Bar Soap vs Liquid Soap; How you can improve your eco footprint

Natural bar soap is undoubtedly a cornerstone of the zero waste movement and it offers several advantages over liquid soap, especially when considering factors like zero waste packaging, bar longevity, and the purity of ingredients. The foremost advantage of natural bar soap is its minimal environmental footprint. Traditional liquid soaps often come packaged in plastic bottles, contributing to the global plastic waste crisis. By opting for bar soap, we actively reduce our reliance on single use plastics, which take hundreds of years to decompose. Here are a few considerations:

1. Zero Waste Packaging: Handmade natural bar soaps typically come with minimal or zero packaging. They can be sold "clean skin" or wrapped in compostable materials. This reduces the amount of plastic waste generated compared to liquid soaps, which often come in plastic bottles that contribute to pollution and mountains of landfill waste. Not all local councils have the facilities to properly recycle supposed biodegradable plastics. These types of plastics need specific conditions to actually break down.

2. Bar Longevity: Bar soaps tend to last longer than liquid soaps. This is because they don't contain water as a primary ingredient, which means they're more concentrated. A little goes a long way, and a single bar can often outlast multiple bottles of liquid soap. This not only saves you money in the long run but also reduces the frequency of purchases, further cutting down on waste.

3. Purity of Ingredients: Handmade natural bar soaps are typically crafted from a simple list of natural ingredients like oils, butters, essential oils, and lye. They don't contain synthetic additives, preservatives, or harsh chemicals that are commonly found in many liquid soaps. This means they're less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

4. Avoiding Harmful Chemicals: Liquid soaps often contain synthetic fragrances, colorants, and preservatives. Some of these chemicals can be harmful to both your skin and the environment. Handmade natural bar soaps, on the other hand, use natural essential oils for scent and colorants from herbs and plants and clay. This reduces exposure to potentially harmful substances.

5. Reduced Environmental Impact: The production of liquid soap involves a higher amount of water and energy compared to the production of bar soap. Additionally, liquid soap requires more packaging material for bottles and pumps, which contributes to environmental degradation. By choosing bar soap, you're making a more eco friendly choice.

6. Supporting Small Businesses and Artisans: Handmade natural bar soaps are often crafted by local artisans or small businesses (HELLO people, that's us!). When you purchase their products, you're supporting their livelihoods and contributing to the growth of local economies.

7. Travel Friendly: Bar soaps are more convenient for travel. They're not subject to liquid restrictions when flying, and they don't require additional packaging. You can simply put them in a small tin or a soap dish and you're good to go. We think that our boxes are perfect storage containers. Simply pat dry & pop back in the box. It will last the lifetime of the soap!

8. Customization and Variety: Many small scale soap makers offer a wide variety of scents, textures, and ingredients. This allows you to find a soap that suits your individual preferences and needs. We love to make soap and often find ourselves "pantry raiding" adding all sorts of unusual ingredients (eg red lentils!).

9. Cost Effectiveness: Natural bar soaps tend to be more concentrated, meaning a smaller amount goes a longer way compared to liquid soap (which contains a high percentage of water). Our bars are water activated which means you add the water, not us! This can translate to savings in the long run.

Basically handmade natural bar soaps offer a more sustainable and eco friendly alternative to liquid soaps. They come with a range of benefits including reduced waste, longer lifespan, and a more natural and pure formulation and NO PLASTIC. By choosing bar soap, you're making a positive impact on both your own wellbeing and the environment.