Last Updated on December 27, 2022 by Gaga
As we know, the planet is running out of resources and landfill space is also limited. For this reason, many of us now prefer to buy hair care products that won’t pollute the environment. Today we will talk about how much impact does your favorite shampoo have on the environment? Where can you find a sustainable and low-waste shampoo to help the planet while washing your hair? Does the way you use the shampoo matter?
What Is Eco-Friendly Shampoo?
Ordinary hair shampoos may contain ingredients that negatively affect the environment. Zinc pyrithione is an example. This anti-dandruff agent found in many anti-dandruff shampoos is very toxic to marine life. Another toxic ingredient is hair shampoo is a fragrance that may hide harmful chemicals. Some preservatives in hair shampoos such as parabens and triclosan may also pollute the environment.
Eco-friendly shampoos are made with biodegradable ingredients that are safe for your health and will not harm marine life when you flush them down the drain. Eco-friendly shampoos should come in biodegradable or recyclable packaging. Finally, the manufacturing process should be sustainable.
How Shampoo Bottles Impact the Environment
Most shampoo bottles end up in the garbage. Nonbiodegradable bottles end in oceans and can harm fish and seabirds.
Some earth-friendly companies are turning to aluminum as an alternative to plastic. The aluminum bottles can be reused several times and are also completely recyclable. Recycling also saves the energy required for producing aluminum bottles from raw materials. If we take the time to dispose of them properly, aluminum bottles and cans will create minimal waste. Unlike recycled plastic which is of lower quality than the original, aluminum can be recycled indefinitely without losing in quality.
Another way to use less plastics is to buy shampoo bars that come in compostable paper wrapping. These shampoo bars are much more eco-friendly than bottled shampoos.
The way you use your shampoo is also important. Be sure to use no more of the product than necessary. By using less shampoo, you send less chemicals down the drain and also cut down on the number of plastic bottles thrown away.
Eco-Friendly Shampoo Brands
To satisfy consumer needs and to build a more sustainable future, many beauty companies started to use sustainable materials and renewable energy to produce eco-friendlier beauty products. Moreover, they started to use reusable or recyclable packaging.
Below is a list of several widely known earth-friendly companies and their popular green hair products.
1. Refillable Shampoos: Environmentally-Friendly Shampoos by Plaine Products
These no-waste shampoos are made with organic and biodegradable ingredients, and the company promotes the concept of reusable packaging.
The company uses refillable aluminum bottles for their shampoos. When ordering the first time, you need to choose the “with pump” option. When ordering a refill bottle, choose the “without pump” option. The refill bottles come in a box with the return label to send the empty bottles back. The manufacturer will clean and reuse them.
The downside: Plaine shampoos are a bit on the pricey side, so you need to spend more money on their green products.
2. Non-Toxic Shampoo: Intelligent Nutrients Environmental Size Shampoos
Intelligent Nutrients, the first USDA-certified organic hair care line, was created by Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher who was an active environmentalist and innovative business leader. He started a green-powered farm in Wisconsin. Intelligent Nutrients beauty products are made from organically grown plants. You can find the full ingredient list for each product listed on the bottle. The bottles are made of recycled plastic.
Zero Waste Shampoo: Solid Shampoo Bar by Ethique
Ethique company has a mission to eliminate plastic waste by creating high-quality, zero-waste beauty products. Their shampoo bars are made from sustainably sourced and biodegradable ingredients. These products are vegan and certified cruelty-free.
Unlike liquid shampoos that contain up to 95 percent water, Ethique shampoo bars are highly concentrated. The company claims that one shampoo bar can replace three bottles of liquid shampoo. Their products come in 100% compostable packaging. The compact size makes their shampoo bars convenient for travel.
4. Sustainable Shampoo: Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soaps and Soap Bars
Dr. Bronner’s is the best-selling brand of organic body care products in North America. Their products are made of certified organic ingredients. They are also concentrated, biodegradable, free of synthetic preservatives, and free of cruelty. The bottles are made from recycled plastic. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps and soap bars are highly versatile and have no harmful effects on people, animals, and the environment.
5. Low Waste Shampoo: Biodegradable Shampoo & Body Wash by Direct 2 Boater
According to the manufacturer, this 2-in-1 hair and body wash is safe to use in fresh, brackish, or salt water and is not harmful to coral reefs. This product is unscented, which means fewer potentially toxic ingredients.
Downsides: There is not enough information about the packaging. Plus, the bottle has a wide opening that makes dispensing smaller amounts of the product almost impossible.
Final Words
Some companies promote green lifestyles preferably for marketing purposes. If you order a product that is advertised as green but comes in plastic packaging, don’t buy it again. Environmental responsibility must be included in all stages, starting with sustainable raw materials and green power sources. Finally, your beauty products should come in eco-friendly packaging. So, make sure to only use products that are fully in line with your journey toward a zero-waste lifestyle.
Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.