Liquid Soap or Bar of Soap — the hidden costs and their carbon footprint
Since their discovery, plastics have been the main form of packaging for a myriad of products. From plastic foils to storing fresh fruit for a lunchtime snack, plastics have been crucial for packaging and storing everyday products.
One everyday product is soap. The history of soap stretches back to ancient Babylonians, who first mastered the art of soap making. Much of human history revolved around some form of cleaning substance. However, only after the 1980s, the trend shifted towards liquid soaps. Since their first mass production, plastic packaging has been the main form of containing liquid soaps. The demand for liquid soap hasn’t slowed ever since due to its appeal and branding.
Behind the continuous demand is the notion that liquid soap is better than bar soap. Although there are some clear benefits of using liquid soap such as less mess on the sink, these benefits have no direct link to the hygiene aspect of washing hands.
Various studies have shown that bar soap is just as effective in preventing infection as liquid soap. The idea that bar soap harbours microorganisms after each use has some proof, however, the evidence of pathogens being transferred to others after use does not exist.
Aside from cleanliness, there are significant differences in the manufacturing of liquid and bar soaps. Production of liquid soap require 5 times more energy than bar soap and take up 20 times more energy for plastic packaging than bar soap.
Considering the manufacturing requirements, continuous purchase of liquid soap would add up to huge sums of plastic waste in comparison to bar soap. On average, each hand wash involves 2.3 grams of liquid soap compared to 0.35 grams of bar soap. Based on the recommendations by various healthcare institutes, on average, a person should be washing their hands at least 11 times a day. If the figure 11 washes a day is taken along with the average usage of soap (in grams), that would add up to 3 standard (250ml) bottles of liquid soap a month per person versus 1 bar of soap.
The everyday need for cleaning makes the soap a necessity. Based on the available options, liquid soaps are clearly popular, especially among the younger generation and the trend seems to be on an upward trajectory due to the pandemic. Although the manufacturers actively promote company-run recycling programs, they are not effective in curbing the scale of plastic pollution. Knowing that only a small portion of plastics from the everyday products are recycled while remaining ending up in landfills, creates serious questions about continuous manufacturing of plastic packaging.
So why are liquid soaps popular when they contribute towards plastic pollution? The answer lies in the marketing of these products. Manufacturers aim to appeal their products to the users as more hygienic and skin-friendly without mentioning their carbon footprint.
The world today stands at a critical point. The substance that once helped improve our living standards is now creating enormous challenges regarding its waste management. Due to their chemical structure, most plastics take over a hundred years to decompose naturally. Research suggests that over 8 million plastic is dumped into the oceans each year. The global extent of plastic pollution raises serious concern about the continuous manufacturing of plastic packaging for countless everyday products.
The benefits of switching to bar soap are evident. Not only it’s cost-effective, but it also provides the same level of protection from pathogens present on the skin. Bar soap requires significantly less packaging and energy hence creates less waste compared to liquid soap. Given that the world is facing an unprecedented climate crisis, every step towards reducing our reliance on extracts from carbon fuels takes us one step closer to creating an eco-friendly environment.
