Every year, millions of shampoo bottles end up in landfill. The good news is that ditching the plastic doesn’t have to mean we compromise on our beauty routines. From recyclable and refillable packaging to carbon neutral companies, the beauty industry is taking big strides to lessen its environmental impact.
And when it comes to minimising plastic waste and streamlining our routines, we’re particularly loving multi-use soap bars. They can replace your usual shampoo and conditioner – also your cleanser and body wash – all in one handy (cardboard) box. They’re also highly portable, perfect for travelling and gym kits.
“Shampoo bars are a great way to embrace low-waste, plastic-free beauty products,” says Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People and pioneer of organic beauty.
Not only is the packaging recyclable and biodegradable, being waterless means a lower carbon footprint. “Green People’s shampoo bars are the dry, concentrated version of our liquid shampoos, they contain all the key actives to wash and nourish your hair and scalp, but without the water. This translates into less CO2 emissions linked to production and transportation,” adds Charlotte. What’s more: “They are rich in nourishing plant oils, so you can skip the conditioner.”
Economical, portable, eco-friendly – not to mention efficacious – once you make the switch to these cardboard-wrapped, zero-waste beauties you’ll never look back.
Our top three shampoo bars
Green People Scent Free Shampoo Bar, £16 (50g)
Sensitive scalp? Don’t like strong scents? This gentle, fragrance-free shampoo bar is the one for you. It contains nourishing plant ingredients to promote clean, strong hair and a healthy, balanced scalp, without the need for conditioner. It’s also soap-free, SLS-free, pH balanced and suitable for all hair types. Don’t let the small size fool you, each bar equates to 250ml of liquid shampoo or on average 60 washes.
Dr. Organic Shampoo & Conditioner Bars, £9.99
A brilliant buy for all the family, this mild shampoo and conditioner bar is infused with organic aloe vera and shea butter to gently cleanse and restore hair and scalp. Its refreshing scent makes locks smell so good, and it is gentle enough to use daily on all hair types. Our testers confirm that even dry and curly hair types are left feeling well conditioned so there’s no need for separate conditioners. One bar offers an average of over 35 washes (the equivalent to two standard 265ml bottles) with an average saving of over £3 and two fewer bottles of plastic used.
O&M Hydrate Shampoo Bar, £37 (70g)
Packed with Australian native extracts and minerals, including red clay and macadamia oil, as well as essential oils, this is a great choice particularly for dry hair. Massage into wet hair to lather to gently cleanse your hair and then rinse to leave it feeling fresh and nourished. This shampoo bar has a lovely natural woody fragrance of walnut and maple. Just one bar should last as long as four bottles of shampoo.
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