10 Biodegradable Shampoo Brands
Biodegradable cosmetics were originally in demand by consumers who use cosmetics products in the wild … without a sewage treatment plant near by and who care about the environment. These include shampoos, soaps and toothpaste for campers, as well as suncreams, shower gels and soaps for sailors.
Today the discussion about plastics and microplastics in local waters and oceans is increasingly shaking up consumers. What happens to the plastic residues that we channel into our wastewater through the use of cleaning and care products? How much is actually filtered out? What happens to the rest that gets into the environment?
Did you know that around the world 80 Billion plastic bottles are disposed of each and every year from Shampoo & Conditioner alone?
The research field around plastic residues in the waters is relatively new. However, what scientists are gradually getting out of their studies is worrying. So far, the studies have mainly examined the topic of microplastics. These are solid and insoluble synthetic polymers (plastics) of less than 5 mm in size.
In cosmetics solid Microplastic is especially used as abrasive in peels and rubbing in shower gels.
But there is more. Liquid plastics, which e.g. make sure the shower gels and liquid soaps retain their consistency are currently classified as non-hazardous to the environment, although little is known about their residence time and their impact on the environment.
Consumers can do something about this problem by using products that are completely biodegradable.
What does biodegradable actually mean?
According to Wikipedia, Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi
It is the ability of organic chemicals to be decomposed biologically, i.e. especially by saprobionts or their enzymes. Ideally, this chemical metabolism goes all the way to mineralization, breaking the organic compound down to inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ammonia.
Below we have put together a list biodegradable shampoos brands for you. Products that are less harmful to the environment than conventional products from major brands.
In the area of shampoos and conditioners there are already brands on the market that managed to replace polymers that wrap around the hair to make it more supple or shiny by plant-based biodegradable components.
J.R. Liggett’s Old Fashioned Shampoo
The first thing you can do to avoid chemical components that are unnecessary for the actual hair care, whose only function is to keep the shampoo liquid over time. Use solid shampoo bars!
J.R. Liggett’s shampoos are all natural and contain no chemicals.
The are allvegan und 100% biodegradable.
Ingredients:
Tea Tree & Hemp Oil bar. That bar has coconut oil, safflower oil, almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, tea tree oil, hemp oil.
Puracy
Puracy from Austin Texas offer a whole range of chemical free body care products. Their coconut-based shampoo is biodegradable and is free of commonly used chemicals such as sulfate, silicones triclosan, quats, formaldehyde, salicylates, parabens, phosphates, SLS, SLES, MEA, DEA, TEA, or petroleum-based ingredients,
For men and women, with all hair types.
Ingredients:
Purified Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauryl/Myristyl Glucoside, Betaine Extract, Coco Glycinate, Vegetable Glycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Citric Acid, Coco-Caprylate, Squalene, Hedera Helix Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Juglans Nigra Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, Bergamot Essential Oil, Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate
Sailor Soap
This biodegradable cleanser is concentrated so a little goes a long way. It can be used as both a body wash and shampoo and is also great for beards. It contains Aloe Vera as well as Australian Tea Tree oil and Eucalyptus.
More biodegradable shampoo brands:
- Nature’s Gate
- Jason
- Faith In Nature
- Kiss my Face
- Maple Holistic
- Green People
- Avalon Organics
Biodegradable conditioner
Your environmental friendly behaviour hasn’t to stop with cleaning your hair. There are also quite a few solid conditoner bars available. They combine all the benefits of traditional conditioners while avoiding fluid microplastic in the product and plastic bottles as containers.
Ethique The Guardian Solid Conditioner Bar for normal and dry hair
Ethique from New Zealand use biodegradable ingredients and compostable packaging for their solid conditioner bars. It is specifically designed for people who suffer from very dry, very damaged or frizzy hair. The bar contains lots of cocoa butter, coconut oil, vitamin B5 and zesty lime oil.
Ingredients:
Behentrimonium methosulphate, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cetearyl alcohol, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, vegetable glycerine, panthenol (vitamin b5), coco caprylate, Citrus reticulata (lime) essential oil, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, mica.
If you are looking for an all in one product. you might want to have a look at the
Bamboo Earth Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
These shampoo and conditioner bars do not contain any chemicals or preservatives that can damage your hair. The product and the packaging are 100% biodegradable.
Each pack will last a person between 4 to 6 months. That’s approximately 2-3 bottles saved.
Conclusion
Today, there are shampoos on the market that have replaced liquid and solid polymers by plant derived components that are biodegradable and therefore better for the environment. It is up to you as a consumer to use them.
If you want to reduce waste in the bathroom check out our articles on biodegradable toothpastes and zero waste toothbrushes.
Header Photo by Matthew Tkocz on Unsplash
