Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people wash their hands now more than ever. For zero-waste people, many had to deal with the discomfort of using non-zero-waste options in the face of the pandemic.
Many hand washes come in plastic bottles or jugs, eventually tossed in the trash and landfills, contributing to plastic waste.
We all know that plastics have a damaging effect on the environment. Reports reveal that a million birds and 100,000 sea animals die from consuming plastic waste in the ocean every year. In addition, plastics are also poisonous to sea animals and birds.
Thankfully, some brands are addressing the issue of plastics by offering zero-waste hand soap, free from plastic and equally non-toxic.We have curated a list of some of the best zero-waste hand soaps for clean hands and a healthy home.
Related: If you’re looking specifically for eco-friendly hand sanitizers, check out our list of some best picks for clean hands with antibacterial properties to the fore.
11 best zero-waste hand soaps to choose from
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Here's our list of zero-waste hand soaps you can shop for today:
- 1. Aspen Kay Naturals
- 2. Ethique hand wash
- 3. ETEE hand soap
- 4. Everyone hand soap
- 5. Method hand soap
- 6. Blueland hand soap
- 7. Tangie refillable hand soap
- 8. The Good Fill zero waste hand soap
- 9. Grove Collaborative hand soap
- 10. Plaine Products hand wash
1. Aspen Kay Naturals
Materials: Organic ingredients, including shea butter and olive oil
Type: Bar soap
Aspen Kay Naturals promises these bar soaps will leave your skin looking beautiful. With a wide selection of natural soap bards, from those made with turmeric through dead sea mud and other natural ingredients, these bar soaps are suitable for all skin types and can be used to wash your hands, body, and face. They are also ideal for men, women, and teens. The brand recommends using a draining soap dish to ensure your hand soap lasts longer.
Why we like Aspen Kay Naturals
Beyond its natural ingredients, this bar soap is very affordable. They also provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee if the soap doesn’t meet your expectations for any reason.
Also, there are 1000s of positive reviews indicating that this hand soap is perfect for skin issues.
Shop Aspen Kay on Amazon or Direct
2. Ethique hand wash
Materials: Sustainable ingredients, including organic coconut oil and essential oils, compostable packaging
Type: Concentrate bar
Made with coconut oil and sweet essential oils, these concentrate bars leave your skin smooth, fresh, and clean. This hand wash doesn't leave your hands feeling dry.
Its ingredients are all ethically sourced, natural, cruelty-free, and sustainable. You can use these concentrated bar soaps in three easy steps: simply snap the bars into small pieces in a jar or container. Add some hot water and leave the concentrate bars to dissolve completely. Lastly, leave it to cool for a few minutes and then pour in soap bottles. Once diluted, Ethique promises that this hand soap can last as long as six months. These bar soaps also come in compostable cardboard packaging.
Why we like Ethique
Ethique is a brand passionate about ridding the world of plastics while providing sustainable products that are both healthy for you and the planet.
The brand claims to have saved the planet from over 9 million plastic bottles. Their goal is to get 50 million plastic bottles off the earth by 2050. They also give out 20% of their profit to charities on a mission to protect the planet.
3. ETEE hand soap
Materials: Plant-based ingredients, pure essential oils, plastic-free
Type: hand soap bar
These hand soap pods are a fine blend of 100% plant-based ingredients and essential oils. You can wash your hands and say goodbye to germs and dirt while protecting your health and that of the environment.
Each pod is synthetic-free and phthalate-free. It is also free of colorants or fragrances. They come packaged in backyard compostable bee pods. To make your plastic-free soap, all you need to do is fill your soap dispenser with some water, rip open the soap pod, and squeeze the hand soap into the water. Next, stir the mix, shake, and let it sit for about an hour. You can then squirt some soap, lather them on your hands and wash your hands clean. It also comes in a lemongrass scent that smells great.
Why we like ETEE
ETEE is a sustainable brand with a mission to create plastic-free products that are eco-friendly and valuable to people worldwide. From ingredients to packaging, ETEE uses earth-friendly materials. They also offer a 90-day guarantee, which means you can return any product you're not happy with.
ETEE also partners with various organizations on a mission to create a more plastic-free world. You can also get your zero-waste face wash, sustainable dish soap, zero-waste dishwasher detergent, food wraps, and other personal care and cleaning products.
4. Everyone hand soap
Materials: Natural extracts, recycled plastic bottles, recyclable packaging
Type: Liquid hand soap
Everyone’s liquid hand soap is gentle and effective and comes with a natural blend of botanical extracts and soothing organic herbs like moisturizing aloe vera.
You can keep your hands clean, healthy, and smelling fresh with its rejuvenating essential oil. To use, simply add them to your hands, lather for a few minutes, rinse and enjoy the natural scent of clean, moisturized hands.
This natural soap is paraben-free and free of synthetic fragrances and dyes. They are hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, meaning you can use this liquid soap even with sensitive skin. They also come in 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Why we like Everyone
This US-based brand has been committed to zero-waste production with repurposing and reduction in mind. This goes from using natural ingredients to recyclable packaging. The brand claims to have diverted 90% of its waste from landfills. Their hand soap is cruelty-free, GMO-free, and EWG verified.
