21 Zero Waste Body Wash Brands for an Eco-friendly Shower
This post is about the wonders of zero waste body wash and its environmental impact. Plus the best eco-friendly brands around!
Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, which means if you shop through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Style Cycle Blog.
Zero Waste Body Wash: Ways to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
What is Zero Waste Body Wash?
Zero waste body wash is a type of personal care product designed to minimise waste and reduce the environmental impact of your daily shower routine. Traditional body washes often come in single-use plastic bottles that are difficult to recycle and end up in landfills, contributing to pollution and environmental damage.
On the other hand, zero waste body wash is made with sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly ingredients and comes in packaging that can be reused, recycled, or composted. It aims to eliminate waste by reducing the amount of packaging and avoiding harmful chemicals that can harm both you and the environment.
One of the main benefits of zero waste body wash is that it helps to reduce your carbon footprint and minimise your impact on the planet. Several different types are available, each with unique benefits and features. Some are made with natural and organic ingredients, while others are designed to be waterless and concentrated, reducing the need for excess packaging and transportation.
Overall, it is a great choice for anyone who wants to reduce their impact on the environment and live a zero waste lifestyle.
Why Use Zero Waste Body Wash?
If you are looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future, then switching to zero waste body wash is a great place to start.
Here are a few reasons why:
Reduce Plastic Waste
Have you ever noticed how many traditional body washes come in plastic packaging? This contributes to the plastic pollution crisis. If you switch to a zero waste body wash, you can reduce the amount of single-use plastics in landfills and our oceans. Zero waste body wash comes in plastic-free packaging or made from recycled materials, making it a more eco-friendly option.
Lower Your Carbon Footprint
The production and transportation of plastic bottles contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which are a leading cause of climate change.
Support Sustainable Practices
I love supporting companies that are committed to sustainable practices and reducing their impact on the environment. This helps to create a demand for more eco-friendly products and encourages other companies to follow suit.
Waste-Free Body Wash
Waste-free body wash is designed to produce no waste, hence the name. This means that every part of the product can be used, and there is no need to throw away any packaging.
Ingredients to Look for in Zero Waste Body Wash
When it comes to choosing a zero waste body wash, it’s important to look for ingredients that are both environmentally friendly and gentle on your skin.
Here are a few key ingredients to keep an eye out for:
Organic Ingredients
Organic ingredients are grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, making them a more sustainable choice. Look for organic body soap with aloe leaf, shea butter, and almond oil.
Aloe Leaf
Aloe leaf is a natural moisturiser that can soothe and hydrate your skin. It’s also rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great choice for sensitive skin.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is a rich moisturiser that can help to nourish and protect your skin. It’s also high in vitamins A and E, which can help to promote healthy skin.
Almond Oil
Almond oil is a natural emollient that can help to soften and smooth your skin. It’s also rich in vitamin E, which can help to protect your skin from environmental damage.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is a lightweight oil that can help to moisturise your skin without leaving it feeling greasy. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which can help to protect your skin from free radical damage.
Clean Ingredients
It’s also important to choose a body wash that contains clean ingredients. This means avoiding harsh chemicals such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, which can harm your skin and the environment.
pH-Balanced
Finally, it’s important to choose a body wash that is pH-balanced. This means it has a similar pH level to your skin, which can help to maintain your skin’s natural barrier and prevent dryness and irritation.
If you choose a body wash that contains these key ingredients, you can help to keep your skin healthy and the environment happy.
Ingredients to Avoid in Zero Waste Body Wash
When you choose a zero waste body wash, it’s important to consider the ingredients you should try and avoid.
Here are some common ingredients that you should be aware of:
Parabens
Parabens are a type of preservative that is commonly used in personal care products, including body wash. They are used to extend the shelf life of products, but research has shown that they can mimic estrogen in the body and disrupt hormone function. Look for body washes labelled “paraben-free” to avoid this ingredient.
Sulfates
Sulfates are a type of surfactant that is commonly used in body wash to create lather and foam. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). They can be irritating to the skin and strip away natural oils. They should be avoided if possible. Look for body washes that are labelled “sulfate-free”.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of man-made chemical compounds used to make plastics, solvents and beauty care products. They are commonly known as endocrine disruptors, which can affect your hormones and could have long-term negative effects.
Fillers
Many body washes contain fillers, which are added to bulk up the product and make it cheaper to produce. These can include ingredients like water, mineral oil, and petrolatum. Look for body washes with a short list of ingredients that don’t contain fillers.
If you avoid these ingredients, you can choose a body wash that is gentle on your skin and good for the planet.
Types of Zero Waste Body Wash
In this section, we will discuss the different types of zero waste body wash and their features.
