I want a laundry detergent that is effective in cold water and does not contain plastic micro-beads.

Yes. If your priorities are good cold-water cleaning and avoiding plastic micro-beads/microplastics, I’d look at these:

• ECOS Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent - $11.48 (Walmart)

• Dropps Free + Clear Laundry Detergent Pacs - $39.99 (Costco)

• Nellie's Laundry Cubes - $23.31 (iHerb)

• Poesie Laundry Detergent Sheets - $11.49 (Walmart - POESIE Life)

• ECOS Free & Clear liquid — a particularly straightforward choice. It explicitly works in all water temperatures, uses plant-derived surfactants and enzymes, and is EPA Safer Choice certified.ECOS®+1

• Dropps Free + Clear pods — designed for hot or cold water, with enzymes for protein, starch, oil, and other stains. The company says its packaging is plastic-free and that the PVOH pod film is water-soluble and biodegradable.Dropps+1

• Nellie's Laundry Cubes — interesting if you want to avoid PVA/PVOH altogether; the product listing specifically identifies them as PVA-free and designed for improved cold-water dissolving.

• Poesie detergent sheets — explicitly marketed as cold-water soluble and plastic-free.

One important distinction

If by “no plastic micro-beads” you mean no intentionally added plastic scrub/cleaning beads, several conventional detergents already meet that criterion. But if you want to go further and avoid PVA/PVOH films or polymers entirely, I'd choose a liquid detergent or a PVA-free powder/cube rather than most laundry pods or sheets.

My practical pick: ECOS Free & Clear liquid if you want reliable cold-water performance without having to think about dissolving a pod or sheet.ECOS®

If you'd like, I can also , including current prices.

If you want cold-water cleaning power and want to avoid plastic micro-beads, I’d look for a detergent that is either a liquid/powder with no added plastic particles or a plastic-free tablet/cube. A note: traditional “plastic microbeads” (the tiny scrub particles once used in some personal-care products) are generally not a common laundry detergent ingredient today; some people also choose to avoid PVA/PVOH dissolvable pod films, which are a separate issue.

Here are some good options:

• ECOS Free & Clear Laundry Detergent — A strong fit if you prioritize cleaning performance. It is a liquid (so no pod film), fragrance-free, and designed to work in cold water. Best for: everyday laundry, sensitive skin, avoiding pods.
• Blueland Laundry Detergent Tablets — A good choice if reducing plastic packaging/materials is a top priority. The tablets are marketed as plastic-free and are intended for cold-water washing. Best for: minimizing plastic waste and avoiding liquid jugs.
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent — Fragrance-free liquid that works in all water temperatures, including cold, and avoids dyes and artificial fragrances. Best for: a widely available mainstream eco option.
• AspenClean Zero Plastic Laundry Powder Detergent — A powder option specifically marketed as zero plastic and listed for cold-water laundry. Environmental Working Group Best for: avoiding liquid packaging and plastic components.

My shortlist based on your exact criteria:

1. Best overall balance: ECOS Free & Clear Liquid
2. Best if avoiding plastic is the highest priority: Blueland Tablets or AspenClean Zero Plastic Powder
3. Best easy-to-find store option: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid

I would avoid most detergent pods if your concern is plastic entering wastewater, because many use a dissolvable polymer film even though they do not contain traditional plastic microbeads.

If you want cold-water effectiveness and want to avoid plastic micro-beads, I’d look for a detergent with enzymes (for stain removal) and avoid products that use plastic-based delivery films if you’re trying to minimize plastic exposure. (Traditional “microbeads” are uncommon in laundry detergents today, but some pods use water-soluble polymer films such as PVA/PVOH, which some consumers choose to avoid.)Cleaning Institute

Here are some good options:

• ECOS Free & Clear Laundry Detergent — Best overall balance

• Works in cold water and uses enzyme cleaning agents.

• Fragrance-free, dye-free option available.

• Liquid format avoids detergent pod films.Walmart.com

• Biokleen Cold Water Laundry Liquid — Best if cold-water performance is the priority

• Specifically formulated for cold washes.

• Uses plant-derived cleaners plus enzymes such as protease and amylase to help break down stains.Biokleen

• Blueland Laundry Detergent Tablets — Best if reducing plastic packaging matters most

• Tablet format avoids plastic detergent jugs.

• A good choice if you want to avoid pods with dissolvable films.

• Nellie's Laundry Soda — Best simple powder-style option

• Powder format avoids pod films and liquid plastic bottles.

• Good fit if you prefer a minimal-ingredient detergent.

• Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent — Best premium option

• Optimized for cold water and uses enzyme technology for stains and odors.National Eczema Association

My picks:

1. Most people: ECOS Free & Clear
2. Tough stains in cold water: Biokleen Cold Water
3. Most plastic-conscious: Blueland or Nellie’s

One note: if you wash mostly gym clothes, towels, bedding, or heavily stained laundry, I’d prioritize an enzyme-rich liquid over a sheet/tablet format because cleaning performance can vary more among plastic-free formats.consumerreports.org

Yes. For your criteria, I’d prioritize a liquid detergent over pods/sheets if you want to avoid polymers entirely.

My top picks

• ECOS Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent - $11.48 (Walmart)

1. ECOS Free & Clear Liquid — best overall

• Specifically formulated to work in cold water; ECOS says it works in all water temperatures.ECOS®

• Its published ingredient list contains surfactants, enzymes/preservatives, etc., but no plastic microbeads or PVOH film.ECOS®

• Free & Clear means no added fragrance or dyes.

• Good choice if you want a conventional liquid rather than a pod.

• Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent - $11.48 (Walmart)

2. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid — good alternative

• Enzyme-rich formula designed to tackle stains.

• Works in all water temperatures, including cold.

• Liquid format avoids the water-soluble film used by detergent pods.

• Dropps Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Pods - $14.99 (Dropps)

3. Dropps Free & Clear — if you want pods

• Explicitly designed to work in cold water and HE machines.Dropps
• However, the pods use PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) film. Dropps says it dissolves completely and isn't conventional microplastic, but if by "no plastic" you mean no synthetic polymer whatsoever, I'd skip pods.Dropps

What I'd buy

ECOS Free & Clear Liquid would be my first choice for your requirements: cold-water capable + liquid + no PVOH pod film + no microbeads listed in its ingredients.

One important distinction: "no microbeads" isn't necessarily the same as "plastic-free." If you want, I can also narrow this down to the most environmentally friendly detergents that are completely free of plastic polymers, fragrances, dyes, and optical brighteners.