As the eco conscious ones venture deeper into the zero waste journey many are making the return to plant based soap bars. There are several reasons for this.
One reason is that bar soaps typically come in paper packaging which is a lot more eco friendly than the plastic bottles that liquid soaps are housed in making it a lot less than friendly on the environment.
Another environmental plus is that plant based bar soaps tend to have fewer chemicals than liquid soaps. Liquid soaps are often petroleum based and require several emulsifiers and stabilizers to maintain their consistency. Consequently, the result is that the chemical processing, energy and carbon emissions of liquid soap can be as much as 7 times that of bar soaps.
Besides that, consider all that soap being washed down the drain then entering the wastewater treatment plants and discharging into rivers and oceans. The environmental impact of this is disconcerting to say the least. Wastewater treatment plants can’t possibly catch it all. In fact, a 2009 study conducted at the Institute of Environmental Engineering concluded that liquid soaps leave a 25% larger carbon footprint than do bar soaps.
Meanwhile, another one up that bar soaps have on liquid is that bar soaps are significantly less expensive than liquid soaps. Not only are bar soaps cheaper on face value, but they last longer than liquid soaps. In fact, bar soaps can last up to 6 times longer than liquid soaps. Thus, bar soaps yield a dual savings. For the frugal ecologists that seals the deal.
Then contrary to popular belief, bar soap is just as efficient at killing bacteria as liquid soap. Many believe because bar soap is sitting out in the open, it is bacteria ridden. However, even if it that was the case, the bacteria would wash off every time you use it. Also, bacteria is not drawn to bar soap, it’s drawn to moisture. So as long as you allow your bar soap to dry between uses it will be fine.
So if you’re ready to return to plant based soap bars here are the best bar soap brands to consider. These are all plant based, non-GMO, free of SLS, phthalates, parabens and palm oil.
- Wooly Beast
- Splendor Santa Barbara
- Peet Bros.
- Urbanized
- Kiss My Face
- Acure
- Ethique
- Kirk’s Natural Original Coco Castile Soap
- Apprenti Ôr’ganik
- Pep Soap
- No Tox Life
- Smithmade Essentials
- Terra Tory
- Wild Lather
- Bell Mountain Naturals
- Brosily Bath & Body
Have you tried any bar soap brands? Which brand is your favorite and why?
