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We've all heard David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg advocate for the environment. In fact, if you're following this blog it means you too are interested in doing better for our planet! Making changes in your personal care and clothes choices is a great way to make a difference. Chasing quick solutions, the fashion and skincare industries have made products that may not necessarily be sustainable, and can even be harmful to us and our planet. Following up some of our earlier blogs on carbon footprint improvements and general zero waste switches, this blog is all about how you can replace plastic starting in your bathroom using a key staple: soap bars!
First, let me tell you why using unnecessary plastic is bad. I know, you must be aware that it's bad! But let me highlight some key reasons why plastic could be described even as a worse villain than Thanos...
The Centre for International Environmental Law notes that there are intersecting and very complex human health impacts that happen at each phase of the plastic life-cycle: plastic particles can be found in our water supplies, waste management, food, and even human bodies, as well as long-lasting effects from its air, water, and soil contamination. They mention that 99% of plastic is extracted from fossil fuel. This process releases an array of toxic substances into the natural environment. Furthermore, the production of plastic requires fracking chemicals which can have serious detrimental health effects including cancer and impacts on neurological, developmental and reproductive development.
You may have heard about the unethical ways that famous fashion brands treat their workers in Bangladesh but what about the people who produce your 20p Morrison’s bag? Give it a thought. The waste management required for plastic production is as gruesome as your online lectures, but the mercury and lead that the waste management technologies themselves use can have fatal effects on workers over a long period of time as well. Adding to this, plastic takes long time to degrade and even once it has broken down into tiny pieces, it reaches the environment in the form of macro- or micro-plastics which contaminate our environment and accumulate in our food chain (yes, you probably have plastic in you) through aquatic food chains, water supply, agricultural soils etc. Micro-plastics used to even be purposefully manufactured to be used in toiletries and cosmetics, but thankfully the UK government banned the use of these in 2018 as it was having serious effects on marine life.
If reading this shocked you, I have a solution - why not move to plastic-free where you can?
It wouldn't be accurate to say life without plastic is easy! But the benefits that come from doing your bit to protect yourself and the environment really feels worth the effort. Plastics are so cheap they seem tempting, but small changes like bringing your own reusable bag not only teaches you life skills but also makes it easier to carry your Poundland haul (look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel pain while carrying those plastic bags, piercing your fingers and stopping the blood from flowing). Going plastic-free on a budget is not easy. But small changes - where you are able to - are most often a better investment that lasts longer than you can imagine. Instead of spending money on buying products every three weeks, you can use the long-term items. It makes your life easier - and more clutter-free!
And when it comes to after your life, what do you want to leave behind? Some people leave money, some leave land, some just leave. But what we are most likely to leave behind is our plastic footprint. Of this, 30-40% of landfill waste in the UK is made up of bathroom waste! There's no better place to get started on reducing your non-essential plastic usage!
Now, that was quite a presentation. Let me now jump into 4 ways you can use soap to kick plastic out your bathroom! (I'm feeling generous so I will provide you with my own top product recommendations - for a variety of budgets. They're all vegan, paraben-free and sulphate-free.)
Shampoo
Good morning! Yes, wake up - your shampoo is not good for your hair! There are many benefits of not using shampoo and its chemicals and the fancy plastic bottles that it arrives in. First, I would like to tell you that if you stop using shampoos you will be breaking the artificial cycle of shampooing, meaning you are exposing your hair to chemicals less which in return gives you a healthier scalp. This also helps your scalp to produce a balanced number of oils and more voluminous hair. Less plastic packaging waste is just the icing on the cake here!
Now, when it comes to replacing shampoo with a shampoo bar, not only does this give you a reason to find a nice aesthetic soap dish, but it's far more concentrated than liquid shampoo and can be used more sparingly, meaning it lasts far longer than a bottle of expensive shampoo! Shampoo bars are great and super handy to travel with - just keep these cute soaps in a soap dish away from the shower so they don't get wasted away in the flow!
Recommendations:
- Eco Warrior Orange and Ginger Shampoo Bar, £4 from Boots. At a good value, this bar is designed to condition your hair with its 89% of naturally derived ingredients, without stripping your hair of its natural oils.
