Households across the UK that buy hand soap are being urged to make a change to help reduce the amount of plastic waste in our oceans.
It is estimated that 35.8 million plastic bottles on average are used every single day in the UK, yet only 19.8 million are recycled – meaning around 16 million bottles aren’t making their way into the recycling bin.
Hand soap is typically sold in a plastic bottle and is a common item bought by millions of households, making it a big contributor to plastic waste.
Hand soap bottles can be recycled if you remove the pump, and any leftover liquid should be rinsed out as it can contaminate other recyclables.
However, according to the Zero Waste Delivery Company, only 45% of our recycling actually gets recycled into new products, with most still ending up in the oceans, landfill overseas or it is incinerated – all of which cause damage to the environment.
The company warns: “Single-use plastic is used for packaging in many everyday products, including shampoo, soap, washing up liquids, makeup and food. Now more than ever we need to support and help the environment and one way to do that is shop more sustainably and create zero waste.
“Despite efforts to recycle, a staggering amount of single-use plastic ends up in the oceans and as a result, poisons our planet as well as emitting carbon when manufactured. The world is facing a climate emergency and a plastic pollution disaster. We need to take steps to become more eco-friendly in the way that we live and shop.”
The firm says that while plastic should be recycled rather than being thrown away, recycling simply isn’t enough to reduce damage on the environment so it is encouraging households to instead buy refills as this is a most sustainable option.
It adds: “Only a fraction of recycled plastics end up in new products (that are again single use) and compostable single use plastics are also not a solution as they use as much carbon in their manufacture as normal plastics and still have to be disposed of.
“All in all, plastic is poisoning our planet and we need to find sustainable ways away from it. Refuse, reduce, reuse.”
The firm offers a hand soap refill service so that when you’re nearing the end of your supply, you can book a delivery and it will come and refill it for you so you don’t have to throw out single-use plastic packaging.
Alternatively, Ecover also offers hand soap refills and has more than 700 refill stations you can visit to top up. They’re based at some local health food stores, zero waste shops or some supermarkets, but if you can’t find one near you you can also top up at home by ordering refills online at Ecoverdirect, Amazon and Ocado, among others.
Ecover says: “Why melt a bottle to make a bottle, when you’ve already got a bottle? Does seem kinda crazy when you say it out loud. But where to start with that reusable plastic bottle? Be it washing-up liquid, laundry detergent or loo cleaner, you can refill it at one of over 700 Ecover refill stations.”