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Ethical brand ratings and accreditation since 2001

Eco Friendly Shower Gel, Vegan Soap and Organic Soap

Which Soap & Shower Gel brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Soap and Shower Gel comparison table to compare brands’ ethical scores.

Why is it important to buy eco-friendly shower gel and soap?

Soap and shower gel are daily essentials for almost everyone. But how do we ensure that our personal hygiene does not come at the expense of the planet and its wildlife? Investing in ethical shower gel UK consumers can trust, as well as organic soap and vegan soap brands, is a great way to look after your skin and the planet. The GOOD Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical criteria since 2001, making our comparison tables one of the most trusted resources for natural soap UK choices.

The soap and shower gel sector has a significant environmental footprint — from the production of palm oil derivatives used in formulations, to the billions of single-use plastic bottles that end up in landfill each year, to the synthetic chemicals that wash into waterways. Choosing eco-friendly, organic or vegan alternatives is one of the most practical steps an everyday consumer can take to reduce their household’s environmental impact.

Is there palm oil in soap?

Many soap and shower gel products contain palm oil. Palm oil is infamous for its role in deforestation, destroying important tropical forests needed to soak up the high amounts of carbon we emit into our atmosphere.

Palm oil has also been linked to the destruction of ecosystems inhabited by endangered species. The majority of palm oil comes from two countries: Indonesia and Malaysia, which have both experienced alarming rates of deforestation. WWF reports that palm oil production in these countries has led to the endangerment of rare species such as the Sumatran tiger and the orangutan. For a full breakdown of how we assess brands across environmental, animal welfare and people criteria, visit our How We Rate page.

There are plenty of ethical options for you to choose from, including vegan soap and shower gel, as well as organic soap and shower gel. Additionally, you can buy eco-friendly shower gel and soap that is either palm oil free or made using sustainably sourced palm oil. Cruelty Free International campaigns for a global end to animal testing in cosmetics and maintains the Leaping Bunny programme — an independently verified certification that no animal testing has occurred at any stage of production.

There are also other animal welfare issues within the soap and shower gel industry. Firstly, many soap and shower gel brands still test their products on animals, despite the fact alternatives are available. Secondly, some products contain animal ingredients, making them unsuitable for vegans.

It is also worth being aware of sulphates — primarily sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) — which are common cleansing agents in shower gels and liquid soaps. Sulphates can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness and irritation, and are particularly problematic for those with sensitive skin or eczema. Sulphate-free shower gel is increasingly widely available and is a strong choice for consumers seeking a gentler, more natural alternative. Many ethical shower gel brands in our comparison table are already sulphate-free — check for this alongside vegan and organic certifications.

Ethical soap and shower gel, palm oil deforestation

Ethical products we recommend: vegan soap, organic soap, and eco-friendly shower gel

Our Ethical Soap and Shower Gel comparison table gives you all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision on the most ethical brands to choose from. Just look for brands that appear in the green section of our table, especially those displaying our Ethical Accreditation logo. Find out more about the benefits of Ethical Accreditation. These companies offer eco-friendly shower gel, as well as vegan soap and organic soap.

Our top ethical picks include Green People, Greenscents, Living Naturally, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Odylique, The Dark Island Soap Co., Conscious Skincare, Green Bear, incognito, Love Ethical Beauty and Caurnie Soaperie — all of which appear in the green section of our comparison table.

Buying vegan soap and shower gel is a great way to ensure your hygiene does not come at the expense of animal welfare or the environment. Vegan soap and shower gel are free from animal products and animal testing, so you can feel confident in knowing you have not contributed to animal cruelty with your purchase. Additionally, the meat industry is extremely destructive to the environment, so by purchasing vegan soap and shower gel you are also reducing your carbon footprint.

Organic soap and shower gel is also a good option — just look for products with organic certification, such as from the Soil Association. Organic soap and shower gel are far more environmentally friendly, as the ingredients are usually sustainably sourced and biodegradable. Moreover, organic soap and shower gel typically contains fewer chemicals, which means it is less likely to pollute water and is much healthier for your skin.

