We use hand soap multiple times a day and have to buy it regularly so the soap you choose can make an enormous difference (especially over time!). This guide takes you through the best brands who offer eco-friendly hand soap.
Why choose sustainable hand soap that is better for people and planet?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably fully aware of the impact of your choices but just to wash this down: Amongst many things, supporting more sustainable hand soap brands will:
- Reduce plastic waste and packaging pollution: Traditional liquid soaps typically come in plastic bottles made from virgin plastic that more often than not end up in landfill (given only 5-6% of plastic is actually recycled). Or worse, they are made of mixed materials that contaminate recycling streams. More sustainable brands often make zero waste hand soaps in packaging that can be composted or easily recycled curb-side.
- Protect waterways and aquatic life: Conventional hand soaps often contain ingredients you’d rather avoid like triclosan and parabens which can harm aquatic ecosystems (and our bodies).
- Protect animals: Many mainstream soap brands STILL test on animals. The horror!
- Promote sustainable ingredient sourcing: More conscious hand soap brands will typically focus on sourcing ingredients from organic, regenerative, biodynamic and/or fair trade sources. These choices can have wide ranging impacts including limiting deforestation and improving the lives of workers involved in producing those ingredients.
- Lower carbon footprint: Mass produced soaps are often made in enormous factories and transported over long distances. More sustainable brands have either taken steps to limit their emissions or are made in small batches with locally sourced ingredients in renewable energy powered facilities.
For us, looking for brands that do better on the above is always the priority. As requested by our readers, we now also offer more substantial brand ratings through our Brand Rating System which assesses brand’s against 22 different sustainability criteria. Brands need to opt in to be rated and go through quite the extensive review so please look out for them on the list below and support them where you can.
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
The Most Eco-Friendly Hand Soaps
Certified B Corp Plaine Products offers a couple of options for their refillable hand soap including Rosemary, Mint, + Vanilla, and Citrus Lavender. The soap is available in a large aluminum bottle or a 1 gallon glass jar – both with or without a plastic pump. Their products are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan friendly. Plaine Products has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Oway’s hand cleansers are made with 90-95% botanical ingredients grown predominantly on Oway’s own biodynamic farm in northern Italy. Their luxury non-toxic hand wash is certified by ECOCERT Cosmos and PETA, and Oway is a carbon neutral company. Oway has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
You won’t have to get your hands dirty with the reusable glass bottles that come with Blueland’s zero waste hand soap tablets. We tried the Honeysuckle Dew version and loved it’s mild scent, clean ingredients, and compostable paper packaging. Blueland has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Index: Sustainable Hand Soap Brands
- Plaine Products Jump to brand
- Oway Jump to brand
- Blueland Jump to brand
- Suds & Eco Jump to brand
- Meow Meow Tweet Jump to brand
- Jungle Culture Jump to brand
- Slow Botanicals Jump to brand
- Savonnerie des Diligences Jump to brand
Plaine Products
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its life
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Palm Oil Free
Products contain no palm oil or palm oil derivatives.
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 people
Take Back Program
Brand offers a take back program for their products and responsibly manages returned items.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
1% for the planet
B Corp
Leaping Bunny
PETA
1% for the planet
Certified Environmental Giving — Businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.Plaine Products’ biodegradable hand soap utilizes organic aloe extract as the main ingredient, giving the soap healing and moisturizing properties in addition to cleansing ones.
It’s combined with coconut and safflower seed oil, algae and Irish moss extracts, organic camellia, and other EWG-approved non-GMO ingredients. It’s also silicone, palm oil, and sulfate-free hand soap. Choose between two non-synthetic-derived scents: Rosemary, Mint, + Vanilla, and Citrus Lavender.
This is an entirely zero waste liquid hand soap thanks to Plaines’ innovative and unique refill program. It comes to you in an aluminum bottle or a 1 gallon glass jar – both with or without a plastic pump. Once empty, simply order a refill, and swap your pump over to the new vessel when it arrives. Then send the old one back to be cleaned and reused in the same custom-fit box your refill came in.
Starting out as a zero waste shampoo & conditioner brand, this sister-owned business has now expanded into a range of products including body wash and skincare. They are a Certified B Corp that manufactures everything (down to the aluminum bottles) in the USA and personally tests all products on themselves.
They’re also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan, a member of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and give back via their 1% for the Planet membership.
Plaine Products has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
My Personal Review of Plaine Products’ Hand Wash
“After trying the Citrus Lavender scent, which has an interesting aromatic blend of soft and tangy that I quite like, I can safely say this refillable hand soap passes the SJ scent and effectiveness test with flying colors. It quickly removes both dirt and grease residue on hands and lathers really well.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Oway
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Green Energy
Brand exclusively uses green energy to power their headquarters.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Upcycled
Products have been upcycled from an unusable or undesirable form into new products.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
ECOCERT Cosmos
PETA
ECOCERT Cosmos
The ECOCERT COSMOS certification is an internationally recognized standard for natural and organic cosmetics. Overseen by ECOCERT, it ensures that products are made with sustainably sourced, biodegradable ingredients, use environmentally friendly manufacturing and packaging, and avoid GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and synthetic fragrances or dyes. The COSMOS label (either Organic or Natural) guarantees transparency and integrity throughout the entire production process.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.Oway’s botanical hand cleansers are formulated with biodynamic, organic, and fair-trade botanicals grown mostly on Oway’s own biodynamic farm in northern Italy. Their luxury terso hand wash gently purifies without sulfates, synthetic fragrances, or harsh preservatives. Key ingredients like thyme, bergamot oil, and tea tree offer natural antibacterial properties while leaving skin soft and lightly scented.
