Looking for an eco-friendly soap while camping? Check out our guide to biodegradable soap for camping, covering everything from its benefits to where you can buy it.
Introduction – Biodegradable soap for camping
If you love camping, you know that one of the most important things to pack is camp soap. But what kind of soap should you pack? Obviously, you don’t want to harm the environment, but you also don’t want to be covered in dirt and grime. The answer is biodegradable soap! Keep reading!
What does biodegradable mean?
Biodegradable simply means that a product can be broken down by natural processes into its component parts. This process is usually facilitated by bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Once the degradation is complete, the material is no longer recognizable as the original product and should not cause any environmental harm.
There are many everyday items that are biodegradable, such as paper towels, cotton swabs, and food scraps. The rate of biodegradation varies depending on the material properties and the environmental conditions. For example, the paper will biodegrade much faster in warm, humid conditions than in cold, dry conditions.
The bottom line is that biodegradable products are a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Every little bit helps! So next time you’re at the store, be sure to look for products that are labeled as biodegradable. You’ll be doing your part to help make the world a little bit greener.
Is all soap biodegradable?
No, every soap is not biodegradable. To be considered biodegradable, the ingredients used in the soap must be able to decompose naturally. This process is usually achieved by bacteria and takes around six months. For a soap to earn the biodegradable label, at least 90% of it must break down and turn into natural by-products like water and carbon dioxide.
Many non-biodegradable soaps such as some liquid soap, body wash, shaving cream and dish soap contain harsh chemicals such as triclosan, triclocarban, and phosphates. These chemicals are practically impossible to break down through natural means. As a result, they pollute water bodies and threaten marine life.
Why is it important to use biodegradable Soap for Camping?
When you go camping, you are enjoying the great outdoors and should do everything you can to protect the environment and that includes using biodegradable soap. Biodegradable soap is made with natural ingredients that break down quickly and don’t pollute the water or damage the ecosystem like traditional soaps.
The following are the benefits of biodegradable soap for camping:
● Follow Leave No Trace (LNT) