Eco Friendly and Sustainable Shampoo: A Complete Guide

Earth-Friendly Hair Care: A Complete Guide to Sustainable Shampoo Bars, Organic Brands, and Zero Waste Options

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By Heather Grant

Shampoo Bars: A Guide to Ethical & Sustainable Shampoo

A List of Ethical and Sustainable Shampoo Brands

We’ve scoured the web for brands offering the best shampoo bars or bottles, and organic or natural ingredients–brands that are striving to meet sustainable goals. These brands are from all around the world, suitable for different hair-types, and range from lower-end to higher-end prices.

*approximate prices are in British Pounds and U.S. Dollars, and may be subject to change

Brands Crafting the Best Shampoo Bars

Let’s take a look at the cool new kids on the block, shampoo bars. Ditching the bottle, these guys take the lead when it come to zero waste hair care.

Friendly Soap

Vintage kitchenware and shampoo bars stacked up neatly on cheese board

Putting ethics before profits underpins everything this UK-based company does. Their natural shampoo and soap bars are not only affordable but, due to the Cold Process method of their production, are kind to the planet and super gentle on the skin!

  • Approx. £2.75/ $3.70
  • Certified Cruelty Free
  • Certified Vegan
  • Natural ingredients
  • zero waste shampoo bar & recyclable packaging
  • Certified Living Wage Employer
  • Palm oil free

Nuddy

Colorful soap boxes arranged on peach and blue background

Nuddy are an independent, female led, British brand. ‘Nuddy’ is British slang for being in the nude and for this company it isn’t just a funny word, it’s a feeling: to be free, vulnerable, and empowered. Their premium quality soap bars are conscious, creative, and, most importantly, don’t contain any plastic or nasty ingredients.

  • Approx. £2.99/$8
  • Cruelty free
  • Vegan
  • Zero waste bar & recyclable packaging
  • Use sustainable palm oil, and have a page dedicated to their choice here

Anita Grant

shampoo that looks like chocolate

Anita Grant is an award-winning brand based in London, and ships products worldwide. Their shampoo bars, as well as their other products, are made in small batches, packaged and labelled by hand, and uses Mother nature’s finest ingredients for effective and ethical results.

  • Approx. £.6.30/ $8.47
  • Cruelty free
  • Natural ingredients
  • organic
  • Fairtrade ingredients, purchased directly from farming communities
  • Zero waste bar & recyclable packaging
  • Uses sustainable palm Oil

Lush

blue and pink butterfly made out of soap

Lush is a UK born company that operates in 49 countries globally, making fresh handmade cosmetics and shampoo bars. They pride themselves in using 100% vegetarian and ethically bought ingredients, ‘naked’ packaging, fighting animal testing, and handmaking products with pride. Lush has a strong commitment to the communities and areas where the ingredients are purchased, safeguarding the environment and their social impact.

  • Approx. £8/$10.76
  • Certified cruelty free
  • Many products certified vegan
  • 100% zero waste
  • Use mainly natural ingredients
  • They have an extensive fair-trade policy outlined on their website, explaining their decision against certification which you can read here
  • Palm Oil free

Wildland Organics

three bottle and one super bar box out in the wild

Wildland Organics believe in living a ‘high vibe, low maintenance’ lifestyle. They’re committed to helping people live a more mindful, more sustainable life, emphasising connecting with nature, building community, and conscious self-care. Their organic shampoo bars provide multi-use, travel friendly, eco-conscious hair and body care, to help you live ‘light and luxuriously’.

  • Approx. £11.87/$16
  • Certified Cruelty Free
  • Vegan
  • Organic shampoo and conditioner
  • Locally sourced/ Fairtrade ingredients
  • Zero waste bar and recyclable packaging
  • Company uses palm oil in some products

Ethique

ethique shampoo bars boxed up and stacked neatly

Ethique are the fastest selling zero waste shampoo and conditioner brand on Amazon and are sold in 2500 retailers in sixteen countries across the world. Their packaging and shipping are entirely plastic free, 20% of all profits go to charity, and a tree is planted for every online order – they definitely live up to their name which means ‘ethical’ in French!

