Natural & Organic Bar Soap

Is Bar Soap More Eco-Friendly Than Liquid Soap?

Even though both bar and liquid soaps are very effective at killing germs, bacteria, and viruses, there are advantages and disadvantages to either choice. There are so many liquid soaps that are being marketed as eco-friendly when they’re actually quite the opposite. Here is why you should choose bar soap over liquid.

Production 

According to multiple studies, liquid soap requires five times more energy than bar soap to produce. When you include the manpower required to package these liquid soaps, the difference in energy used is staggering.

To achieve a more eco-friendly environment, companies need to use less energy than they already do. Since less energy is required in making bar soap by hand, this makes it the more eco-friendly option.

Packaging

Packaging bar soaps is much more eco-friendly than packaging liquid soaps. This is because recyclable cardboard boxes and thin paper are used in the packaging of bar soaps. On the other hand, huge plastic bottles are needed for the packaging of liquid soaps.

Since plastic is not biodegradable, it can’t be recycled, so it adds to the huge landfills already brimming with plastic materials. Plastic trash has been connected to the injury and deaths of many land and sea animals.

Transport

Due to the heavy material used in packaging and the high levels of water present in liquid soaps, they tend to be much heavier than bar soaps. However, this might not be a big deal to you when you’re carrying that liquid soap home. 

Since liquid soaps have to be transported in bulk to wholesalers and retailers, more energy is required. This means that more trucks will be required for transport purposes, leading to an even higher carbon footprint. 

Usage 

According to recent studies, people use about six times more liquid soap than they use bar soap. This means that if people could opt for bar soap, they would save more.

In terms of eco-friendliness, the more liquid soap is used, the more energy is required in production, and the more trucks are needed to transport. This results in a higher carbon footprint. 

What Ingredients Should I Avoid When Shopping for Eco-Friendly Soaps?

Fragrances 

The only scent that soap should have is one that comes from natural essential oils. This means that if you see the term ‘fragrance’ written on the packaging of the soap and there is no mention of essential oils, it’s artificial, and it’s harmful to the environment. 

Parabens 

Most manufacturers use parabens in soaps to prevent bacteria from building up. However, this basically means that they’re using preservatives in the soap. 

Formaldehyde 

You may know formaldehyde as an embalming chemical, but it’s also used in soaps to avoid the buildup of microbes. However, it can end up causing skin reactions and can even lead to cancer.

Petroleum

This ingredient is widely used in cosmetic products. Besides being linked to cancer, petroleum strips the skin of its natural oils, which is the opposite effect you want from your soap.