{"id":1909,"date":"2021-06-14T16:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T15:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nowasteliving.co.uk\/?p=1909"},"modified":"2021-07-21T16:36:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T15:36:59","slug":"putting-soap-under-the-microscope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nowasteliving.co.uk\/putting-soap-under-the-microscope\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting Soap Under The Microscope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
It will be no secret to our regular readers and followers that we are big advocates of soap. If looked after, soap can last much longer than showergel and does not require any packaging at all. From feedback we realise that soap isn\u2019t a one stop shop for some so we do also stock shower gel as refill option for those that prefer that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soap has been used by the generations before us for pretty much everything. Washing, cleaning, laundry. Mostly derived from animal fats soaps started to get some bad press. There are many alternatives available now and many soaps are made from alternative fats such as coconut oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where does your favourite soap come from? We\u2019ve picked out a few brands to look at to see what we could find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t know why but I thought Dove was a British brand, turns out I got that completely wrong and it actually is an American brand owned by Unilever. It appears to be manufactured in every country apart from the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufactured in<\/strong> Made from?<\/strong> Ingredients:<\/strong> How much is Dove soap? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The dove soap cream bar 100g is 60p. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Packaging: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The soap bars seem to vary, they either come in that thin plastic wrap, a cardboard box or a coated paper wrap. They do appear to be committing to going less waste though. We shall see how long that takes\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eco plan: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.dove.com\/uk\/stories\/about-dove\/plastics-commitment.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n L’occitane Soap:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I chose this one because it has a rep for being a luxury brand. It is pricey but it is also a big bar weighing in at 250g. https:\/\/www.marksandspencer.com\/shea-butter-lavender-soap-250g\/p\/hbp60498457<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufactured in:<\/strong> Made from?<\/strong> Ingredients:<\/strong> How much is L’occitane Soap?<\/strong> Packaging:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 100 percent recyclable wrapper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good stuff:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the company, it does not conduct animal testing, and no animal product or by-product, except for beehive products are used in the manufacturing process. L’Occitane develops most of its products and ingredients in line with the organic cosmetics specifications of Ecocert (from Wiki page)<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a popular type of soap as it claims to have many uses. We haven’t tried them ourselves but whichever website I look at the ratings are always good. We are considering stocking liquid Castile soap for the same reason, it will have many uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufactured in:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The major ingredients (mainly vegetable oils, lye, and essential oils) in Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps products are organic and fair trade.[10] The company has developed a number of fair trade and organic production systems in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Samoa, India, and Kenya through its sister LLC, Serendiworld. (from Wiki)<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was founded in America but I haven’t been able to find out if it is manufactured there. The company featured on a podcast I listened to and I’m sure he said they are still based and operate form the U.S but don’t quote me on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Made from?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Palm Oil*, Sodium Hydroxide**, Water, Organic Olive Oil*, Lavandin Extract, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lavender Extract, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, *CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS, **None remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much is Dr Bronner Soap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a35.50 per bar (\u00a33.83 per 100g) <\/p>\n\n\n\n It does change depending on which scent you buy. This is the price of the Lavender one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Packaging:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 100 percent biodegradable in a 100 percent post-consumer recycled wrapper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Climate Pledge Friendly:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It has this listed on Amazon under a climate pledge icon: <\/strong>Climate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I finally found a UK brand. But as much as this was a household name once upon time it doesn’t appear to fair very well in the review sections for their good old bar of soap. With an average rating of 2.3 \/5 stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Made from?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is all I could find: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufactured in:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The brand originates in Britain and is now available in a number of other countries including Nepal, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Zambia. The brand is not widely available in the United States but can be obtained via online sales and in some speciality shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PZ Cussons is a major British manufacturer of personal healthcare products and consumer goods<\/a>. It operates worldwide, especially in Africa<\/a> and Commonwealth<\/a> nation. (from Wiki)<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the product I looked at said ‘Made in Thailand’<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sodium Palmate, Aqua, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Talc, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Coumarin, Eugenol, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 77891, CI 77220, CI 11680, CI 71105, CI 74260, CI 12490<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much is Imperial Leather Soap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheap as chips \u00a31.75 for a pack of 4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Packaging:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I think the bars themselves are wrapped in a thick paper or thin cardboard but the multi packs come wrapped in plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good stuff?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As this is a British brand I wanted to find something to make it sparkle. But I can’t, the reviews are bad, looks like most of it is made overseas, the packaging is half and half but it is really affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, there you have it. A few popular brands to look over. I’m a bit disappointed there are not more with positive things to shout about. The L’occitane bar <\/strong>is certainly the best in regards to sustainability and ingredients. They have a great ethos and a good strong brand. At \u00a39 per bar it is a bit pricey for every day soap but it is a huge bar at 250g. I would be tempted to cut up my dinky hands wouldn’t be able to hold it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Russia and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dove is primarily made from synthetic surfactants, vegetable oils (such as palm kernel) and salts of animal fats (tallow). In some countries, Dove is derived from tallow, and for this reason it is not considered vegan, unlike vegetable oil based soaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Aqua, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium chloride, Zinc Oxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Alumina, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This product appears to be made from fair trade and \/or organic based products. I\u2019ve struggled to find something they use that isn\u2019t. It may be pricey but it is ticking all the right boxes for a good quality, good for us, good for communities product.
https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/L%27Occitane_en_Provence#Beauty_products<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearic acid, palmitic acid, sodium hydroxide, aqua\/water, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, parfum\/fragrance, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, sodium chloride, citric acid, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, linalool, limonene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a39.00 for 250g bar<\/p>\n\n\n\nDr. Bronner’s Organic All-One Hemp Lavender Pure-Castile Soap Bar:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Imperial Leather:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Save Some Green Uno Bars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n