  • Approx. £12/ $16.15
  • Certified Cruelty Free
  • Certified Vegan
  • A carbon-neutral company – one tree planted for every online order
  • 20% of profit donated to charity
  • Zero waste bar and recyclable packaging
  • They have an extensive ‘direct trade’ policy outlined on website
  • Palm oil free

Beautiful Bottles

If shampoo bars aren’t for you, and you’d rather stick to what you know – a liquid shampoo and conditioner you can squeeze out and lather up – then these eco-friendly shampoo brands might be for you. Though they aren’t zero waste, they tick many other environmentally and ethically positive boxes.

Function of Beauty

Equal opportunity in science education is at the heart of what drive Function of Beauty, which is why they proudly support women and girls in STEM through partnerships such as their support of Girlstart, an organization that provides a year-round, intensive suite of STEM education programs for girls in grades K-12, and aims to foster an interest in STEM electives, majors, and careers.

shampoo bottles on light blue background
  • 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free
  • Fragrance-free options
  • Uses only ingredients certified as “clean” by European Union regulations
  • Uses recycled and recyclable packaging

Nature Lab

Aiming to achieve the perfect harmony between traditional Japanese beauty rituals and modern clean technology, Nature Lab products are the result of a team of specialist scientists and cosmetic chemists. Their expertise in botanical technology allowed them to unlock active, nutrient-rich plant stem cells proven to improve scalp health, follicle strength, and healthy hair growth.

woman with shampoo bottle
  • Approx. £10.42/ $14 for 350ml (£2.86/$4 per 100ml)
  • Certified Cruelty free
  • Vegan
  • Minimal plastic packaging and refill option – each refill pouch contains 85% less plastic than 3 full sized bottles
  • Palm oil free

The Body Shop

Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, believed that ‘business shapes the world’ and that ‘it is capable of changing society in almost any way you can imagine’. And so activism at the heart of the company. Sold in over 70 countries in the world, The Body Shop products are designed to empower everybody to feel good in their skin, without promising to make them look like anyone else.

shampoo bottles in strawberry red on bench

Zatik Natural

Zatik Natural products are handmade in Glendale, California and aim to be simple and effective, without using any synthetic chemicals. Their products are Ph balanced and bioactive-rich to help create that healthy-hair glow for everyone.

zatik sustainable shampoo bottles on nuts
  • Approx £7.44/ $10 for 320ml (£2.32/$3.12 per 100ml)
  • Certified cruelty free
  • Vegan
  • Certified organic
  • Natural ingredients cultivated in US farms
  • Recyclable packaging
  • Company uses palm oil in some products

Green People

Green People is a well-loved UK brand that believes in natural beauty you can trust. The company was built as a reaction to products that claim to be ‘natural’ but have mainly synthetic ingredients (you only have to have less than 1% natural ingredients in the formulation for a product to be called ‘natural’!). For Green People, trust and transparency is key, and so every ingredient used is certified organic.

scent-free shampoo bottles by green people
  • Approx. £12.50/$16.82 for 200ml (£6.25/$8.41 per 100ml)
  • Certified Cruelty Free
  • The majority of products are certified vegan
  • Certified Organic (by multiple organisations!)
  • Recyclable packaging
  • Have their own Faitrade policy ensuring workers and producers receive a fair price for their produce
  • Company uses palm oil in some products

Sienna Naturals

Sienna Naturals Black-owned business that believes that no one should ever have to choose between good and hair and earth-friendly ingredients. As a result, their products are specially formulated for textured hair and are sustainably sourced, plant-based, and cruelty free.

Sienna Natural shampoo bottle lineup
  • Approx. £13.39/$18 for 296ml (£4.50/$6.10 per 100ml)
  • Cruelty free
  • Vegan
  • Natural ingredients
  • Ingredients sourced through Fairtrade certified suppliers
  • Recyclable packaging
  • Palm oil free

First Hand

First Hand are a Boston-based company that believe in helping people look good, feel good, and be a part of something good. They stick by their principles of honest sourcing, sustainable processes, and partner only with those with the same values.

