Decades of scientific research has found that detergent pods are safe for the environment. To fully understand the safety of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in detergent pods, it's important to know that not all PVA is created equal. PVA describes a large number of polymers, each with different properties. PVA can be highly water soluble (meaning it dissolves rapidly in water), like the grade of PVA used in detergent pods, medicines and food, or insoluble, like PVA grades used in glue. The PVA grades used in detergent pod films, food and medicines are water-soluble and are safe for humans and the environment. While polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) detergent films share some characteristics with plastics when dry, their environmental impact and behavior is very different. There is zero scientific evidence that the grade of PVA used for detergents contributes to microplastic pollution.