9 Eco-Friendly Hand Soap Brands For More Sustainable Suds
We don’t want to sound like a nagging parent, but did you remember to wash your hands with eco-friendly hand soap?
Mixed materials, difficult-to-recycle plastic pumps, synthetic ingredients: traditional hand soaps may kill germs, but they’re also killing our skin and planet.
And the demonstrable increase in handwashing over the last few years hasn’t helped either.
Fortunately, foaming hand soap doesn’t need to come with plastic waste.
Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.
Low-Impact Lathering With The Most Eco-Friendly Hand Soaps
Ethique gets everything right with their natural sustainable powdered hand soap concentrates, transparency, and ethical production practices.
You won’t have to get your hands dirty with liquid-free, reusable glass bottles that come with Blueland’s zero waste hand soap tablets.
Jungle Culture’s cold-pressed technique, natural ingredients, and tantalizing scents make them some of the best plastic-free hand soap bars available.
All three of these biodegradable hand soap brands have been tried and tested by our team, and get two foamy thumbs up for efficacy as well as environmental ethics.
If you’ve finished singing the chorus of “Jolene” and have moved on to rinsing, splash directly to the end of the article to see how we found the best zero waste hand soaps.
The Full List Of Sustainable Hand Soap Brands
- Ethique | Visit Store
- Jungle Culture | Visit Store
- Blueland | Visit Store
- Suds & Co | Visit Store
- Bestowed Essentials | Visit Store
- Right Soap | Visit Store
- Plaine Products | Visit Store
- Slow Botanicals | Visit Store
- Savon Diligences Soap | Visit Store
1. Ethique
About Ethique’s Eco-Friendly Liquid Hand Soap Powders
Vegan and cruelty-free, palm oil free, ethically sourced, living wages, charitable contributions, and zero plastic—what’s not to love about Ethique?
We’ve been using Ethique’s sustainable hand soap refills (including a heap of other Ethique products) for well over a year now and can confidently say they smell fantastic and keep us squeaky clean.
These powdered concentrates include biodegradable ingredients, essential oils for moisturization, and plant-based surfactants to remove dirt and grime.
Simply mix scents like Orange & Lime, Peppermint & Lavender, Flourish, Sorbet, and Zest with boiling water for a plastic-free hand soap refill.
They also offer soap bars for those who prefer their suds traditionally solid.
All orders are shipped in recyclable packaging that’s completely plastic-free.
About Ethique
This New Zealand born Certified B Corp trades directly with local farmers, manufacturers, and suppliers to ensure the utmost ingredient traceability and transparency across their entire sustainable skincare and haircare line.
Ethique is climate-positive and offsets 120% of its carbon footprint through various organizations, like Ecology.
The New Zealand-based company also donates 2% of its total sales to charity, supporting organizations like Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, Project Blue, and the Rainforest Trust.
Ethique is also available on Amazon, Holland & Barrett (UK), and Nourished Life (AU)
2. Jungle Culture
About Jungle Culture’s Eco-Friendly Hand Soap UK
Rich in organic essential oils, Jungle Culture offers some of the best sustainable hand soap bars that lasts far longer than traditional soaps.
Like slow fashion for soap, 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; Coffee Scrub; Ginger & Spice; Citrus; Activated Charcoal & Cracked Black Pepper.
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. The caffeine in it is also a powerful antioxidant, protecting skin from free radical damage among other benefits.
Each plastic-free vegan hand soap comes in recycled paper wrapping.
About Jungle Culture
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.
3. Blueland
*Note: Blueland uses RSPO-certified palm oil in some of their cleaners.
About Blueland’s Zero Waste Foaming Hand Soap
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.
We tested the Honeysuckle Dew 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.
Opt for their glass Forever Bottle with your first order—unless you already have an eco-friendly 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.
About Blueland
Blueland first caught our attention thanks to their unique tablets of refillable cleaning products, so we were thrilled to find out they also help clean the skin, too.
Not only are their sustainable hand soap tablets zero waste, but they’re also gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free with the Leaping Bunny seal of approval.
Blueland is a Certified B Corp, and Climate Neutral Certified with numerous other sustainability certifications from Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, MADE SAFE, USDA BioPreferred, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
They give back to countless organizations, including DIGDEEP, the ACLU, and Lonely Whale.
4. Suds & Co
*Note: We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
About Suds & Co Zero Waste Hand Soaps
Suds & Co produces some of the best zero waste hand soap on the market—and we should know seeing as we’ve tried them!
Their catalog of zero waste vegan hand soap is 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 sustainable garden.
All bar soaps are palm oil free and contain pure essential oils and plant-based ingredients—all shipped in compostable cardboard packaging.
About Suds & Co
Suds & Co are women-owned, plastic-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
The earth-friendly hand soap is handmade in the United States. Suds & Co is also a member of 1% for the Planet.
Plus, a retail partner of ZeroWasteStore.com all shipping is Climate Neutral and further supports the ethical online shopping platform’s own 1% For the Planet membership.
5. Bestowed Essentials
About Bestowed Essentials’ Zero Waste Hand Soaps
There’s no shortage of reasons to love the environment friendly soaps from Bestowed Essentials, but there is a shortage of harsh chemicals and other undesirable ingredients like palm oil and SLS.
