If you're looking for an eco-friendly hair care solution, you can never go wrong with some of the best shampoo bars. After all, plastic pollution in the UK is hard to ignore – and while we seem to be getting the hang of recycling our kitchen rubbish, we're still lagging well behind when it comes to binning our bathroom products. Only 50% of recyclable products are disposed of correctly, and 120 billion units of packaging go to waste from the beauty industry each year.
Even if your shampoo bottles are made of recyclable materials, chances are that they won’t actually get recycled and will most likely end up in our oceans – but every little truly does help when it comes to solving the issue at hand, and the answer could very well start in your shower.
Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo Bar
Aussie Nourishing Hug Vegan Solid Shampoo Bar
Centred Altered State Solid Shampoo Bar
Ethique Frizz Wrangler Shampoo Bar for Dry of Frizzy Hair
Best shampoo bars at a glance:
According to Lush co-founder Mo Constantine and renowned cosmetic chemist, Stan Krysztal, who created the world's first shampoo bar, a solid bar reduced plastic bottle usage, was much easier for customers to transport and had enormous economical benefits. "Beautiful essential oils now no longer needed to be diluted in water; they could be crafted into a fresh, self-preserving bar, which was equivalent to two or three 250ml bottles," they say.
Discussing the benefits of bars, they say: "Taking something that’s traditionally a liquid into a solid, like we’ve done with shampoo bars, results in huge benefits for both the environment and the customer.
Not only do solid shampoos negate the need for plastic packaging, but they're also a lot lighter, meaning they require less fuel to transport. "This reduces their environmental impact enormously and saves tons of plastic from ever being produced or entering landfills." While some brands package shampoo bars in recyclable cardboard, other brands, including Lush, have decided to sell them "naked" (i.e. with no packaging whatsoever). " We take pride in selling them naked, without a stitch of wrapping." Instead, you can buy a slick aluminium travel case, or a holder made out of biodegradable cork for your Lush bar.
As well as the environmental benefits, shampoo bars also offer a more financially friendly alternative to plastic bottles. "These mighty bars may be small, but they’ve got an impressive lathering ability that makes them incredibly long-lasting." Some bars offer up to three times the number of washes as a single bottle of shampoo, meaning you won't have to stock up nearly as often.
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