ECOS, the family-owned pioneer in green cleaning products and maker of the top-selling green laundry detergent in the US, announced on Earth Day, April 22, the launch of its latest commercial campaign featuring award-winning actress and filmmaker Nia Vardalos.
The campaign highlights ECOS’ mission to deliver high-performance cleaning solutions that are safer for people and the planet, while also giving a nod to the brand’s Greek roots. Watch the story of ECOS Founder, Van Vhahakis.
The screenwriter and star of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding film franchise attended and, during a press conference, spoke of how the idea about the campaign started at an Athens cafe last year after a cousin of Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President & CEO of ECOS, went to see a play that Vardalos was presenting in the Greek capital.
“Since we started creating this collaboration, all I do is [say] ‘yes’—’cos it’s so wonderful. That company is wonderful, everyone is wonderful here, it’s been really fun,” Vardalos told attendees.
The launch, in true honor of Earth Day 2026, included a sustainably-produced meal hosted at a beautiful garden in the ECOS HQ facility in Cypress, CA.
It also featured a Greece-inspired presentation and music, testament to the company’s roots and vision of its founder Van Vlahakis, father of Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks – a Greek immigrant from Crete who studied chemistry and founded the company in the 1960s.
A fun and spirited commercial spot for ECOS starring Nia Vardalos
The commercial was created by My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s Nia Vardalos and lyricist Spiros Katsaganis and filmed by producer/cinematographer Petros Antoniadis. Katsaganis also directed and music supervised.
The fun and spirited clip features Vardalos making her way through airport security, her suitcase packed with a collection of Greek favorites. When a TSA agent notices her bag, specifically her ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent, she begins walking him through what sets the detergent apart, ultimately culminating in a moment during which the agent “confiscates” the detergent for himself, eager to try his new sustainable laundry favorite.
After chasing him around the airport, Nia Vardalos ultimately boards the plane and is able to get her detergent back on her flight home.
Watch highlights from the press event with Nia Vardalos and President and CEO of ECOS Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks:
Symbolic launch on Earth Day 2026
The campaign officially debuted across digital and social platforms on April 22nd, further amplifying ECOS’s broader efforts to educate consumers on eco-conscious product choices and highlight the benefits of thoughtfully formulated cleaning solutions.
“Earth Day is always a tentpole moment for ECOS, and it’s an opportunity for us to connect with a broad and diverse audience around the importance of safer, more sustainable living,” said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO of ECOS.
“Nia Vardalos has a unique ability to touch the hearts of many, transcend cultural boundaries, and bring people together through her storytelling. Partnering with Nia for this commercial allows us to bring our mission to life in a way that resonates widely with our consumers—while also celebrating Greek heritage in a meaningful way,” she added.
“I love and use ECOS products! The chance to create a campaign with a brand I admire is truly thrilling,” Nia Vardalos commented.
“I very much appreciate ECOS’s Greek heritage and its strong company values. The legacy in ECOS resonates with me, both personally and culturally,” she admitted. “ECOS has consistently stood out for its commitment to creating products that are better for people and the planet. I’m thrilled to partner with a family-owned brand that’s been doing good for the planet for decades.”
Watch the campaign below:
Sustainable capitalism a core philosophy for ECOS
Sustainable capitalism is a core philosophy for ECOS, providing a more earth-friendly path for business development that is not looking to the next quarterly earnings report or maximizing shareholder value while ignoring environmental and social externalities, according to Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks.
The company’s President and CEO stressed how ECOS is a family-oriented business that cares about “ecos” – the Greek word for “home,” in its broader sense, meaning our natural environment and the Earth we all live on.
ECOS, she stressed, is leading by example. Unshackled from shareholder pressure, the brand stands out for a fundamentally different approach than traditional public companies that operate in the space.
Under her long-standing leadership Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks has managed to build a business model rooted not in short-term profit maximization, but in long-term environmental responsibility and systemic impact, challenging narrowly-defined, Wall Sttreet-oriented capitalism: success is not measured solely by revenue growth and fat profit margins, but also by the health of the planet and the well-being of future generations.
She has steered the domestic manufacturer, that has energy-efficient production facilities in multiple US states, to invest in cleaner technologies, non-toxic biodegradable ingredients even if those only slightly reduce margins.
Thus far, ECOS has invested heavily in sustainable infrastructure, creating facilities that are carbon-neutral, water-neutral, and zero-waste, which reflects the commitment to environmental stewardship that goes far beyond regulatory compliance or marketing optics.
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