Best UK Refillable Hand Wash & Soap Dispensers

We've rounded up the best refillable hand washes you can buy in the UK including bulk buy waterless and foaming options - we've got something for every budget.

In a world awakening to the urgency of sustainability, every drop counts. Even in the seemingly mundane chore of washing our hands, our choices can send ripples of change through our environment. Welcome to a journey where hygiene meets eco-consciousness – the realm of refillable hand wash.

A Sobering Reality: Single-Use Plastic Bottles and Their Tale of Waste

Let's talk plastic. Those convenient, single-use bottles that once offered us clean hands are now haunting our oceans and landfills. A staggering 120 billion plastic bottles were used globally for packaging hand wash products in a single year, a substantial contributor to the plastic pollution crisis.

These bottles often become a one-time affair – a brief rendezvous with our sinks before being discarded. But what if we could change this act into a sustainable choice that helps curtail the plastic flood?

The Refillable Hand Wash Revolution

Let's talk about the plastic you can save by making the switch to refillable hand wash. A typical 500ml liquid hand wash bottle lasts for about 330 washes, as each use requires 1-2ml. Considering that you should wash your hands at least 6 times a day, a 500ml bottle would last one person almost 2 months (that's 6 bottles a year), a 2-person household for a month (12 bottles), and a 4-person household for 2 weeks (which adds up to 24 bottles yearly). When you expand these numbers globally, it becomes evident that embracing the refill revolution means:

1. Less Plastic, More Impact: Every refill signifies one less single-use plastic bottle polluting our planet.
2. Save Carbon, Save Money: Refilling lowers your carbon footprint and your expenses.
3. Support Small Business: The brands we feature prioritise ethics and sustainability.
4. Stylish Sustainability: Elevate your home with stylish reusable bottles that make a statement.
   

The Great Debate: Bar Soap vs. Liquid Soap

Ah, the humble bar of soap - eco-friendly, travel-friendly and long lasting. What's not to love? Sadly, there is a bit of a stigma around bars, particularly in public spaces and workplaces, which often leads people to choose liquid soap instead. But let's look at some other considerations:

• Water Transportation: Bars of soap, being waterless, require less carbon for transportation. But you can now get the best of both worlds, by opting for one of our waterless or concentrated hand wash options listed below, it's a win-win!
• Product Usage: On average, individuals use about 2.3 grams of liquid soap for handwashing, whereas just 0.35 grams of bar soap suffices. This results in higher raw material consumption, more processing, and increased carbon dioxide emissions. On the flip side, bar soap tends to consume more hot water.
• Raw Materials:  Bar soap's primary raw materials are typically vegetable fats like palm or olive oil (yes, that's where "Palmolive" gets its name). This entails considering agricultural chemicals and land use.
• Cost: When it comes to price, bars of soap usually have the upper hand. They tend to be more cost-effective than their liquid counterparts, primarily because they last longer, with a single bar outliving multiple bottles of liquid soap.

Ultimately, there are good arguments on both sides of the bar soap versus liquid soap debate - while bars tend to have a smaller environmental footprint, liquids offer convenience and hygiene perceptions, so the choice comes down to personal preference and finding the right balance for your needs.

The Path Ahead: Exploring Refillable Hand Wash

Discover the top refillable hand wash brands with a curated list of the finest refillable hand washes available in the UK. From natural scents to plant-based formulations, get ready to discover the champions of sustainable cleansing. As we dive into the world of refillable hand washes, remember that each pump of sustainable suds carries more significance than we might think.