Their hand soap is packaged in sleek, recyclable amber glass with an optional reusable metal pump.
Certified vegan, cruelty-free, and made using green chemistry, Oway’s entire range of sustainable skin and haircare products are crafted in a solar-powered facility and shipped in plastic-free, tree-free packaging made from recycled agricultural waste. Oway’s products are certified by ECOCERT Cosmos and PETA.
Oway has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Blueland
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Minority Owned
Brand is owned by Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
PFAS Free
Products have been tested and verified to be free of PFASPlastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-freeRefillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their productsWoman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
Climate Neutral Certified
Cradle to Cradle
EPA Safer Choice
EWG
Leaping Bunny
MADE SAFE®
USDA BioPreferred
B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Cradle to Cradle
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard, administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, evaluates products for their safety, circularity, and sustainability across five key categories: material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, and social fairness. Products earn certification levels (Bronze to Platinum) based on how well they meet these rigorous criteria.EPA Safer Choice
The EPA Safer Choice label, managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, identifies products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Every ingredient is reviewed by the EPA’s scientific team to ensure it meets strict safety and performance standards, meaning products with this label are effective, low in toxicity, and formulated to reduce pollution and environmental impact.EWG
The EWG Verified® mark, issued by the Environmental Working Group, identifies products that meet the organization’s strictest standards for health and transparency. To earn the label, products must avoid ingredients of concern, fully disclose all ingredients (including fragrance components), and follow good manufacturing practices.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.MADE SAFE®
The MADE SAFE® certification is a comprehensive non-toxic seal that verifies products are made with safe ingredients not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems. Overseen by the MADE SAFE nonprofit, it screens every ingredient against a database of toxicological and environmental science criteria.USDA BioPreferred
The USDA Certified Biobased Product label, part of the BioPreferred® Program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, identifies products made from renewable biological ingredients. It displays the percentage of biobased content verified by the USDA.Blueland has a crystal clear mission when it comes to sustainability—make it easy to be eco-friendly with innovative, reusable products that are convenient, effective, and affordable. The eco-friendly hand soap tablets come in several scents, like Perrine Lemon, Honeysuckle Dew, Lavender Eucalyptus, Evergreen, and Wild Rose.
Opt for their glass Forever Bottle with your first order—unless you already have a hand soap dispenser—after which dissolvable refill tablets come in small, compostable paper packets and a recyclable shipping box.
None of the zero waste hand soap refills contain VOCs, parabens, ammonia, phthalates, or chlorine bleach—instead, they use naturally derived ingredients.
Blueland is a refillable cleaning products brand that is zero waste, gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free with the Leaping Bunny seal of approval. They’re also a Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified with numerous other certifications from Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, MADE SAFE, USDA BioPreferred, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Blueland has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Our Personal Review of Blueland’s Hand Soap:
“We tested the Honeysuckle Dew hand soap and love it. Unlike many overpowering scented soaps derived from synthetic fragrances, their plant-based scent essences are clean and provide a super subtle floral aroma. Despite its gentle scent, the liquid soap foams well and is plenty effective at scrubbing off tough grease and dirt, too.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Suds & Eco
Suds & Eco has not been rated.
Suds & Eco produces some of the best zero waste hand soap, available in natural fragrances like Lavender Peppermint, Charcoal, Black Salt, Coconut Milk, Herbal, Sunshine, and our personal favorite, Calendula. The latter’s light, crisp scent and skin-calming properties make it perfect for working hands that spend lots of time digging around in your garden.
All bar soaps are palm oil free and contain pure essential oils and plant-based ingredients—all shipped in compostable cardboard packaging. Suds & Eco are women-owned, plastic-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. The eco-friendly hand soap is handmade in the United States. Suds & Eco is also a member of 1% for the Planet.
As a retail partner of ZeroWasteStore.com, all shipping is Climate Neutral and further supports the zero waste online store’s own 1% For the Planet membership.
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet has not been rated.
Meow Meow Tweet offers both zero waste liquid hand soaps and body bar soaps suitable for hand washing. Their Hand + Body Wash comes in Grapefruit Mint, Lavender Sweet Orange, and Eucalyptus Lemon. It’s made in the spirit of traditional castile soap with certified organic ingredients. You can purchase a glass soap dispenser with a plastic pump (designed with MMT’s signature illustrations) and/or bulk liquid soap refills in aluminum bottles.