Bar Soap
Bar soap is the most traditional form of body wash and is a great zero waste option. These soaps come in a variety of scents and are usually made from natural ingredients. They are also long-lasting and can be used for both body and face. They often come in compostable packaging or no packaging at all. Another great option for your zero waste bathroom & body products is solid shampoo-like shampoo bars.
Some popular zero waste bar soap brands include:
You can also find bar soaps specifically designed for different skin types, such as dry skin, oily skin, or sensitive skin.
Zero Waste Body Wash Sheets
Body wash sheets are a newer option for eco-friendly body wash and are becoming increasingly popular. These sheets are made from natural ingredients and are packaged in small, compostable packets. You simply wet the sheet and it will lather up like traditional body wash. Plus is a popular brand for this type of soap
These sheets are great for travel as they take up very little space and are easy to pack.
Refillable Rody Wash
Refillable body wash options come in a variety of forms, including:
Pumps: Some zero waste body wash brands offer refillable pumps that can be filled with their body wash. Once the pump is empty, you can simply refill it with a refill pack or bulk liquid soap.
Refill packs: Other brands offer refill packs that can be used to refill an existing container. These packs are often made from post-consumer recycled plastic or other sustainable materials. A great example of a refill brand of body wash is Meow Meow Tweet.
Subscription Options
If you want to take your bottles of body wash game to the next level, consider subscribing to a zero waste body wash service. These services often offer:
Regular deliveries: With a subscription, you’ll receive regular deliveries of your favourite zero waste body wash. This means you’ll never run out and won’t have to make any last-minute trips to the store. Wild is a great example, I have used them for around 8 months and love it!
Discounts: Many zero waste body wash subscription services offer discounts for subscribers. This means you’ll save money on your favourite products.
Sustainability: Some subscription services partner with Terracycle or other recycling programs to ensure that their packaging is properly recycled or reused.
By switching to an eco-friendly body wash, you can reduce your environmental impact and make a positive change for the planet.
You might also enjoy our post 110 Fun Facts about Soap.
21 Best Zero Waste Body Wash Brands for an Eco-friendly Shower
If you are looking for an eco-friendly and sustainable body wash, there are several brands to choose from.
These brands use natural soaps and biodegradable ingredients, and their packaging is plastic-free and recyclable.
Here are some of the most popular eco-friendly body wash brands:
Wild
Wild is an eco-friendly personal care brand that was founded in 2019. They create effective and eco-friendly personal care products. Wild stands out by prioritising sustainability, with their deodorants in refillable, plastic-free packaging. They offer several body wash soap bars and a zero waste shampoo bar that I have tried and it smells wonderful. Check out my review of the brand Wild here.
Faith in Nature
Faith in Nature is a UK-based brand that specialises in natural and ethical beauty and personal care products. They offer a wide range of products such as shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and soaps. Faith in Nature is committed to using natural ingredients, avoiding animal testing, and promoting environmentally friendly practices.
Alpine Provisions
Alpine Provisions is a brand that focuses on creating personal care products inspired by the natural elements of the mountains. They offer a range of body care products, including soaps, body oils, and deodorants. Alpine Provisions prioritises natural and organic ingredients, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.
Public Goods
Public Goods is a brand that offers a wide range of sustainable and affordable personal care, home, and grocery products. They use natural ingredients, avoid harmful chemicals, and reduce waste. Public Goods focuses on providing high-quality, eco-friendly products at accessible prices.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap
Dr. Bronner’s is a well-known brand that offers a range of organic, fair trade, vegan and cruelty-free products. Their Pure-Castile Bar Soap is a popular choice for those who want a natural body wash. This soap is made with organic oils and is free from synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and detergents. My favourite is their lavender essential oil magic soap.
Plaine
Plaine is a personal care brand focusing on natural, vegan, and sustainable products. They offer a range of hair care and body care products, including shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. Plaine’s formulations are free from harsh chemicals, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, and their packaging is made from recycled materials.
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet is a vegan and cruelty-free brand that offers a range of zero waste products, including body wash. Their body wash is made with organic and natural ingredients. Every month they choose an organisation to redistribute funds to. They especially prioritise small, mutual-aid, grassroots focused, BIPOC- and queer-led organizations that align with their values.
Tidalove
Tidalove is a brand that offers zero waste body wash soap in the form of body wash sheets. Their soaps are made with natural and organic ingredients. They are also leaping bunny certified, which means they are cruelty-free. The packaging is made from wood pulp and can be composted or recycled.
Miniml
Miniml is a UK-based brand that specialises in creating eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products. They offer a range of cleaning products, laundry detergents, hand washes, and more. Miniml’s products are cruelty-free, vegan, and formulated with biodegradable and plant-based ingredients. They also aim to minimise waste through refillable and reusable packaging options.
