9 Zero Waste Hand Soap I Swear By
Given the varying habits and lifestyles, the amount of hand soap used daily can add up quickly, especially for those who wash their hands frequently.
This explains why many have strong preferences for their hand soap. Regular handwashing is crucial for good health. The key for me is finding a soap that cleanses effectively and offers a pleasant usage experience without drying out my skin.
Low Waste Hand Soap Brands
How I pick the best zero-waste hand soaps
- Natural & Organic: Prioritize products with natural, certified organic ingredients, avoiding harmful chemicals.
- Vegan Friendly: Only select products without animal ingredients, with certifications from PETA or Vegan.org.
- Cruelty-Free: Look for products not tested on animals, certified by Beauty Without Bunnies, Cruelty-Free Kitty, or Leaping Bunny.
- Palm Oil-Free: Avoid palm oil due to environmental and ethical issues, except for RSPO-certified sustainable options.
- Sustainably Sourced: Ensure products are safe for the planet and ethically sourced across the supply chain.
- Eco-Conscious Packaging: Favor compostable, zero waste, recyclable, and reusable packaging options.
Zero Waste Soap Brands we 💚
1. Olively
Ingredients | chemical-free, septic-safe, plant-based ingredients, no SLS
Ethical Sourcing | Made locally by artisans, palm oil free
Corporate Responsibility | Plastic-free packaging
Prices Starting At | $9.99
Olively's handmade olive oil soap bars are a true delight for the senses, perfect for those who cherish all-natural skincare. Each bar is crafted with minimal, high-quality ingredients, including rich olive oil sourced from the Mediterranean's lush groves, creating a decadently luxurious lather.
Infused with pure essential oils, these soaps come in enchanting variants like Evening Escape and Enchanted Woods, each designed to offer specific skin benefits from deep hydration to revitalizing rejuvenation.
I've switched to these soaps for a spa-like home experience, and they're spectacular. Their elegant appearance and exquisite scents make each shower an indulgent escape, leaving my skin so nourished and soft that I've almost ditched my post-shower lotion. They score a flawless 10/10 from me, making them ideal gifts for occasions like Mother’s Day or birthdays.
Perfect for hands, face, hair, and body, Olively soap bars prioritize your skin's health and the planet's well-being. They are crafted sustainably and ethically, ensuring cruelty-free practices. While all bars are vegan-friendly, the Golden Dreams bar includes goat milk, catering to different preferences and needs.
2. Etee
Ingredients | chemical-free, septic-safe, plant-based cleaning agents
Ethical Sourcing | Made locally in Canada.
Corporate Responsibility | Small-business, supports Good Shepherd Ministries, Michael Garrison Hospital, and Montefiore Medical Center.
Prices Starting At | $25 for three dish soap pods
Etee's hand soap stands out in the eco-friendly market. It offers a unique, zero-waste solution with its biodegradable wax pods. Made from beeswax, tree resin, and plant-based oils, these pods fully compost, making the product a great choice for those looking to avoid plastic.
The soap concentrate inside uses natural cleaning agents and essential oils like lemongrass and lavender, ensuring a gentle yet effective clean.
This product combines convenience with sustainability. Just mix it with water, shake it, and let it sit. It lathers well and leaves a light, refreshing scent. Ideal for eco-conscious households, Etee's hand soap is a small but significant step towards reducing waste.
I had doubts about Etee's dish soap being too thin or too foamy, but I was happily proven wrong. It turns into a nice gel when mixed with water and foams just as well as my usual eco-friendly bar soap. It's not as sudsy as Dawn, but it's great compared to other green brands. Buying again.
3. Plaine Products
Ingredients | vegan, cruelty-free and non-GMO. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, and palm oil
Ethical Sourcing | Made locally in USA
Corporate Responsibility | Plastic-free, B Corp, 1% of the Planet.
Prices Starting At | $20
Is it possible for hand soap to be both eco-friendly and liquid?
Yes, when it comes from Plaine Products.
Their hand soap, like their shampoo and conditioner, comes in 100% recyclable and refillable aluminum bottles—yes, travel sizes too.
Plaine stands out for its commitment to zero waste, not just with refillable products (you can choose an aluminum cap instead of a pump to reduce plastic use) but also in how it ships its products.
Providing a zero-waste hand soap that smells wonderful is one thing; shipping it sustainably worldwide is another achievement. Plaine does this by using custom-fit boxes for their bottles, which customers can use to return their empty bottle
4. Common Good
Ingredients | Safe for pets and kids, non-toxic, phthalate, sulfate, and paraben-free
Ethical Sourcing | Made locally in the USA
Corporate Responsibility | Refill options available - Packaging is made from glass, paper, and LLDPE, a recyclable type of plastic.
Prices Starting At | $20
Common Good's lineup of non-toxic cleaning products is safe for pets and human family members and kind to the planet.
Their eco-friendly ethos is centered around a refill business model, and they aim to provide sustainable cleaning and personal care products.
