Switching to zero waste soap is one of the best things you can do for both your health and the environment. However, there are some things you should know before making the final decision and to make it a smooth swap. 

Liquid Soap vs. Bar Soap: Which is Better?

Zero waste soap, more commonly known as bar soap, has numerous environmental benefits over liquid soap. As of now, there is no liquid soap that comes in a non-plastic bottle. For zero wasters, this simply a no-go. The other issues is liquid soap has a 25 percent larger carbon footprint than bar soaps. Because of the chemical formula of soap and its ingredients, it takes more chemical feedstocks and about 5 times more processing energy to manufacture liquid soap.

If you’re concerned about cleanliness, you’re in luck. Bar soaps have been used for centuries and they are just as hygienic as liquid soap.

Switching to zero waste soap is one of the easier swaps you can make. However, there are a few things to consider.

Bar Soaps for Dry Skin

Our skin has a natural pH of 5.5. Anything higher will likely dry out your skin. You can check the pH for your favorite brands or test them at home. If you have concerns about bar soap drying out your skin, then look for a bar soap with lower pH or that uses glycerin, which is therapeutic for dry skin and other skin sensitives, such as eczema.

You can also look for soaps with shea butter.

Zero Waste Soap without Animal Products

Bar soap is most commonly made from saponified (the process by which animal or vegetable fats are blended with a strong alkali to make soap) animal fat, but there are some made with plant oils, such as Castile soap.

You can also look for soaps that use lye.

On the other hand, liquid soaps are petroleum based and require emulsifying agents and stabilizers in order maintain their consistency. Few if any actual studies exist showing the long-term effects of repeated use of these chemicals.

Fragrances

More information is coming out about the issues caused by fragrances, especially on our skin. Because of the nature and industry behind liquid soap, fragrance-free or natural sources are difficult to find. On the other hand, a lot of different fragrance-free bar soaps exist, as well as bar soaps made with completely natural ingredients.

Tips For Zero Waste Soap Swap

If you decide zero waste soap is for you, here are some hints to help your soap swap go smoothly.

One: Choose a slatted soap dish

If you’ve used bar soap in the past, then you know it disintegrates in the water. This is especially difficult to use in small shower, which will use up a soap bar prematurely. In other situations, it might just get wet and stay slimy. Use a soap dish with drain holes to help the soap bar and set on top of another dish of some kind, so the water has some place to drain. You can purchase a wooden soap dish and compost it, if necessary.

Two: Use a Soap Bag

When a bar gets so thin that even a gentle rub breaks it into ever-smaller pieces, we transfer the pieces to a soap bag. You can use this as a plastic free loofah in the shower or to wash dishes. The natural sisal fibers, it too can be composted at the end of its life.