If you cannot find organic or vegan products, there are other ways to find eco-friendly shower gel and soap. You can purchase eco-friendly shower gel that is palm oil free or uses sustainably sourced palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to help minimise your environmental impact.

Our research: Brands to avoid in your search for eco-friendly shower gel and soap

The GOOD Shopping Guide’s latest research into the soap and shower gel sector has revealed some of the ongoing issues occurring within many companies’ supply chains. As well as being environmentally harmful, palm oil found in health and beauty products has been linked to human rights abuses.

In 2020, Associated Press published a report revealing the labour abuses that occurred on Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil plantations. Former workers claimed to have been held against their will after having their passports seized, as well as being threatened to work whilst being paid as little as £7.50 a day.

Several palm oil plantations were named as suppliers of major cosmetics companies such as Unilever and Procter and Gamble. These two companies own several popular soap and shower gel brands, including Dove, Pears, Radox, and Old Spice, which have all been marked down in our research for human rights abuses in their supply chains.

Ethical alternatives to plastic packaging

Finally, have you considered buying a bar of soap instead of a bottle? Soap bars come with far less packaging waste, therefore reducing the amount of plastic you throw away. The UK Government’s extended producer responsibility regulations for packaging place greater accountability on brands for the waste their packaging generates — choosing plastic-free soap UK style options like soap bars, or brands with minimal and recyclable packaging, is one of the most effective steps a consumer can take.

It is also worth knowing that most conventional liquid shower gels are approximately 85% water — meaning you are largely paying to transport water in a plastic bottle. A solid soap bar, by contrast, is a concentrated product with no water content, generates zero plastic waste, requires far less energy to transport, and typically lasts two to three times longer per wash than its liquid equivalent. For consumers who prefer a liquid format, refillable shower gel UK options are increasingly widely available — several ethical brands now offer pouch refill systems or aluminium bottle refills that dramatically reduce single-use plastic without compromising on performance.

Another fast-growing option is refillable shower gel. Several ethical brands now offer refillable bottles or pouch refill systems that dramatically reduce single-use plastic. WRAP estimates that the health and beauty sector generates significant volumes of plastic packaging waste every year — switching to a refillable shower gel system is one of the most impactful changes an ethical consumer can make.

Your choice of soap and shower gel sits within a broader set of ethical personal care decisions. See our Ethical Skincare comparison table and our Ethical Shampoo and Conditioner comparison table for further guidance on sustainable personal care choices. For brands that have earned The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation across every personal care category, visit our Top 200 Ethical Businesses page.

See our Ethical Soap and Shower Gel comparison table to compare brands

The GOOD Shopping Guide has analysed and researched the biggest and most popular soap and shower gel brands. Click on any brand name to find out more information about individual companies and their ethics.

Why should I choose ethical soap and shower gel?

Does soap contain palm oil, and why does it matter?

What is vegan soap and shower gel?

What makes organic soap and shower gel a good choice?

Which major soap and shower gel brands have raised ethical concerns?

Are there eco-friendly alternatives to plastic soap packaging?

Is Green People an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Greenscents an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Living Naturally an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Neal’s Yard Remedies an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Odylique an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is The Dark Island Soap Co. an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Conscious Skincare an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Green Bear Aleppo Soap an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Incognito an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Love Ethical Beauty an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Lucy Bee an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is UpCircle an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Urtekram an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Weleda an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Caurnie an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Faith in Nature an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Little Soap Company an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Suma an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is The Body Shop an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Rituals an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Dr Bronner’s an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Lush an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Heyland & Whittle an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Baylis & Harding an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is neat. an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Carex an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Childs Farm an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Imperial Leather an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Original Source an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Bulldog an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Molton Brown an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is L’Occitane an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Ecover an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Nivea an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Yardley an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Ineos an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Dettol an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Aesop an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Old Spice an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Palmolive an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Sanex an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Soap & Glory an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Aveeno an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Dove an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?

Is Radox an ethical Soap & Shower Gel brand?