Walmart says it’s going to save “one of our most precious natural resources”, water, by offering only concentrated laundry detergents from now on.

According to Treehugger, traditional laundry detergent is full of water and foaming agents that make it seem more effective than it is, wasting water and plastic for no good reason. “Collateral damage to be avoided by the new super concentrated and much greener detergents: wasted water, wasted shipping space, excess packaging; added petrochemical consumption and C02 emissions,” says Treehugger.

Why does Walmart care? Apparently concentrated detergents are cheaper because they are less wasteful. Not that you’d know that if you just listened to Walmart:

“People expect businesses to step up and work together to help solve the big challenges facing the world,” Scott told the crowd of approximately one thousand people gathered in New York City. “What we have done is work with suppliers to take water — one of our most precious natural resources — out of the liquid laundry detergent on our shelves. We simply don’t want our customers to have to choose between a product they can afford and an environmentally friendly product.”

Walmart, you crack us up. They’ve begun the supplier bullying process (or, as they describe it “manufacturers began transforming their facilities to accommodate this request”) and you should see your detergent shrink by May 2008.

Wal-Mart to Sell Only Concentrated Products in Liquid Laundry Detergent Category by May 2008 [PR Newswire]
P&G Joins Unilever NV In Concentrated Detergent Offerings [Treehugger]

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