Instead, they’re made with recognizable natural skin care ingredients, like plant oils, clay, and essential oils.
There are many different scents on offer, including Green Tea & Eucalyptus, Apple Cider Vinegar & Citrus, and classic Lavender.
The soapbox is 100% recycled and recyclable.
About Bestowed Essentials
As a neurodivergent-female-veteran-owned social enterprise, Bestowed Essential is much more than a zero waste cleaning brand.
They’re entirely based in Rapid City, SD, but their products are now available at 60+ retailers in the USA and Canada.
All products are PETA-certified Cruelty-Free, and all packaging is totally plastic-free, including 100% biodegradable tape.
The manufacturing of their home and body products provides jobs for people who face barriers to employment, and BE donates additional time or money to help those in need.
6. Right Soap
About Right Soap’s Best Zero Waste Sustainable Soap
Right Soap is committed to making high-quality, natural, vegan, and unscented soaps that come in a minimal cardboard wrapper.
Each bar soap made with medicinal-grade clay, organic herbs, and plant butter and oils, including sustainably-sourced palm oil.
Several different varieties are available: Pumpkin, Carrot, Oatmeal, Calendula, Cocoa, and more.
Many are designed to support specific skincare needs, such as sensitive skin, dry skin, detox, and wrinkle-reducing.
Regardless, all are free of animal-based ingredients, chemical additives, artificial ingredients, dyes, GMOs, and perfumes/fragrances.
About Right Soap
Right Soap’s bar soaps are handcrafted using a traditional cold press method in the shop owner’s Florida home.
With nearly 18,000 Etsy sales, a Star Seller rating, and an ingredient list that includes LOVE, this shop is an excellent place to turn for plastic-free hand soap—and all other sudsy essentials.
7. Plaine Products
About Plaine Product’s Refillable Zero Waste Liquid Hand Soap
Plaine Products’ biodegradable liquid 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.
After trying them, we can safely day each one passes the SJ scent test (and effectiveness test) with flying colors.
Like their zero waste shampoo and conditioner, it’s also entirely zero waste thanks to Plaines’ innovative and unique refill program.
Each sustainable liquid hand soap comes to you in an aluminum bottle with a BPA-free plastic pump.
Once empty, simply order a refill, and swap your pump over to the new bottle when it arrives. Then send the old one back to be cleaned and reused in the same custom-fit box your refill came in.
About Plaine Products
Sister-owned and certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Plaine Products breaks the notion that liquid personal care products can’t be zero waste.
This Certified B Corp manufactures everything (down to the aluminum bottles) in the USA and personally tests all products on themselves—from eco-friendly refillable hand soap to body wash refills.
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.
8. Slow Botanicals
*Note: We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
About Slow Botanicals’ Environmentally Friendly Hand Soaps
Slow Botanicals crafts some of the best organic eco-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.
About Slow Botanicals
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 fragrance, essential oil, artificial or mineral-derived dyes.
9. Savonnerie Des Diligences
Note: Most soaps contain beeswax ethically sourced from Quebec, but they do have a zero waste vegan hand soap collection.
About Savonnerie des Diligences’ Environment Friendly Bar Soaps
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 earth-friendly hand soaps comes 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,
About Savonnerie des Diligences Soap
Savonnerie Des Diligences specializes in zero waste personal care, like environmentally friendly deodorant.
The shop’s owner was founded by a mother seeking soothing products for a child suffering from eczema. What began as a solo operation, the shop grew into a fully staffed company.
Everything they 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 and, like everything else from Etsy, is sent via carbon-neutral shipping and a renewable energy powered platform.
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How We Found The Best Eco-friendly Hand Soap Refills & Bars
To help keep our hand soap sustainable, we like to think about our ethical and sustainable beauty criteria for at least 20 seconds while shopping for and washing with the best zero waste soaps:
- Non-toxic: Ideally, all-natural and/or organic ingredients, but certainly not containing any of the most common ingredients to avoid in skin care.
- Vegan: Though we make an exception for ethically sourced beeswax and honey.
- Cruelty-free: We have a firm no animal testing policy.
- Palm oil-free: Or sustainably harvested, organic, or RSPO-certified palm oil.
- Zero waste: We prefer our hand soap refill plastic-free in compostable, recyclable, or refillable packaging. Thankfully, with so many bar soap brands and eco-friendly hand soap refills, much like these eco-friendly carpet cleaners, no plastic is necessary thanks to powder and tablet technology.
Final Thoughts On Zero Waste Hand Soap
Eco-friendly hand soap keeps your hands and conscience clean.
But small things like soap are often overlooked, sustainability speaking.
Swapping out your drug store soap loaded with harsh chemicals for sustainable foaming hand soap refills goes a long way—not only to reduce plastic waste, but in fighting unethical manufacturing and labor practices.
Don’t forget out the soap dispenser or soap dish. First, use what you have (upcycling a glass bottle, perhaps?) then browse unqiue used soap dispensers at your local thrift store.
Sharing germs isn’t nice, but sharing zero waste tips is, so help further reduce single-use plastic bottles by sharing this with friends and family who could use a better way to lather up.
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