9 Best Biodegradable Soaps for Sudsing Up Indoors and Out

As the desire for sustainability grows, consumers have begun to shift away from conventional products engineered with harmful chemicals in favor of clean, earth and skin-friendly items. Among those are soaps, which have historically been made with some unsafe ingredients to the detriment of people and the environment. During this watershed moment, biodegradable soaps have increased in popularity as the perfect solution for lovers and advocates of the outdoors who also enjoy a good lather every now and again—even in the backcountry.

In this research-driven guide I’ll break down all you need to know about biodegradable soap, and which to buy (scroll down a ways to get right to our top picks for the best biodegradable soaps and wipes).

What Is Biodegradable Soap?

Unlike conventional soap, biodegradable soaps don’t contain surfactants, short for “surface-active agent”, which bind oil and water together in body products. While they aren’t inherently bad for us (unlike parabens or phthalates—harmful chemical compounds found in soaps used as preservatives that can negatively affect) the hormones in humans and animals, surfactants have been shown to harm aquatic animals and even pose a threat to their watery ecosystem if exposed to enough of those surfactants overtime.

To paraphrase the EPA guide to choosing eco-friendly home cleaning products which have similar ingredients to soaps, the surfactants can break down into “toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative chemicals” that can eventually begin to degrade aquatic life.

So, when it comes to using a biodegradable soap or body wash both indoors or outside, you can feel good knowing that it’s a product designed to do as little harm to you and the environment as possible. “Using biodegradable soap helps ensure that we’re not polluting groundwater with the products that we use in our homes, or on the go,” Laura Marston, owner of a low waste home and refill store GoGo Refill in South Portland, Maine tells Field Mag. “Replacing chemical and sometimes even petroleum-based surfactants with plant-based formulas makes safer products for planet and people alike.”

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/best-biodegradable-soaps