A new legislative proposal in New York City seeks to prohibit the sale and distribution of laundry detergent pods and sheets that contain polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
Introduced by City Council Member James Gennaro on Thursday, February 8th, the bill targets PVA, a plastic material that transforms into microplastics upon dissolving in water, contributing to environmental pollution.
Researchers have reported the discovery of microplastics on glaciers and even in rainwater.
The proposed “Pods are Plastic Bill” marks a pioneering effort in the United States to address the environmental hazards posed by everyday household products.
Penalties for selling or distributing the pods would begin at $400 for the initial violation and escalate by $400 for each subsequent offense.
A 2021 study by the National Library of Medicine found that 19,000 tons of PVA are used in detergent pods in the U.S. annually.
Of that amount, approximately 11,000 tons end up at wastewater facilities, where 75% remains untreated as it passes through the standard water treatment process.
Sarah Paiji Yoo, co-founder and CEO of Blueland, which has joined hands with the city to ban detergent pods, told Fast Company, “Companies should not be allowed to put microplastics into products that are designed to go down our drains into our water.”
Blueland’s campaign against pods would affect larger, well-established brands that have popularized detergent pods in recent years.
When questioned about addressing critics, Yoo refers to the company’s mission, which centers on eliminating single-use packaging.
She asserts that if consumers are indifferent, businesses and governments will not adopt more sustainable practices.
If passed, the bill would become effective on January 1, 2026.
Plastics pose an environmental threat as they contaminate waterways, endanger marine life, and are increasingly present in the food and water consumed by humans.
According to the environmental nonprofit World Wildlife Fund, by 2050, the oceans may contain more tons of plastic than fish.
