Frequently asked questions
LAUNDRY POWDER
Q. Does Aware use Palm Oil derived ingredients in its products?
A. No. All Aware products contain no palm oil and we were the first Australian laundry brand available in supermarkets to remove it from our ingredients. Learn more about Palm Oil here.
Q. Do the products contain phosphates?
A. No. Phosphorus chemicals in conventional detergents feed blue-green algae and result in algae blooms. This contributes to the build-up of weeds and algal slime in our waterways. These choke other precious aquatic life forms by using up the available oxygen.
Q. Do your products contain Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs)?
A. No they don't. Unfortunately, nearly all laundry products contain optical brightening agents (OBAs) to help make whites look 'whiter' or less yellow to the naked eye. These ingredients are not performance enhancers, just a chemical magic trick. We decided to give our customers the choice as it can cause human health issues such as skin irritation.
Q. I have sensitive and allergy prone skin. Are your products suitable for sensitive skin?
A. Yes, they do not contain the ingredients implicated in triggering skin allergies - namely petrochemical detergents, optical brighteners or enzymes. In addition, our Aware Sensitive laundry products don't contain a fragrance (Aware Eco Choice contains a natural fragrance) and has been medically tested to be suitable.
Q. What is the difference between Aware Eco Choice powder and the Aware Sensitive powder and liquid?
A. Aware Sensitive products are specifically formulated to be kind to people with sensitive skin or allergies. They don't use fragrances (particularly synthetic varieties) or Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs) that can trigger allergies. Aware Eco Choice powder contains low levels of a natural fragrance made from essential oils of Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Pettigrain.
Q. What are the benefits of the Aware laundry products?
A. The detailed benefits of the Aware range can be found in the products section. All ingredients have been carefully selected for their minimal impact on the environment and human health. Our aim is to provide you with a great wash at a great price, ensuring your clothes will be clean and the environment green! Some key benefits are: palm oil free and phosphate free, fully biodegradable, low allergy and high concentrate.
Q. How will the laundry products save me money?
A. Aware laundry products are reasonably priced and because they are concentrated, you only need to use a small amount per wash. This means that you can wash more loads per box, reducing packaging waste. This also means that fewer boxes have to be made and transported to stores, so transport fuel and the associated greenhouse gases are reduced. A top loader machine will get approximately 30 washes from a 1.5 kilo packet and 60 for a front loader – making the powder a very economical wash.
Q. Can I use Aware laundry products in any machine at any temperature?
A. Our products are suitable for front loaders and top loaders. In front loaders be sure to observe the dosage guidelines as they are much more sensitive due to the reduced amount of water they use. You can use the laundry powders in either hot warm or cold water. But remember that using cold water where possible is better for the environment as it reduces energy consumption and also saves you money.
Q. Where are Aware laundry products available?
A. Aware is available at most Coles and Woolworths stores nationally (with the exception of Coles Express), selected Bi-Lo stores and some independent supermarkets (IGA, Foodworks etc) and health food shops.
Q. My supermarket doesn't stock Aware. What can I do?
A. If the supermarket is an independent (eg. IGA or equivalent) ask to speak with the store manager and let him/her know that you would like the store to stock the laundry powder. The more people who ask, the better chance there is that the laundry powder will appear in your supermarket.
Q. What are the products packaged in?
A. The boxes are made from 95% recycled cardboard. It can be recycled once the box is empty, provided you have cardboard recycling services in your area. The liquid packaging uses HDPE recyclable plastic (No. 2) bottle and is easily recycled. The outer carton used to ship products are also made from 100% recycled cardboard.
Q. Are Aware products free from animal testing?
A. Aware laundry powder is not tested on animals.
Q. How are the funds raised from the sale of Aware laundry powder used?
A. Every Aware product you purchase supports Planet Ark's environmental campaigns such as National Tree Day. Each year around $100,000 is contributed to Planet Ark.
Q. Is Aware safe for my garden?
A. Yes. The wash and rinse water of Aware products was independently tested by Sydney Environmental and Soil Laboratory for their suitability for use in irrigation (including garden watering). The independent testing resulted in the following key points and recommendations:
- Aware concentrates contain no phosphates so will not contribute to phosphate pollution of soil and waterways.
- Being phosphate-free laundry powders, their grey water was found to be suitable for phosphorus-sensitive native plants.
- Sodium levels in the wash water are suitable even for salt sensitive plants. When using wash waters be aware that salts can accumulate in soil by the evaporation of water, leaving the salt behind.
Q. Are the products septic safe?
A. Yes, the laundry powders break down into harmless matter quickly, making them safe for septic and bio-treatment systems.
Q. Are the products Australian Made & Owned?
A.
Yes. Some of the raw materials are not made in Australia so they must be sourced from overseas.
Q. Do Aware products contain fillers?
A. No we only use the ingredients necessary to produce a good wash.
Q. Are there any enzymes or bleach in the Aware products?
A. No.
Q. Are Aware products suitable for washing woollens?
A. For washing woollents, a pH closer to 7 or neutral is preferable. As Aware has a PH of 10.7 the product is not suitable for washing woollens.
