The Best Plastic Free Deodorant For a Fresh & Sustainable Day
Find the best plastic free deodorant for your needs so you can stay fresh and protect the planet at the same time. This product roundup includes zero waste deodorant sticks, deodorant bars and deodorant creams that are all packaged without plastic.
You know what stinks? Plastic.
Oh, and so do your pits if you don’t have a good deodorant!
But is it possible to find a non-toxic deodorant that works, that is also plastic-free? The answer is YES!
I’ve done the homework to round up the best-of-the best in plastic free deodorants made with natural ingredients, including deodorant sticks, deodorant bars and deodorant creams. So you can browse through and choose whichever type of zero waste deodorant works best for you!
Note: There may be affiliate links in this post including Amazon Affiliates. Full disclosure.
Why Switch to Plastic Free Deodorant?
For as long as we can remember, deodorant sticks have been packaged in plastic. Plastic is lightweight, inexpensive and easy to manufacture so why not?
The thing is, plastic packaging is one of the biggest generators of plastic waste and the deodorant industry produces over 15 million pounds of plastic waste each year.
Worse yet, most deodorant containers are not recycled because they are made with multiple types of plastic and have complex parts like the wheel for rolling up the deodorant and the plastic stick that it sits on.
Fortunately, many deodorant brands have been embracing the plastic-free movement and creating deodorants with plastic free packaging that utilizes simple, sustainable materials like cardboard tubes and glass jars.
Related: All the Products You Need For a Zero Waste Bathroom
Best Plastic Free Deodorant Brands
In the past few years I’ve worked to transition over to deodorant with eco-friendly packaging so I’m not helping to perpetuate the plastic problem.
In order to do that, I’ve personally tried a lot of zero waste deodorant brands. Since I know that deodorant is personal, I’ve listed the best natural deodorants (that are also plastic-free) that I’ve tried – and a few that I haven’t but that have come highly recommended.
Some of these brands use beeswax in their formulas, but others are completely vegan. None of them use animal testing. For more info about the natural and organic ingredients to look for in deodorants, jump to the FAQs below.
(Note: prices listed were current at time of publishing. We will do our best to keep them updated.)
Let’s take a look…
Plastic Free Deodorant Sticks & Deodorant Bars
A plastic-free deodorant stick looks pretty similar to a conventional stick deodorant, except that it is packaged in a biodegradable cardboard tube that has been printed with biodegradable ink.
The biodegradable packaging can be composted either in a home compost (rip packaging into small pieces) or in an industrial compost setting. I put mine in my city organics collection bin!
Deodorant bars come without any outer package (except a cardboard box and paper for shipping.)
I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure
ATTITUDE
- Main ingredients: arrowroot powder, shea butter, baking soda, coconut oil, corn starch
- Vegan? Yes all are vegan
- Baking soda free (sensitive skin) option available
- My fav scent: Orange Leaves
- Unscented deodorant available
- EWG VERIFIED™
- Packaging: responsibly sourced, FSC-certified biodegradable cardboard
- Price: $11.95 for 3-oz stick (the best value plastic-free deodorant!)
Get 15% off with code MINDFULMOMMA15 at checkout.
Humble
- Main ingredients: fractionated coconut oil (MCT), non-GMO cornstarch, baking soda, beeswax
- Vegan? One vegan option
- Vegan deodorant is also baking soda free
- My fav scent: Moroccan Rose
- No unscented deodorant option
- Packaging: recyclable and biodegradable paperboard
- Price: $12.95 for 2.85-oz stick
Wellnesse
- Main ingredients: tapioca starch, coconut oil, baking soda, shea butter, sunflower seed wax, zinc, aloe vera
- Vegan? Yes
- Does contain baking soda
- Comes in one unisex scent only (no unscented option)
- Packaging: recyclable and compostable cardboard tube
- Price: $16 for 2.65-oz stick
Healthy Nest
- Main ingredients: fractionated coconut oil, tapioca starch, candelilla wax, magnesium hydroxide, zinc ricinoleate, sodium bicarbonate, manuka honey, essential oils
- Many ingredients are certified organic
- Vegan? No
- Does contain baking soda
- Infused with prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy and balanced skin microbiome
- Comes in one scent only – a lovely woodsy, citrus scent (no unscented option)
- EWG VERIFIED™ and MADESAFE certified
- Perfect for pregnant and nursing moms
- Packaging: FSC-certified paper tube
- Price: $24 for 3.75-oz stick
Related: A roundup of all the best natural deodorants that WORK!