Among their extensive range—which includes top-notch non-toxic bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, glass cleaners, and natural all-purpose cleaners—the Hand Soap Refill Box captures our attention. This bulk hand soap option allows for extended use without the hassle of plastic bottles.
The minimal plastic used is the liner bag inside the cardboard box, designed to be returned for cleaning, processing, and reuse.
5. Elva's
Ingredients | Plant-based and non-toxic, free of parabens and phthalates
Ethical Sourcing | Vegan friendly, gluten free and cruelty free, made locally in small batches
Corporate Responsibility | Small-business, woman-owned
Elva's soap offerings are something special. They've got this hand soap/body wash combo that's totally plant-based and refillable. What's great is that it's pH-balanced and utterly free from harsh chemicals—no parabens, sulfates, SLS, gluten, or animal-derived ingredients.
They offer several packaging choices, including aluminum, amber glass, PET plastic, and a big 1.5-liter refill box. The scents are all made from essential oils and plant extracts, which means they smell amazing. Plus, all their formulas are vegan and cruelty-free. Whether for your hands or your whole body, this soap is gentle, effective, and smells heavenly.
I'm thoroughly impressed with this hand soap. It has a fantastic scent and is so gentle on my hands. I plan to place another order and explore more products from my fav brand asap.
6. Ethique
Ingredients | Concentrated, high-efficiency machine safe, 100% botanical, all-natural detergent, chemical free, septic safe
Ethical Sourcing | Vegan-friendly, gluten-free and cruelty-free
Corporate Responsibility | Small-business
Ethique offers dissolvable hand wash concentrates that we love! These hand washes are available for both kitchen and bathroom use in hydrating, invigorating, and refreshing formulations. They are gentle, effective, and don’t dry out the skin. The product is packaged in a compostable, plastic-free box and replaces a 350g bottle of liquid hand wash. Made with ethically sourced, natural ingredients like jojoba oil and essential oils, it contains no parabens or palm oil.
Break the block into pieces to prepare, place in a heat-proof container, and add 300ml of boiling water. Whisk until dissolved, cool for 5 minutes, and transfer to its final container. Shake as needed. The hand wash is cruelty-free and vegan.
7. Blueland
Ingredients | Plant-based, non-toxic
Ethical Sourcing | Vegan-friendly, gluten-free and cruelty-free, RSPO Palm Oil
Corporate Responsibility | Compostable packaging, Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral, EWG, and Leaping Bunny Certifications.
Blue Land’s Natural and Non-Toxic Foaming Hand Soap uses concentrated tablets that dissolve in water, eliminating the need for single-use plastics. These plant-based tablets are super space-efficient and packaged in compostable paper. They’re also free from harsh chemicals like phthalates and parabens and come in pleasant scents.
The hand soap is vegan, Cradle to Cradle Certified™, and EPA Safer Choice verified. It’s easy to use—just dissolve it in hot water—and leaves hands feeling nice and hydrated. Plus, it’s super compact and has loads of positive reviews. It's definitely worth checking out if you’re into eco-friendly products!
8. Unscented Co
Ingredients | Plant-based, non-toxic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and paraben-free.
Ethical Sourcing | Vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, made in Canada, RSPO Palm Oil
Corporate Responsibility | Compostable packaging, Certified B Corp
Unscented Co. is a woman-owned brand offering bulk hand soap and in-store refill stations, plus online options for glass-packaged, fragrance-free hand soap—ideal for sensitivities. Their products are all natural and unscented, backed by their status as a certified B corporation committed to high standards for social and environmental impact.
Their hand soap is certified as a Leaping Bunny and made in Canada, and it is available for shipping in the US. We’re big fans! The soap is light and foamy and leaves hands soft without residue. We also recommend their zero-waste laundry and dish soaps for their gentle, moisturizing properties and great value.
10. A Drop in the Ocean
Ingredients | Plant-based, non-toxic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and paraben-free.
Ethical Sourcing | Made in the USA, Palm Oil Free, Vegan
Corporate Responsibility | Compostable packaging, ships plastic-free
A Drop in the Ocean’s Hand Soap Powder Refill is a great option for zero waste hand soap. The refill is packaged in an aluminum tube which can be easily recycled curbside. If you don’t have a bottle at home they also offer the option to purchase a glass container (with a plastic pump) which can be reused with their refill or any refill of your choosing.
Ingredients are all plant-based and non-toxic. And for the scent, several options include sea salt + agave, as well as an unscented option. In an effort to offer an all-around sustainable product, A Drop in the Ocean also ships its items in reused shipping boxes and envelopes which we love. In their words: “You may not get an IG-worthy unboxing, but you will get the most sustainable packaging we can possibly find.” Use code ECOHUB for 15% off your first order.
Final thoughts
From refill stations to innovative formulations and packaging, there are several brands worth considering for more sustainable, zero waste hand soap – and we really hope you love what you find here. With lots of scented and unscented options to choose from too, zero waste hand soap may even be a wonderful solution for more eco friendly hand soap even if we aren’t zero waste.
In the process of building a zero-waste kit? Be sure to drop by our brand directory for a solid list of zero waste & plastic-free brands to choose from!
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