Yes. Most dishwasher and laundry pods and sheets are made from or wrapped in a synthetic plastic known as polyvinyl alcohol—commonly abbreviated as PVA or PVOH. Although this plastic is water-soluble and designed to dissolve during washing, it doesn’t actually disappear. Pods are, in fact, plastic.
What Exactly Is PVA?
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH) is a petroleum-based plastic polymer used extensively in dishwasher and laundry products. It forms the thin, dissolvable coating around pods and is also woven into detergent sheets to hold them together.
Each year, it's estimated that 20 billion PVA-wrapped pods are used in the United States alone. Though these pods dissolve in water and seem to vanish down the drain, research shows that most of the plastic remains in the environment.
A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that over 75% of PVA particles persist in ecosystems—including oceans, rivers, and soils—even after dissolving. These particles contribute to long-term plastic pollution.
Is PVA Considered a Plastic?
Yes. PVA is a synthetic plastic derived from petroleum. It’s often used in ultra-thin applications such as the wrapping on detergent pods and sheets. Some companies claim to offer “plastic-free” products, but if PVA, PVOH, or polyvinyl alcohol appears in the ingredient list, the product is not truly plastic-free.
Does PVA Biodegrade?
PVA is engineered to dissolve in water, but dissolving is not the same as biodegrading.
While it is technically biodegradable, this only occurs under very specific and rarely met conditions. These include:
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The presence of specialised, PVA-adapted microorganisms
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Several weeks of adaptation time for these microorganisms
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Minimum of 24 hours of processing time
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Precise temperatures and microbial balance
In most wastewater treatment plants in the U.S., including all 14 facilities in New York City, these conditions are not met. As a result, most PVA does not fully break down and ends up re-entering the environment.
What Happens When PVA Enters the Environment?
Though research into PVA’s long-term effects is ongoing, current findings raise concern. An estimated 75% of PVA from pods enters the environment after use.
Once there, PVA may behave like other plastics:
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It can act as a carrier for toxic chemicals and heavy metals
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It may accumulate in living organisms, moving up the food chain
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It has potential to harm wildlife, soil, and marine ecosystems
Alarmingly, traces of PVA have even been detected in human breast milk, raising questions about its impact on human health.
What Can You Do About PVA?
You can take action by joining the Pods Are Plastic campaign:
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Sign our petition asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reassess PVA’s safety
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Call for further environmental and health impact studies
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Urge the EPA to remove PVA from the Safer Choice List until proper testing has been completed