5. Method hand soap
Materials: Plant-based cleansers, 100% recycled plastic, cruelty-free
Type: Foam soap
You can keep your hands super clean with foaming hand soap from Method. Made with plant-based cleansers, these hand soaps keep your hands fresh and leave them with a lemon-mint scent. This hand soap also contains foaming hand soap refills in pouches with a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic. They are also cruelty-free and paraben-free.
Why we like Method
Method is a planet and people-oriented brand committed to making products that are eco-friendly and non-toxic. The brand has a soap factory that conserves energy and lowers its carbon footprint. The factory includes solar-tracking trees, wind turbines, green roofs, and so on. They are also platinum LEED and platinum TRUE certified.
6. Blueland hand soap
Materials: Vegan ingredients, plastic-free, soy-free, gluten-free
Type: Hand soap tablets
If you prefer washing your hands with soap tablets, then this hand soap from Blueland might be just right for you. This soap produces 9oz of foam soap, leaving your hands clean. This zero-waste hand soap also leaves your hand with a pleasant scent. You can choose from different scents, including Iris Agave and Lavender Eucalyptus. These soap tablets come in compostable and plastic-free packaging.
Why we like Blueland
Blueland claims to make products that are safe for humans and the environment. Their hand soap tablet is cruelty-free and free of paraben, phthalates, ammonia, chlorine bleach, and other harmful chemicals. They are also Leaping Bunny certified and Cradle to Cradle Certified.
7. Tangie refillable hand soap
Materials: Organic ingredients
Type: Bar soap
Made with natural extracts and essential oils, including coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil pomace, and aloe vera, these bar soaps give your hands a clean wash. The natural ingredients also give your skin a moisturized and healthy look, cleaning bacteria and viruses on your skin. You can use 3.5-ounce bar soap to make one gallon of liquid hand soap, allowing you to save money. You can also easily refill your plastic bottle or soap dispensers with liquid soap.
You can also add some drops of your favorite essential oils to give your soap your preferred scent.
Why we like Tangie
These bar soaps are cost-effective, allowing you to save more. They are great for all skin types and are scented with effective oils that smell great. You can also refill them in a jar or container and reduce the use of plastics.
8. The Good Fill zero waste hand soap
Materials: Natural ingredients, 100% biodegradable, refill soap in a glass bottle
Type: liquid hand soap
These hand soaps from The Good Fill come in natural ingredients, including coconut oil, grapefruit essential oil, etc. They are free of synthetic fragrances, paraben, soy, and gluten. They are also palm oil-free. This refill hand soap comes in a BPA-free returnable refill pouch. You have the option of choosing a pre-filled container or a returnable pouch. You can send your pouch back in the mail, and this brand will clean and refill them for the next customer.
Why we like The Good Fill
The Good Fill is a zero-waste brand that aims to provide sustainable alternatives to disposable items. Their pouch contains 93% less plastic than plastic bottles. Their packaging is also 100% biodegradable. Customers say this soap is gentle, effective, and comes with a pleasant scent.
9. Grove Collaborative hand soap
Materials: Eco-friendly ingredients
Type: Liquid soap
Made with eco-friendly ingredients and natural fragrances, these liquid hand soaps give your hands a clean and soft feel. They contain no harsh chemicals like phthalates, phosphates, dyes, or synthetics.
They also contain essential oils and come in two scents. You can choose the soap containing lemon, Eucalyptus and mint, lavender, and thyme or the soap with an unscented-free and clear formula.
You can recycle your pouch by simply emailing them. The brand promises to send a prepaid return label that allows you to mail your pouches back for recycling.
Why we like Grove Collaborative
Grove Collaborative is a Certified B Corporation committed to sustainability and non-toxicity. Its products are cruelty-free and eco-friendly. Grove Collaborative also claims to ensure sustainability and safety throughout its supply chain.
10. Plaine Products hand wash
Materials: Natural ingredients
Type: Liquid soap
Made with natural biodegradable ingredients, this hand wash leaves your skin fresh and clean without drying it up. Its natural ingredients wash away bacteria while leaving your skin moisturized. This sulfate-free hand soap is also paraben—and cruelty-free. You can use this hand wash no matter your skin type. It comes in two scents: Rosemary Mint Vanilla and Citrus lavender, which leaves your hands with a pleasant scent.
Why we like Plaine Products
This hand wash from Plaine Products comes in refillable and returnable aluminum bottles. You can simply empty your aluminum bottles, place them in the box, and return them for refill and reuse. You can also request a plastic pump, which you can reuse subsequently.
Plaine Products is committed to diverting as much plastic as possible from landfills using aluminum bottles. The brand claims to have diverted 300,000 plastic bottles as of August 2021.
Conclusion
Washing your hands is an important part of personal care, and most times, washing your hands using hand soap is more hygienic than a hand sanitizer. Thankfully, zero-waste hand soaps are both effective and kind to humans and the planet. You can go through our list above to shop for zero-waste hand soaps.
