How Much Plastic Does Switching to Bar Soap Save?

If you’ve ever held an empty plastic body wash bottle and wondered where it will end up, you’re not alone. More Canadians are questioning what’s in their products — and what’s left behind after they’re used.

Switching to bar soap might feel like a small change. But when it comes to plastic waste, small changes add up quickly. So let’s look at the real numbers.

How Much Plastic Is in a Typical Body Wash Bottle?

Most standard body wash bottles contain approximately 30–40 grams of plastic. That includes the bottle itself, cap, and pump components if included.

The average person goes through 6–12 bottles per year, depending on household size and usage habits.

That means one person may use:

• 180–480 grams of plastic per year
• Up to 4.8 kilograms over 10 years

And that’s just for body wash (we haven't even TOUCHED on shampoo and conditioner).

What Happens When You Switch to Bar Soap?

Traditional natural bar soap uses minimal or zero plastic packaging. At Wild Prairie Soap, our bars are packaged in recyclable paper — not plastic bottles.

When you switch from liquid body wash to bar soap, you eliminate:

• Plastic bottles
• Pumps
• Labels and shrink wrap
• Transportation weight tied to water-heavy formulas

One bar of soap typically lasts 3–4 weeks. That equals roughly 12–15 bars per year, all without plastic packaging.

So… How Much Plastic Does That Actually Save?

If one person switches completely to bar soap:

• You could prevent 6–12 plastic bottles per year from entering the waste stream
• That equals approximately 180–480 grams of plastic saved annually
• Over 10 years, that’s up to 4.8 kilograms of plastic avoided

Multiply that by a household of two or four — and the impact grows quickly.

Multiply that by thousands of Canadians making the same switch — and now we’re talking about real reduction.

It’s Not Just the Bottle

Liquid body wash is mostly water. That means:

• Heavier shipments
• More fuel required for transportation
• Larger packaging footprints

Bar soap is concentrated. No added water. No bulky plastic container. Just a solid bar that does the job beautifully.

Our Beauty Bar Trio is a great place to start if you want to simplify your routine (same bar for body AND face) while reducing plastic at the same time.

Does Recycling Solve the Plastic Problem?

While recycling helps, only a portion of plastic packaging actually gets recycled. Many bottles are downcycled or sent to landfill.

Choosing products that avoid plastic altogether reduces reliance on recycling systems and cuts waste at the source.

Why Canadian Winters Make Bar Soap Even More Practical

In dry Canadian climates, especially during winter, skin needs gentle cleansing without stripping natural moisture.

High-quality natural soap bars, like those crafted by Wild Prairie Soap, are formulated with nourishing oils that cleanse while supporting your skin barrier — without the synthetic detergents often found in liquid body washes.

Small Shift. Long-Term Impact.

Switching to bar soap might seem simple. But eliminating even 200–400 grams of plastic per person per year adds up quickly.

Less plastic. Less waste. Fewer bottles in landfills.

Just one solid bar — and a lighter footprint.

Explore our collection of natural bar soaps made in Canada and start your switch today.