Although there are plenty of different kinds of soaps used for a variety of different cleaning processes, such as laundry detergent, car wash soap, pet soap, etc., we’ll focus on good ol’ hand and body soap for now.
What are the environmental impacts of soap?
When it comes to hand and body soap, there is generally a lot of discussion as to whether liquid soap is better or worse than bar soap. The argument is not just centered on the chemical composition of the soap itself, but also on the packaging, the production and the habits that form around using each of them.
Chemicals
We are already familiar with the idea that too much fragrance or irritants in soap can affect some people more strongly than others, but even in the most simple of soaps there are still chemicals that affect both our skin and the environment. And, although many of the chemicals in soap degrade naturally before they can cause too much harm to the environment, there are cases in which soap can directly impact natural water sources.
For example, soaps and sunscreens, no matter how biodegradable or organic they may be, break the surface tension of water and are toxic to the natural biodiversity in natural water sources, like the ocean, rivers or lakes. Soaps raise nitrogen levels in water, which promotes algae growth and can significantly alter a lake’s habitat, and the broken surface tension reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, harming both the fish and the small insects that call the lake their home.
Moral of the story, don’t use soap to wash while camping, and use a reef-safe sunscreen when out on the water.
Packaging & processing
The packaging and processing of liquid and bar soaps is where there is more significant difference in terms of environmental impact.
From the time its production process starts to the time it’s sitting on your shower caddy, liquid soap uses about 20 times as much energy than a bar of soap does. This is mostly due to the plastic packaging, assembly, foaming solutions and raw material production, and that’s before you even use it for the first time! Studies also show that users consume liquid soap at greater quantities than users of bar soap do, which means more frequent purchases and replacements.
Bar soap is generally packaged in cardboard packaging and, therefore, is more sustainable in that aspect. However, bar soap also uses oil-based ingredients which require a larger amount of land to produce.
Which is better?
As you can see, there is no clear distinction as to which type of soap is better or worse for the environment. Liquid soaps have a greater toxicity, water usage and carbon footprint, whereas bar soaps have a greater land impact. Both are equally important issues in the fight for the preservation of the planet and our immediate environment, so it comes down to what you are personally looking to protect.
What a hard choice!
What’s the solution?
It seems as though we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to choose between two options that both have their positives and negatives. Because of the very nature of soap and its composition, there’s not any way to get around the fact that every kind of soap is going to have some level of environmental impact.
Luckily, there are a few environmentally-friendly options that do their best to lower their impact on the planet while still keeping you squeaky-clean.
Find packaging that is recyclable or biodegradable
Whatever soap you decide to buy, consider the packaging that is included in the product. If there’s a bar of soap shrink-wrapped in plastic and surrounded by yet more plastic packaging, maybe pass on that one. If there’s a bar of soap in a recyclable cardboard box, then great! This works the same for liquid soaps. The less that could end up in a landfill, the better!
Find refillable soaps
Many organic grocery stores now provide refillable shampoo, conditioner and soap stations. Even if you have to buy a specific bottle or container to start with, being able to reuse that one bottle over and over again is far more sustainable than buying a new bottle each time. Especially at the rate we use liquid hand soap nowadays (thanks, pandemic…).
Subscribe to a sustainable soap service
There are plenty of sustainable soap brands out there that offer an eco-friendly alternative to soap refills, complete with green packaging and reusable containers. All it takes is one click of a button to order your refill tablets, concentrates or biodegradable pouches to be sent right to your front door.
Make your own soap!
If you’re crafty and are looking to try out a new trick, try making your own environmentally friendly soap at home! You can experiment with scents, colors, textures and ingredients as much as you like, and soon you’ll find a method that works best for you and your personal sustainability journey.
Making soap is a simple process but requires a decent amount of preparation and supplies, all of which are easily accessible to anyone who wants to learn. Choose ingredients that are eco-friendly on their own, if possible, so that you can be sure that you are still supporting a healthy industry.
To sum it up
Before you think that you should quit using soap because of its harmful effects, remember that keeping ourselves clean and hygienic is an important part of staying healthy! We need to wash our hands; we need to shower; we need to bathe our children; we need to clean our dishes. There are some things that we just need to do to stay healthy and to keep others healthy, but that doesn’t mean we are stuck with an impossible problem. We can do all those things and still sustain an eco-friendly lifestyle, and thanks to the many resources we have available to us, there’s nothing we can’t do to achieve that.
Good luck!
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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/slavoljubovski
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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