Mindful Momma

Simple Inspired Natural Living


Easy Eco-Tip: Buy Soap without Packaging

Do your part to help the planet….buy bar soap without packaging!

Package free bar soap

For me, bar soap is one of life’s little pleasures. It’s pretty to look at, it smells great and is an inexpensive gift to myself when I just need a little pick-me-up.

Most bar soaps come in boxes and while that isn’t a terrible thing, why not save a few trees and buy bar soap without the box! It’s just one more tiny step to helping you meet your zero waste bathroom goals!

Sources for Package Free Soap

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Once you start looking, there are plenty of sources for bar soap without packaging. I’ve found package-free soap at Whole Foods, on Etsy, and at my local co-op and farmer’s markets.

Here are a few great brands of bar soap without packaging:

Sappo Hill

  • Plant-based, castile soaps (natural fragrance or fragrance-free), handmade in Ashland, Oregon.
  • By not individually wrapping soaps, they save over 9 tons of packaging from the landfill every year
  • Available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Fred Meyer and on Amazon
  • Favorite: Old fashioned oatmeal

Good Soap 

  • Triple-milled soaps made with unrefined shea butter and virgin coconut oil and natural fragrances
  • Made exclusively for Whole Foods by Alaffia (I always stock up when they are on sale!)
  • Favorite: Peppermint

Puro

  • Plant-based soap made with coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, castor oil and essential oil fragrances
  • Available online only
  • Favorite: Rose Clay & Shea
  • Get 10% off with code MINDFULMOMMA

River Soap Company

  • Triple French milled soaps with an all vegetable base, using essential oils and natural colors only
  • Sold both packaged and unpackaged – my local co-op sells them package-free
  • Favorite: Sandalwood

Virgo Organics

  • Handmade using certified organic herbs and oils and natural fragrances (unscented also available)
  • Sold on Etsy
  • On my shopping list: Green & Dreamy

Butter Me Up Organics

  • Handmade soap made with organic, vegan ingredients and scented with essential oils
  • Sold on Etsy
  • On my shopping list: Sweet Citrus with Calendula

Do you have a favorite package free bar soap?

 

 

P.S. Find more Easy Eco-Tips here!

Sustainable Swaps Guide

About Mindful Momma

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

Reader Interactions

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Comments

  1. DramaMama says

    My favorite shampoo bar comes half-covered in a re-used brown paper shopping bag w/the Good Earth Soap logo on it. We don’t have a WF here (maybe in Milwaukee??), so I find other sources for my soap. If we get out west this summer, though, I will check out the one in River Falls!

    Reply

  2. Marjorie says

    I wish I could remember the brand, but when I was out in Colorado purchased a soap that did have packaging, but it was biodegradable and had wildflower seeds in the package.

    Reply

  3. Marcie says

    Sappo Hill soaps are fantastic–I’m a big fan of the lemon gardeners’ with cornmeal. My good friend Jen also makes the most amazing goat milk soaps. My girls and I have helped hand-feed her baby goats in New Hampshire. Her soaps are wonderfully scented–cedarwood, rose geranium, neroli, sandalwood–and just last forever. Her website is: http://www.gardendreams.org

    Reply

  5. MyRealGreenLife says

    We have a local lady that has a shop in Downyown York that makes delicious smelling natural soaps. She makes small labels for them, but you can bring them back and have her reuse them or just leave it there. She also makes big soap logs that you can cut apart as well. The company is called Sunrise Soap Company based out of York, PA. Pretty sure she has a website but don’t know it offhand.

    Reply

  6. Lori Popkewitz Alper says

    I hadn’t thought of looking on Etsy for homemade soap. What a great idea. I usually buy soap at the farmers market or at Whole Foods. All without any plastic wrapping. I really like Zum Bar Soap-made with goats milk.

    Reply

  8. Green Bean says

    Bar soap is one of my favorite eco-“sacrifices”. I troll our farmers’ market for bar soap and just recently ordered some, along with honey, from a beekeeper I found who lives one town away.

    Reply

  9. Jenn says

    I buy LuSa Organics soap from one of the crunchy stores in town (Community Pharmacy and Willy Street both have it) with no labels. And when the summer comes I could even buy it direct at the Farmer’s Market if I remembered. My mother probably thinks I’m crazy to spend $4.50 on a bar of soap but it’s so worth it.

    Reply

  12. Micaela says

    LuSa Organics is such a great company! I buy their stuff at the Madison farmer’s market. Love the lotion bars! In my opinion good soap is worth every penny!

    Reply

  13. Cindy says

    I love the idea of buying from Etsy – I always try to buy handmade whenever possible. But I am concerned about the packaging required to ship the soaps to me. I guess I could reuse it. Fortunately, I have a Whole Foods, several small natural foods stores and several farmers markets in my area, so I will definitely look for non-packaged options in those places. Thanks!

    Reply

  14. childrens christian curriculum says

    Do you think it can good benefits to my skin? he he he
    But still i want to try that kind of soap. I am excited to see what will be the result.

    Reply