Last Updated on March 22, 2024

Did you know each year over 1 billion plastic bottles of body wash enter the garbage and recycling stream? Only 5-6% of plastic gets recycled, and it’s typically downcycled into something of lower quality.  

Downcycling is when a product can only be made into a different type of product than the original. An example is a plastic body wash bottle being turned into fleece or carpet fiber.  

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Recycled plastics are often mixed with virgin material to make them usable, but even then, they can only usually be recycled two or three times before their quality becomes too poor for use.  

One solution is to reduce our plastic consumption overall by opting for body wash that’s packaged mindfully with easy to recycle materials (glass, aluminum, etc.) and/or refillable components. 

Of course, packaging isn’t the only thing to take into consideration. Analyzing the ingredients used in our products is equally important. 

Conventional body washes tend to not only come in single-use plastic, but also contain dyes, artificial fragrances, and parabens. Many of these ingredients are linked to health problems, like allergic reactions.

If you’re able to, switching to an organic body wash with mindful packaging is a better alternative. Personally, I love a good body soap bar, or Plaine Products refillable body wash (more on them later)! Here are my favorite organic body washes that are both low waste and natural. 

what is a natural body wash? 

A natural body wash is a body wash formulated using nature-based ingredients, opposed to synthetic ingredients.  

A body wash is considered natural when it includes organic and plant-based ingredients. Instead of synthetic ingredients, natural body washes commonly contain essential oils, fruit extracts, botanicals, and certified-organic ingredients. 

However, be aware that there are no industry-wide requirements for what constitutes a “natural” beauty product. Anyone can technically label something as “natural” – what’s important is reading and understanding the ingredients. 

There aren’t many body washes that are organic certified. So, to create this list, I specifically chose brands that contain natural and organic ingredients. Out of all the brands listed, Organic Bath Co comes the closest to being fully organic.

However, not all the ingredients in a body wash need to be organic to make this list. In fact, many do not use certified organic ingredients, but rather, natural ingredients you can trust, like aloe vera, coconut oil, and essential oils.   

what are some healthy body washes? 

Some healthy body washes to consider are the ones on this list: They contain no harsh chemicals or questionable ingredients, like parabens, synthetic dyes, or artificial fragrance. 

If you have time, you can also make your own: I made my own shampoo bar that also doubles as a body wash bar!

Here are some ingredients you should generally avoid in your body wash.

• Synthetic fragrances: Often associated with allergies and dermatitis. Look for brands that are fragrance-free or use natural essential oils. 
• Parabens: May be connected to increased growth of breast cancer cells.  Look for paraben-free labels. 
• Synthetic dyes: Often derived from non-renewable coal tar or petrochemicals, which contain carcinogens. Look for brands that use natural pigments or none at all.  

do natural body washes work? 

Yes, natural body washes work just as well as conventional body wash because there are no harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin.

Natural body washes lather just the same way conventional ones do, and some even have nice scents (minus the synthetic fragrances). Try using a natural loofah or a sea sponge to lather up (they’re compostable at the end of their life too). 

You’ll want to look for body washes that contain natural ingredients in their products, like the ones listed below.

If you don’t know what an ingredient is, I recommend looking it up in EWG’s Skin Deep database to better understand it.  You can also look up your favorite product to see what score EWG gives it (1 being the best, 10 being the worst). 

However, it is important to note that everyone’s skin is unique and even natural body washes can contain allergens unique to you. For example, coconut oil is a popular natural ingredient, but you can still be allergic to it. 

Be sure to read the ingredients label to make an informed decision before purchase.  

gzw approved organic body wash 

All the options listed below are the best organic body wash or soap brands on the market. These brands use natural, plant derived ingredients. Many even utilize certified organic ingredients.

I’ve rounded up a list of organic body washes that get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. All these brands wash your body thoroughly without harsh chemicals. Many of these brands are also plastic-free and low waste.  

I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information. 

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So, what do you think of these organic body wash brands? Would you give them a try? Let me know in the comments!