Where Can I Get a Plastic Free Regular Priced Hand Soap Bars?

gardentools

Hi,


Does anyone know any of the major supermarkets/pharmacys that sell a normal priced hand soap bar that isn't wrapped in plastic? I've tried most supermarkets/brands, but even ones in carboard boxes seem to then have plastic wrapping inside (i'm looking at you pears!)


I'm trying to cut down on my plastic waste by switching to bar soap instead of liquid pumps, but they are either 5 times the price, or wrapped in unrecyclable plastic film, which seems to defeat the point! Brands like Simple, Dove, etc are all the price range I'd rather, but none seem plastic free?


Thanks.

Fire_Fox

The plastic shrink wrap is to increase shelf life which keeps retailers costs down and customer prices down. Same reason cucumbers are shrink wrapped!

Hand wash is not fundamentally different in formulation to body wash (= shower gel) or to shampoo. They are based on the same modern detergents and same conditioning agents, often at similar concentrations.

Traditional alkaline soap is very different and has long been known to damage acidic skin. Expensive handmade soaps are just as bad as reasonably priced commercial brands BTW.

You might reduce plastic waste by refilling your pump bottles from a bulk - five litre - bottle of a detergent-based wash that covers several products (hair, body, hand)? These bulk bottles can be bought online or from health food/ natural/ alternative health stores.

gardentools

Yeah I guess, but then a cucumber and a bar of soap have seriously different rates of degradation to be fair! For the shower I use Bulldog mens soap bars, which come in just a cardboard box and don't mention anything about expiration or best before dates - just use within 6 months from when you start using it. Most sites/people estimate soaps are good up to 6 years (unused). The only reason I don't use them for hand washing is because they are really big (200g), so don't fit on the sink!


Problem I think is most plastic free ones are also the higher end luxury ones that charge more anyway - just wish there was a basic soap that was also plastic free.

Gers

https://shop.drbronner.co.uk/departments/pure-castile-liquid-soaps.aspx?deptid=PCLS

Dr Bronner's are pure Castile soaps. The liquids can be diluted and used on the whole body.

Dclutterchique

gardentools wrote: »

Yeah I guess, but then a cucumber and a bar of soap have seriously different rates of degradation to be fair! For the shower I use Bulldog mens soap bars, which come in just a cardboard box and don't mention anything about expiration or best before dates - just use within 6 months from when you start using it. Most sites/people estimate soaps are good up to 6 years (unused). The only reason I don't use them for hand washing is because they are really big (200g), so don't fit on the sink!

Problem I think is most plastic free ones are also the higher end luxury ones that charge more anyway - just wish there was a basic soap that was also plastic free.

Would either cutting a new bar of soap into smaller bars or using a full size bar in the shower until it is small enough to transfer to the sink and having a new bar in the shower, so you have a rolling rotation, resolve your problem?

Eenymeeny

I find it strange that soap is wrapped in plastic these days when we always used to take them out of their wrapping to 'harden off' which made them last longer? I still do this, adding them to linen cupboards and drawers as air fresheners.
Maybe you'd feel happier about the plastic wrap if you didn't need to buy them so often? Just a thought...

Tolteca87

The Body Shop soaps are in paper packs.

gardentools

Thanks for the replies everyone. After much searching I've managed to answer my own question - "Dove original beauty cream bar" now come just in a cardboard box with no plastic inner. They are only 80p per 100g bar too, so good value for money. You can get them in most supermarkets by the look of it (got mine in Waitrose)

Greenqueen_2

Have you tried an old fashioned market?
I am lucky enough to live near to the fantastic “world famous” Bury market which has stalls with loose soap blocks in large boxes. You can pick out as many as you need.

suki1964

I can get fairy and carbolic soap loose in hardware and farm shops

GBNI

I use Primal Suds products.