{"id":3122,"date":"2026-01-14T13:44:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cncurc.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/14\/getting-a-greener-clean-body-wash-2\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T13:44:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:44:42","slug":"getting-a-greener-clean-body-wash-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cncurc.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/14\/getting-a-greener-clean-body-wash-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting a Greener Clean: Body Wash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The environmental case for bar soap has become even stronger with recent research. <\/span>Simple bar soap cuts greenhouse emissions by about a third<\/span><\/a> compared with liquid soap, according to a study from the Institute of Environmental Engineering at the Swiss university ETH Zurich.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bar soap requires <\/span>one-fifth of the energy<\/span><\/a> to produce<\/span> compared to liquid soap. Specifically, liquid soaps require <\/span>five times more energy<\/span><\/a> for raw material production and nearly 20 times more energy for packaging production than bar soaps. Making liquid detergents <\/span>produces about <\/span>10 times the greenhouse emissions<\/span><\/a> as making simple soap. This is due to the energy-intensive production of synthetic surfactants and the packaging requirements. <\/span>Liquids are also packaged in plastic that is not always recyclable and contributes to <\/span>ocean pollution<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

One <\/span>life cycle analysis<\/span><\/a> also found that solid soaps contain fewer ingredients harmful to human health and the environment than liquid soaps. The British website <\/span>Ethical Consumer<\/span><\/a> confirms that bar soaps are less likely to contain petroleum, use less plastic packaging, and<\/span> produce lower transportation emissions <\/span>than liquid soap. Among their recommended brands, <\/span>Bentley Organic<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Lush<\/span><\/a> are available in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

Packaging Impact<\/span><\/h3>\n

The packaging difference is substantial: producing packaging for liquid soap requires <\/span>19 times more energy<\/span><\/a> than packaging for bar soap, according to the Swiss research. Additionally, <\/span>distributing liquid soap creates nearly eight times as many carbon emissions as an equivalent amount of bar soap,<\/span> because liquid soap is mostly water being transported in bulky, irregularly shaped containers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toxicity<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cleansers of all kinds can contain untested chemicals (or worse, known carcinogens and toxins). The Environmental Working Group’s <\/span>Skin Deep<\/span><\/a> database provides detailed information about individual products. Verified products are those with the fewest toxicity concerns, like <\/span>Codex Beauty’s<\/span> bar soap<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Bravo Sierra<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibacterial Soaps<\/span><\/h2>\n

The FDA encourages consumers to <\/span>avoid antibacterial soaps<\/span><\/a>. Antibacterial soaps do not provide any added protection against viruses like COVID-19,<\/span> and there is no evidence that their ingredients are <\/span>safe or effective. The overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Microbeads and Microplastics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Because water treatment systems cannot effectively filter out microbeads, they end up as <\/span>microplastic<\/span><\/a> pollution. The <\/span>Microbead-Free Waters Act<\/span><\/a> of 2015 prohibits the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>many product<\/span> formulas still contain plastics<\/span><\/a> under the names acrylate copolymer and polypropylene. <\/span>A 2024 study<\/span><\/a> published in the <\/span>Journal of Hazardous Materials<\/span><\/em> found that leave-on cosmetic and personal <\/span>care products, such as lotions, sunscreens, and deodorants,<\/span> are overlooked by researchers and regulators, despite potentially containing microplastics. <\/span>The research found that of 2,381 products studied, only two were leave-on products,<\/span> highlighting a significant knowledge gap.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want an exfoliating soap, look for one with a high EWG rating like <\/span>Ethique’s<\/span><\/a> face scrub. Or, use regular soap with a renewable <\/span>loofah sponge<\/span><\/a> (you can even <\/span>grow your own<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch The Way You Use Soaps And Body Wash<\/span><\/h2>\n

Multiple LCAs note that how we use soap significantly contributes to its footprint. <\/span>One study<\/span><\/a> found that consumers use more than six times more liquid soap than bar soap per wash. Use this knowledge to either switch from body wash to bar soap or become more mindful of how much liquid soap you squeeze out of the bottle. When you switch to bar soap, try to store it dry so it doesn’t dissolve between uses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, be sure to <\/span>set your water heater<\/span><\/a> to<\/span> 120\u00b0F <\/span>and use a <\/span>low-flow showerhead<\/span><\/a>. Be mindful of how much time you spend in the shower. Even an efficient showerhead uses more than a gallon of water per minute. In the end, the water and energy you use<\/span> for <\/span>washing have a much bigger impact on your <\/span>personal carbon footprint<\/span><\/a> than your choice of soap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainable Body Wash Recommendations<\/span><\/h2>\n

Looking for specific products? Consider these options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Palm Oil-Free Bar Soaps:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n