Milly & Sissy
Milly & Sissy is a UK-based brand that provides eco-friendly and zero-waste personal care products. They offer refillable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash products that come in compostable sachets. All their products are made from 99.7% natural ingredients and are free from SLS, parabens, allergens and palm oil. Milly & Sissy’s aim is to reduce plastic waste and offer sustainable alternatives for daily personal care routines.
Cooleeme
Cooleemee is a sustainable skincare brand specialising in the coolest product, shower balls. Cooleemee uses high-quality, plant-based ingredients and focuses on minimising waste and using eco-friendly packaging. Their products are perfect for travelling or camping. Definitely a brand to check out.
Ethique
Ethique offers a wide range of solid body wash bars that are plastic-free, vegan, and cruelty-free, making them a popular choice for eco-conscious consumers. Loved by celebrities like Britney Spears, these bars are cruelty free and vegan, palm oil free, ethically and fairly sourced, they pay staff a living wage and donate 2% of sales to charity.
Lush
Lush is a well-known UK-based brand that offers a wide range of zero waste body wash options, including solid bars and packaging-free alternatives. They are committed to using ethically sourced, natural ingredients and reducing packaging waste through their innovative products and in-store recycling programs. Lush’s vibrant and fragrant body washes have gained popularity among eco-conscious consumers for their sustainable approach to personal care.
Little Seed Farm
Little Seed Farm is a US-based brand that creates organic, zero waste body washes using sustainably sourced ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Their body washes are crafted in small batches, ensuring high-quality products that are gentle on the skin and the environment, making them a popular choice for those seeking natural and sustainable personal care options. I love that they have free samples available on their website for you to try before you buy!
The Good Fill
The Good Fill is a zero waste refill shop based in the US that offers a range of sustainable body wash options. Megan the Founder of The Good Fill has said ‘we all need to eat, use a toothbrush, and we all need to clean our bodies, homes, and bathrooms but we don’t need a million products to do so and we don’t need toxic plastic ones either’. The Good Fill exists to offer more sustainable alternatives to items we all use or dispose of regularly.
The Solid Bar Company
The Solid Bar Company creates compact and long-lasting body wash bars with natural ingredients, offering a sustainable bathing experience. Their products are made in the UK and are 100% Vegan, biodegradable, palm oil free and plastic free. The products are scented only using natural, therapeutic oils. They use light, recyclable and fully biodegradable packaging. The Solid Bar Company is also committed to cruelty-free development and vows it will never test its products on animals.
Wild Sage & Co
Wild Sage & Co is a Mother + Daughter-run small business, they manufacture handmade soaps and natural skin care from their cottage in Herefordshire, UK. Their soaps contain no artificial colours or fragrances, and you can be sure that everything they make is 100% cruelty-free. They believe that skincare should be simple, handmade and with ingredients found in nature. Take a look at their website, it just screams natural, raw, it really is beautiful.
Funky Soap Shop
Funky Soap Shop is a small business located in the heart of London. It is dedicated to crafting high-quality, healthy and effective skin and hair care products that will nourish your skin and be kind to the planet. Funky Soap believes that beauty products should ALL be cruelty-free. They are also very proud to be Leaping Bunny approved.
Scence Natural Skincare
Scence is a natural and organic skincare brand based in Cornwall, UK. They only use the highest quality, natural and organic ingredients that are both nourishing for your skin and kind to the environment. Together, they have also developed paper-based packaging, which is completely plastic-free, fully compostable and recyclable.
Primal Suds
Primal Suds is a small business started from a bedsit in Southampton out of a slow cooker turned soap maker back in 2017. Today the business has only 2 staff but that gives the brand the ability to produce all of their products with the care, quality and attention they originally set out to provide. You should check out their unique-looking soap bars and scents, so cool.
The Good Soap
The Good Soap is a small business that sells across the UK, helping to replace plastic packaging with great quality natural and cruelty-free products. All items are developed and made in Wales and all customer parcels are wrapped and sent out from there too. The Good Soap products are always plastic-free, cruelty-free, use natural ingredients only and are handmade and affordable.
Up Circle Beauty
UpCircle Beauty creates natural skincare with upcycled ingredients. They are sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free. They also have no SLS, SLEs, parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, parfum or sulfates in their products which is a big plus for us at The Style Cycle.
These brands share a commitment to sustainability, natural ingredients, and minimising environmental impact, making them popular choices for individuals seeking eco-friendly and ethical personal care products.
If you enjoyed this post you may also like:
zero waste Hair Care: The Best Brands & Hair Care Tips
Zero Waste Period Products: Great Alternatives for an Eco-Friendly Period