- Gruum Lemon and Almond Brightening Shampoo Bar, £5 from Want Not Waste. This bar effectively cleanses and moisturises to leave your hair looking nourished and healthy. It's especially good for blonde or light hair.
-Earth Kind Shampoo Bar, £6.95 from Holland and Barrett. This shampoo's gentle formula is designed especially for dry and coloured hair. It’s formulated with a blend of rich and highly moisturising organic oils, as well as a natural conditioning agent.
-Lush Clove and Cinnamon Shampoo Bar, £8 from Lush. This shampoo contains a blend of clove and cinnamon oil that invigorates your scalp, soothes it and leaves your hair shining. It’s especially good for thin hair.
Body Wash
I'm not going to lie, buying £1 body wash from Poundland is tempting and better for your bank account. But coming from a country that uses bar soaps for everything, I take great pleasure in mentioning that using bar soap for washing your body is better! You have control over how much to use and I find that you end up smelling nicer for longer.
Using more natural soaps is great (I personally use Ayurvedic soaps - I love them as they are cruelty-free, vegan and much more natural than factory-processed ones!). You can use soap bars for your face too, making them extra versatile!
Recommendations:
-Ayurvedic Herbal Soap, £1.99 from Incense Man. This soap bar has a unique formulation of 18 herbs that helps any skin types and protects against blemishes on the skin. It has a great smell and leaves your skin feeling soft.
-BECO Wild Berries Soap, £2.60 from Waitrose. This is an organic bar made by the BECO group, who are a collective made up of disabled, visually impaired and disadvantaged team members to develop and make their products. This bar is handmade with a sweet smell, and it lathers and moisturises your skin well. It comes in recycled packaging too.
-Milk Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap, £9 from L'Occitane. This rich, velvety soap is a gift from heaven for dry skin, softening at the same time. It preserves moisture without irritating eczema-ridden hands, making it ideal for colder time of the year. Additionally, L’Occitane harvests its famous shea spread from Western Africa, working with the women’s shea processing collectives to give support to those under financial hardship.
Exfoliator
Oh we love a two-in-one don’t we! Using an exfoliating bar will reduce the use of those pesky plastic loofahs and it will be a real multi-tasker: you'll be able to get rid of those dead skin cells while cleaning your body and making your skin better. Loofahs do help you to exfoliate dead skin and some are even eco-friendly, but there's no real need for them when you get a two-in-one soap bar! (And also, plastic loofahs are home to lots of bacteria and other stuff that you probably don't want to engage in!)
Recommendations:
-Exfoliating Rose Body Scrub Soap, £8.99 from Procoal. This soap is specifically formulated for rough skin by removing dead skin cells and unclogging congested pores. This rose-scented bar cleanses, exfoliates and removes excess oils at the same time leaving super soft skin.
Beard Soap
If you've got a beard, I've got you covered even when it comes to plastic-free care! If you have facial hair, you'll know you have to maintain it well. Your personal care routine should include a good beard shampoo or soap. Truth be told, facial hair gets exposed to a lot of pollutants, grease and bacteria in day-to-day life, which can lead to acne, dandruff and skin irritation. If you're after that sophisticated Keanu Reeves look, you'll need a good beard soap!
Recommendations:
-Vanilla and Mango Beard Soap, £6 from Mo Bro's. This product is perfectly balanced to clean your facial hair & skin but does not strip it of all the naturally occurring oils, so it will leave your beard feeling fresh and revived.
-Norse Beard Shampoo, £8.50 from Wearth London. This product works to maintain the balance of natural oils on your face to prevent dry and itchy skin and cleanse any blocked pores.
And that’s it folks! That is how you can efficiently reduce your plastic waste from the bathroom and still have beautiful hair and skin. Remember some of the swaps mentioned can be used on your face (such as the body wash soap bars) as a face wash and some for hand-washing too. This not only makes these soaps eco-friendly, but it makes them cost-efficient too! Do you have any other soap bar replacements? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!
Author: Prerna
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