First Hand sustainable shampoo bottles in white being held by hands
  • Approx. £16.32/$22 for 300ml (£5.44/$7.33 per 100ml)
  • Cruelty free
  • Mainly natural ingredients
  • Source materials a
  • Recyclable packaging made from Post Consumer Resin (PCR), a plastic material created by remaking used plastics into small ‘beads’ moulded into containers, and soured locally
  • Palm oil free

A Deeper Look: Shampoo Bars and The Sustainability of Hair Care

Thinking of trying out organic shampoo bars? Or are you just after a list of the best natural shampoo and conditioner brands?

Then read on, for hair care is an essential part of everyday life, but like everything we do it is rife with the potential for environmental harm, from waste products making their way down the drain, and into waterways, to plastic containers inexorably piling up in our landfills.

Nonetheless, it may yet be possible to have a clean head of hair while also maintaining a clean conscience.

Most of what we do involves some sort of product and purchase, and while consumption is ingrained in our lives, if doesn’t have to be mindless. Big change requires big companies to take systematic action, but every consumer has the opportunity to vote with their wallet for concerns they want corporations to take into account. And if we spend time asking questions about the ethics and sustainability of products before we buy them, we’re putting our money on the positive changes we want to see in the world.

This is the essence of the conscious consumerism movement; to think before we buy, use, and throw away.

And, as 73% of global consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce their eco-impact, consumer concerns are evidently shifting.

One thing we do every day that could benefit from more eco-thinking is our shower: the amount of water we use, the harmful chemical compounds in our products, not to mention the plastic packaging, all of which contribute to our environmental impact. Luckily, a recent trend has entered the eco-living sphere ready to change the showering game: ethical and sustainable shampoo.

Shampoo Bars: 73% of global consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce their eco-impact

Enter The Eco-Friendly Shampoo Bar

You may have seen new brands enter the market, with ‘eco’ and ‘cruelty free’ prominently displayed on their packaging, and old brands taking a proactive approach to acknowledging and changing their wasteful practices as buyers change their shopping demands. And even better than their bottled counterparts, solid shampoo bars are increasingly cropping up and transforming the hair-care scene.

These zero-waste, travel-friendly, space-saving, and long-lasting bars are perfect for keeping both your hair and conscience clean. It’s shampoo without bottle!

But, while it all sounds too good to be true, it’s important not to be caught out. Often these products are expensive, their effectiveness is debated, and they’re not as ethical as they claim to be. They’re culprits of ‘Green Washing’: marketing used to attract customers with unsubstantiated and misleading claims. As we become more and more bombarded with labels, slogans, and expensive items, it’s important to know what’s worth spending our money on.

Are Shampoo Bars More Eco Friendly?

Shampoo bars are not only a much cheaper option, they are also undeniably more environmentally friendly shampoo. This is especially true since they’re highly concentrated, so you’re not paying for anything watered-down and can get more uses out of them!

Knowing that the bars themselves are zero waste, and the paper packaging is 100% recyclable, can give you peace of mind on the packaging front too. Shampoo bar companies also have a tendency to be much more transparent about the ethics of their products, with simpler ingredient lists, charitable policies, and clearly displayed certifications.

Shampoo Bars vs Shampoo Bottles

If you’re unsure whether a shampoo bar will work for you, you can always try turning it into a liquid and use it in a way you’re more familiar with. All you need to do is to put in a jug or bowl and pour boiling water over it, stir until it full dissolves, and transfer into a bottle an old shampoo bottle, or a drink bottle you’d otherwise throw out. This is a great way to reduce waste and reuse what you already have.

The downside, however, is that the shampoo bars are much less diverse and specialised for different types of hair. But, as with any products, as they become more and more popular, their effectiveness will be improved and hopefully we’ll see some more bars emerge suited to different hair types. The only way for this to happen is to increase their demand and for more people to start making the switch!

What Does Eco Friendly Shampoo Mean?

For a product to be ethical it must not be produced in way that is harmful to society, animals, or the environment. This could mean ensuring that workers producing the ingredients are paid fairly, it is not tested on animals, and is not harmful for the earth. Ethical shampoo products are, essentially, kind to people and the planet.

