We found a real gem in the FlatPak Soap Bar Case from our friends at Matador and this article they wrote, which perfectly summarizes why savvy travelers are making the switch to solid products.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: bar soap is the unsung hero of the shower. Not only is it the most eco-friendly choice when it comes to hygiene, it’s also a savior when it comes to travel. Not yet sold on solid suds? Give us 5 minutes on our soap box as we go through the top 7 reasons why we’re praising the bar.
1. First things first, mama nature. Bar soap is better for the environment for two main reasons: it creates less plastic waste and has a smaller carbon footprint than the liquid alternative. Let’s put it this way: if every bodywash user in the U.S. were to switch to bar soap, we could take those bottles and wrap them around the entire Earth every 1 year and 3 months. And when it comes to the carbon footprint, a bar of soap weighs far less than a bottle, meaning transportation emissions per unit are way lower.
2. Save your money for more exciting things. On average, bar soap costs about 1 cent per wash, while liquid soap costs 3. That means you’ll save $7 per year as a bar soap user. Ok, it’s not much, but it’s at least 3 avocados, and with the avocado prices skyrocketing, we need to cut back somewhere, right?
3. Now why is bar soap such a game changer when it comes to travel? For one, there are no TSA limits on solid hygiene products. Want to travel the world for two months with nothing but a carry-on? No problem, pack a bar of soap and you’re good to go. Your bodywash-using compadre will only be able to bring 10 days’ worth.
4. If it’s happened to you, you know the massive inconvenience of opening your bag after a flight to find all of your belongings covered in shampoo or liquid soap. Suddenly your post-touch down plans have changed from grabbing a beer on the beach, to running around the city trying to find a laundromat. Bar soap doesn’t leak, simple as that.
5. Bar soap lasts longer. The number one ingredient in bar soap is sodium lauryl sulfate AKA soap, while the number one ingredient in bodywash is water. Speaking from personal experience only, there’s usually already water in the shower and you don’t need to bring your own. Comparing by volume, bar soap lasts 3-5x as long as the same amount of liquid soap. Now, bodywash bottles are usually much larger than a bar of soap, so on a unit-to-unit comparison, often a bottle of bodywash will last longer than a bar of soap. We’ll give them that.
6. Solid hygiene products are becoming increasingly more available. Companies are starting to pay attention to the impact of their plastic production. [note from us: That’s why at Sustainable Travel & Living you’ll also find bar shampoo and conditioner, lotion, toothpaste and more!]
7. There’s a really easy way to carry it. You didn’t think we were going to do a blog post on bar soap without at least mentioning the Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case, did you? It’s quickly becoming one of our most popular products, thanks to the rise in soap bar popularity and the practical nature of the product. Put a wet bar of soap into the ultralight FlatPak Soap Bar Case, and you’ll be pulling a dry bar out the next day thanks to Dry-Through Technology. Your bar of soap won’t turn into a mushy mess, which used to be the hang up to traveling with bar soap. Check it out.
