Environmental awareness in Germany is closely linked to washing powder. The mountains of foam in many rivers during the hot summer of 1958 showed how Western lifestyles were incompatible with the environment: the surfactants in washing powder were biologically upgradeable or, at best, hardly degradable. This played a large role in creating environmental consciousness and in strengthening research into washing powders. Here the author disseminates the chemical, biological and physical knowledge behind modern washing processes to all interested parties; schools, students, and lab workers; to all who need, use and – above all – pass on this knowledge: teachers, trainers, lecturers, consultants, professional associations, consumer agencies, societies, government agencies and other private or state-run institutions will appreciate this detailed, yet readily comprehensible source.

Waschmittel. Chemie, Umwelt, Nachhaltigkeit