Their bar soaps are made with organic and fair trade ingredients and packaged in FSC-certified compostable wrappers. The Coconut Cacao and Lavender Lemon bars are designed for multipurpose use (hands, face, and body).
Meow Meow Tweet is a small-batch, AAPI and LGBTQIA-led personal care brand. Their products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified), and palm-oil free. We’ve featured them extensively on SJ in articles about deodorant, body wash and more. Their products come in low-waste packaging including compostable tubes, aluminum, and recyclable glass bottles. And they offer an in-house take-back program for harder-to-recycle items.
MMT is also Climate Neutral and B Corp certified, and they give a portion of their takings to organizations who support BIPOC and queer communities.
Jungle Culture
Jungle Culture has not been rated.
Rich in organic essential oils, UK based Jungle Culture offers some of the best sustainable hand soap bars that last far longer than traditional soaps. A slow, cold-pressed technique is used to preserve nutrients and reduce energy consumption.
They’re handmade by artisan soap makers in Vietnam and are suitable for sensitive skin. Several scents are available: Lime & Sea Salt, Coconut Husk, Ginger & Spice, Citrus, Activated Charcoal & Cracked Black Pepper, and Coffee Scrub. If you’re a fan of coffee scrubs, check out our DIY homemade Coffee Scrub recipe.
Jungle Culture is the UK-based mecca for low-impact, ethically made goods and gifts. They have all manner of things for the body and home, many of which are multi-purpose, like their plastic-free foaming hand soaps that also work as body soap and zero waste shaving cream.
Everything ships plastic free, and a portion of every sale is funneled to environmental organizations through their 1% for the Planet membership.
Our Personal Review Of Jungle Culture’s Hand Soap Bars
“We tested several of these scents, but we’re especially buzzing about the Coffee Scrub Bar. Not only do the coffee grounds give it a microbead-free texture, but the bathroom starts to smell like a subtle, fresh pot of coffee, in case you missed your morning cup-o-joe.”
Review by Jenny Bell, SJ Writer
Slow Botanicals
Slow Botanicals has not been rated.
Slow Botanicals crafts some of the best environmentally friendly hand soaps using plant-based, organic ingredients in a short and sweet list. Organic olive oil, organic coconut oil, lye, and distilled water are regular features, along with various minerals, flowers, and herbs. The soap is vegan-friendly and available in scents like Wild Rose, Calendula, Rosemary, Lavender, and Wild Turkey Tail Mushroom.
Plus, they’re downright works of art, with accents that clearly display their key scent and ingredient infusion. Take the Himalayan Pink Sea Salt Bar: It’s not only naturally exfoliating but features a lovely live edge of salt crystals. As for eco-friendly packaging, hand soap bars come wrapped in paper or dried flower (from her garden!) filled bamboo gift boxes.
Slow Botanicals is based out of Point Roberts, Washington. The eco hand soap bar is made in small batches using naturally derived ingredients from the owner’s garden. Because the “purpose of this natural soap is nourishment” they don’t contain unnecessary fillers, including chemical fragrances, essential oils, artificial or mineral-derived dyes.
Savonnerie des Diligences
Savonnerie des Diligences has not been rated.
With names like The Matchmaker, The Monster of the Lake, and Mrs. Butternut, the soaps from Savonnerie des Diligences are uniquely adorable—down to the hand-drawn logos on the recycled and recyclable paper wrapping.
These ethical hand soaps come with a story about the legend who inspired it. They’re made with organic and natural plant oils, essential oils, and other primarily plant-based ingredients. Many contain beeswax, and some also contain honey, but you can shop their 100% vegan collection for those without.
While they’re all effective and skin safe, some are specially designed for those with sensitive skin, babies, or hands coated in dirt and grease—for that, don’t miss The Botanist and simple, soothing ingredients like organic coconut oil and magnolia cedar and wintergreen essential oils.
Everything Savonnerie Des Diligences make is natural, biodegradable, non-GMO, and mostly organic. Ingredients are sourced locally when possible and ethically when not, like their Shea butter that comes from a Fairtrade women-led business in Mali. Only recyclable and compostable packaging is used.
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
Is it time to rethink our obsession with hand soap? Considering the environmental impact of packaging and production, could switching to homemade or bar soap be a more sustainable choice, despite our convenience-driven society? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a shift?
I would like to be added to your list of zero waste hand soap. I created a product that is zero waste and zero toxic ingredients for you and for Mother Earth. This product is a castile liquid hand soap concentrate. All you need to do is use your own soap pump and water. I call it the Soap Bullet. Each Bullet makes up to 12 ounces of liquid hand soap. So, what goes on your skin is safe and what goes down the drain won’t be left over for our planet to fend off.
Alot of the “natural” liquid soaps actually contain detergents. Even those green detergents take years to degrade in our environment. If it is not pure castile soap, then it is a detergent. Those detergents (synthetic surfactants) don’t get processed out at our wastewater treatment plants only to be filtered back into the water we drink and the food we eat.
The Soap Bullets are detergent free, palm free and preservative free. The ingredients come from sustainable resources.
Come check them out at CleopatrasBeautyLine.com/soapbullet