duurzaamheid milieu shampoo bar

What makes a shampoo bar sustainable?

4 minuten read time

Wat maakt een shampoo bar duurzaam?

Author: Erika Candelario

What makes a shampoo bar sustainable?

A shampoo bar is more sustainable than a bottle of shampoo thanks to its plastic-free packaging, the concentrated water-free formula, the lower transport weight and the biodegradable ingredients. That way you avoid unnecessary plastic waste without compromising on a good wash.

Why an ordinary bottle of shampoo is less sustainable

Most shampoo bottles are made of plastic that ends up in the bin after a single use. They are produced, filled, transported and eventually thrown away, all with a hefty ecological footprint. That is exactly the problem a shampoo bar solves.

Did you know?

A bottle of shampoo is up to 80% water. That water is produced, packaged and shipped along with it, while you can simply add it yourself from the tap when you wash.

That extra weight and volume makes transport less efficient: lorries and ships carry mostly water instead of pure shampoo. A shampoo bar does not have that problem, because it contains no water and therefore weighs next to nothing compared with a bottle.

What makes a shampoo bar a sustainable choice?

A shampoo bar is sustainable thanks to a combination of factors, not just the absence of a plastic bottle. Packaging, formula and ingredients all play a role in how much impact a bar really has, and these factors reinforce each other. Only when all three are right can you speak of a truly sustainable bar.

Plastic-free packaging

A shampoo bar arrives on your bathroom shelf in cardboard or with no packaging at all. On average, one bar replaces 2 to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo, so with every bar you immediately save several pieces of plastic. That adds up over a whole year, especially with a family that goes through shampoo every month.

Concentrated and economical

A bar contains no water and is therefore highly concentrated. That means it lasts longer than you would expect from such a small block. During production and transport, far less volume and weight has to travel around the world too, which shrinks the total footprint of the product before you have even unwrapped the bar.

Biodegradable ingredients

Many quality bars use biodegradable, natural ingredients without microplastics. That is better for the wastewater and for the environment after you have rinsed the bar out, because not every ingredient breaks down equally easily after rinsing.

Watch out: not every shampoo bar is equally sustainable

A plastic-free block does not automatically say everything about how sustainable a product really is. Also look at the ingredients, the absence of microplastics and whether the brand is transparent about origin and production. Some bars look green thanks to their cardboard packaging, but fall short on those other points.

That way you avoid falling into a greenwashing trap with a bar that looks sustainable, but is not under the hood. A little critical thinking pays off, especially if sustainability is your main reason for switching from bottle to bar. It costs you a minute at most to check the label before you pay.

How to recognise a truly sustainable shampoo bar

Good news: you do not have to be a chemist to recognise a good bar. With these five points, you can check the label in a few minutes.

  • Plastic-free, preferably compostable packaging. Cardboard or no packaging at all is the norm.
  • Free from sulphates, silicones and microplastics. Check the label for these substances.
  • Biodegradable. That way the bar does not burden the wastewater after rinsing.
  • Transparent ingredients list. A brand that hides nothing is happy to show the full list.
  • A recognised quality mark where possible. Think of a B Corp certification or the EU Ecolabel as extra confirmation.

Does a bar tick these boxes? Then you are making a choice that is good for both your hair and the planet. If a brand is missing this information on the packaging or website, simply ask customer service before you order.

Washing your hair sustainably with WONDR

At WONDR, we put these principles into practice. Our shampoo bars come without a plastic bottle, are concentrated so one bar lasts a long time, and contain no nasties: no harsh cleansers that needlessly burden your hair or the planet.

Like most solid shampoos, a WONDR bar replaces 2 to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo on average. That way you make a conscious choice, without compromising on a good wash or on results. Whether you are mainly looking for a healthy routine or a smaller ecological footprint, a bar delivers on both, without giving up shiny, clean hair.

Discover the WONDR shampoo bars →

FAQ

Een shampoo bar heeft geen plastic flacon nodig en bevat geen water, waardoor hij geconcentreerder is en lichter weegt tijdens transport. Dat maakt de productie en verzending een stuk efficiënter dan bij een fles vloeibare shampoo. Zo vermijd je met elke bar opnieuw plastic afval.
Gemiddeld vervangt een shampoo bar 2 tot 3 flessen vloeibare shampoo. Dat verschilt licht per merk en per haarlengte, maar de besparing in plastic blijft aanzienlijk. Reken dus gerust op een paar flessen minder in je afvalbak per bar.
Nee, niet elke bar is even duurzaam. Kijk naast de verpakking ook naar de ingrediënten, de afwezigheid van microplastics en de transparantie van het merk. Een plasticvrij uiterlijk zegt niet automatisch alles.
Dat hangt af van het merk en de formule. Kwaliteitsbars werken met biologisch afbreekbare ingrediënten zonder microplastics, maar niet elke bar op de markt voldoet daaraan. Check daarom altijd de ingrediëntenlijst op het etiket.
Let op een plasticvrije verpakking, de afwezigheid van sulfaten, siliconen en microplastics, en een transparante ingrediëntenlijst. Een erkend keurmerk zoals B Corp of het EU Ecolabel is een extra goed teken. Voldoet een bar aan deze punten, dan maak je een bewuste keuze.

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