Native
- Main ingredients: coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, probiotics
- Vegan? Yes
- Sensitive formula is baking soda free
- My fav scent: Eucalyptus & Mint
- Unscented option available
- Native does use some synthetic scents but they are all paraben-free
- Packaging: paperboard sourced from responsibly managed forests
- Price: $13 for 2.65-oz stick
Cleo + Coco
- Main ingredients: cocoa butter, coconut oil, beeswax, baking soda, activated charcoal
- Vegan? No
- Blue Tansy scent has no baking soda, all others do
- Scent free deodorant bar available
- Packaging: One end of the deodorant bar is dipped in wax for easy handling. Comes wrapped in paper and packaged in a recyclable paper box.
- Price: $14 for 2-oz bar
Ethique
- Main ingredients: bamboo powder, magnesium hydroxide, zinc oxide, sweet almond oil, candelilla wax
- Vegan? Yes
- All scents are baking soda free
- Unscented deodorant available
- Mini deodorant bars available (great for travel!)
- Packaging: Compostable cardboard tube and paper boxes
- Price: $14 for 2.47-oz stick OR $5 for a .53-oz mini deodorant bar
Related: Lots more ways to use less plastic in your home and lifestyle
Plastic Free Deodorant Cream
Deodorant creams have a creamier formula than deodorant sticks and come packaged in recyclable glass jars. Preferably, the lid will be aluminum instead of plastic. If you are looking for an organic deodorant, a deodorant cream is most likely to be made with organic ingredients.
Primal Pit Paste
- Main ingredients: Shea butter, arrowroot powder, baking soda, coconut oil, candelilla wax, vitamin E
- Most ingredients used are certified organic
- Vegan? Yes
- Baking soda free options available
- Unscented available
- Both cream deodorant in a glass jar and plastic free sticks are available
- Packaging: glass jar with aluminum lid OR compostable paperboard tube
- Price: $14 for 2-oz deodorant cream OR $14 for 2.7-oz deodorant stick
Little Seed Farm
- Main ingredients: arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide, coconut oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, glycerin
- Most ingredients used are certified organic
- Vegan? No
- All are baking soda free options available
- Unscented available
- Packaging: glass jar with recyclable metal lid. Includes a free wooden scoop stick.
- Price: $15.99 for 2.4-oz jar
Meow Meow Tweet
- Main ingredients: coconut oil, arrowroot, baking soda, shea butter, kaolin clay, jojoba seed oil
- Most ingredients used are certified organic
- Vegan? Yes
- Baking soda free options available
- Unscented available
- Both deodorant creams and deodorant sticks are available
- Packaging: glass jar with recyclable metal lid OR compostable paper tube
- Price: $14 for 2.4-oz jar OR $14 for 1.8-oz stick
Looking for zero waste shampoo bars? We’ve got you!
Sustainable Deodorant FAQs
What ingredients should I avoid in deodorant?
Conventional deodorants can contain quite a few potentially toxic ingredients. A few common ingredients to avoid include: aluminum (in antiperspirants), paraben preservatives, artificial fragrances (including phthalates), artificial colors, triclosan and propylene glycol (derived from petroleum).
What ingredients are best in natural deodorant?
Natural alternatives to many of the harmful ingredients in deodorants include the following:
- for odor control: baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, activated charcoal, saccharomyces ferment, essential oils
- for wetness control: arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, kaolin clay
- for moisturization: shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, candelilla wax, aloe vera, glycerin, Ppropanediol (vegetable derived)
What if I am allergic to baking soda in deodorant?
Because some people develop a rash from using baking soda in deodorant, many natural deodorant brands have created baking soda free formulas for sensitive skin that use magnesium hydroxide for odor control. Most of the brands listed above offer a formula without baking soda.
How do you use a plastic free deodorant?
Switching to a deodorant that is plastic-free is not going to be a huge change although there are a couple differences.
- Deodorant sticks in cardboard tubes: push the tube up from the bottom (there is no dial like they have on plastic deodorant tubes). Warm the deodorant stick under your arm for a few seconds before applying.
- Deodorant bars: Warm the bar up for a few seconds and then simply swipe under armpit.
- Deodorant creams in glass jars: Use your finger or a wooden applicator to scoop out a pea sized amount and rub into skin.
Have you made the switch to a zero waste deodorant? What’s your favorite brand?
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