‘Sustainable’ is a narrower term, and in its simplest definition means ‘the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level’. In other words, product’s environmental impact over its whole life cycle results in minimal, or ideally no, waste or destruction. Sustainable products environmental conscience covers their production, use, and disposal.

Below are some key things you can look out for when deciding whether the shampoo you’re buying is ethical and sustainable, so check the labels carefully!

Cruelty-Free and Vegan

Cruelty-free is the label given to products that are not tested on animals in any country in the world. This is different to vegan products, which, as well as not being tested on animals, do not include any ingredients derived from animals. Now you may be thinking what animal-ingredients are being put into the product in the first place, but you’d be surprised! Like many cosmetics, ingredients such as beeswax, honey, and milk are often snuck into shampoos.

Using vegan and cruelty-free products ensures no animals were harmed in the process and the ingredients are more likely to be natural. Vegan packaging is also more frequently recyclable and environmentally friendly.

To avoid misleading packaging, you can check for PETA’s cruelty-free and vegan logo:

PETA cruelty free

Palm-Oil Free

Palm oil has become almost a curse word in the world of ethical consumerism; when you see it alarm bells should ring. The palm oil industry is a major driver of deforestation, destroying habitats of endangered species, contributing to climate change, and, in some cases, exploiting workers and abusing child labour.

Check the ingredients list to see whether the shampoo is palm-oil free, and be cautious of ‘sustainable palm oil’; according to Green Peace it is often simply a way for companies to continue using the ingredient, destroying forests, and getting away with it!

Non-Toxic and Natural Ingredients

Have you ever read the ingredients list on a shampoo bottle and felt like you’re reading a language from a sci-fi film? The ‘non-GMO’, ‘paraben-free’, ‘sulfate-free’, and ‘SLS-free’ talk is equally confusing. So how do we trust what’s going on our hair, and into the planet, when we can’t even understand it?

This is a tricky one, but there are ways around it without needing a post-grad chemistry degree. A good place to start is to go for organic (see our breakdown of exactly what organic means) and natural products as an easy way to avoid artificial chemicals used in shampoos (and an added bonus – it’s also better for our wellbeing to avoid synthetic chemicals!). You can also check that they’re certified as organic by looking out for logos like the Soil Association one below.

organic soil association

The downside, however, is that ‘organic’ often equates to expensive, and is popular in greenwashing, so understanding ingredients when looking for eco-friendly hair products is even more useful (here is a great guide to help you out!).

Fairtrade

Fairtrade considers every person involved in the production and selling of the product; a fair-trade policy helps ensure the wellbeing of marginalised small producers and that farmers in developing countries can compete in the global economy. There are formalised fair-trade certifications such as Fairtrade international (FLO), and it’s always good to look out for their green and blue logo on the packaging.

fairtrade logo

Many companies, however, see it as favourable (and actually more ethical) to have their own Fairtrade policy. This is because many ingredients may be locally produced, and it allows for the company to work closely with the producers and have a more direct relationship with them. There may even be a mixture of certified Fairtrade and local direct trade ingredients used in one product, and so the company’s website is a good place to look for their Fairtrade policy and can tell you if they are ensuring their suppliers’ working conditions are dignified and fair.

Packaging

Most shampoos, even the best organic shampoos, come in non-recyclable plastic bottles which, alongside food packaging, plastic bags, water bottles and so many other things we regularly use or consume, contribute to plastic pollution. When we throw away plastic bottles, they end up in the oceans, injuring sea life, or breaking down into equally damaging tiny particles called microplastics which enter the food cycle.

If you’re not ready to go try a zero-waste shampoo bar, then try to opt for recyclable bottles and thoughtful packaging instead; shampoo refill options are also becoming increasingly available!

Final Thoughts on Sustainable Hair Care and Shampoo Bars

The sustainability movement frequently comes under the charge of elitism, and whilst we’ve looked at products varying in price in this guide, it’s evident there’s a market for cheaper, more accessible options (which don’t require the leisure time for a Sherlock Holmes level analysis of the ingredient lists!). Hopefully these are on their way in the not-so-distant future…