post-consumer resin and 17% plant-based resin. And the fact that it’s plant-based makes it inherently more sustainable.

CC What went into the development of the Kirkland Signature detergent?

MB In terms of sustainability, we felt there was an opportunity to create a meaningfully better solution for fabric care under Kirkland Signature than we were observing from other leading brands. We looked for ways that we could make a product that was distinctive in terms of both its sustainability profile and its actual performance.

Often, when you buy sustainable [products], there’s an assumption that some performance compromise takes place. We didn’t think people should have to sacrifice performance in order to get a nice sustainability profile. We wanted to be sure that members got a product that was going to perform similarly to a mainline product in terms of stain removal and fragrance intensity, etc.

CC So when this stuff goes down the drain, how does it affect sewer systems?

MB Sustainability isn’t just about sourcing “good” raw materials but also about considering how they might have an impact throughout their life cycle. Beyond excluding harmful phosphates, the plant-based detergent ingredients originate from nature, so as the detergent progresses through the waste-water cycle, whether sewer or septic, the product naturally biodegrades without leaving a residue or environmental contaminants behind.

CC How many versions did you have to go through before you came up with a product that you could be happy with?

MB It was a two-year process of collaborative product development. We reviewed a number of different formulations of what might fit best into the marketplace and meet member expectations. We started with a couple of different products and then just continued with formula iterations, performance testing, incorporating consumer feedback, until we got to where we wanted to be. We hope our product is going to resonate with Costco members.

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