Malton Residents Learn to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent at Sustainability Workshop

On February 15, 2023, the Sustainable Community Aid Network (SCAN), in collaboration with Value Life Humanitarian Services and Ridgewood Public School, hosted its third Sustainability on My Mind workshop in Malton, Mississauga. The focus of the session was on creating Homemade Laundry Detergent—a simple, eco-conscious, and cost-effective alternative to commercial cleaners.

This event marked the third workshop in an eight-part series designed to teach Malton residents eco-friendly lifestyle strategies that can be practiced independently and affordably. SCAN partnered with local organizations and schools to ensure broad community involvement and a successful workshop rollout.

Empowering Through Collaboration

The workshop brought together diverse stakeholders to promote sustainability and community learning:

• Value Life Humanitarian Services, a local non-profit, contributed its mission-driven expertise in areas such as literacy, women empowerment, civic engagement, multiculturalism, and sustainable living.
• Ridgewood Public School supported the initiative by engaging directly with students and families. The school exercised full autonomy in selecting participants from its community, aligning with its educational mandate to foster leadership and excellence.

Learning by Doing

Participants engaged in a hands-on session where they learned how to make their own eco-friendly laundry detergent using basic household ingredients. In addition to step-by-step guidance, each attendee received a take-home toolkit containing the ingredients used during the session, allowing them to recreate the detergent at home and reduce reliance on store-bought products.

Although the workshop focused on laundry detergent, it also introduced broader concepts related to sustainable personal care and household product alternatives.

A Strong Community Turnout

The event attracted residents from across the Malton neighbourhood. The participant demographic was as follows:

• 94% South East Asian
• 6% West Indian

The workshop served not only as an educational platform but also as a cultural exchange and community-building opportunity, creating space for shared learning, dialogue, and sustainable empowerment.

About the Series

The Sustainability on My Mind workshop series continues to equip residents of Malton with the knowledge and tools to live more sustainably—one low-cost, eco-friendly practice at a time.

This series is generously funded by the Community Foundations of Canada, the Community Foundation of Mississauga, and the Government of Canada.

To learn more about upcoming workshops or how to support SCAN’s work, visit the SCAN website, follow us on social media, email info@s-can.org, or call 1-800-687-1351.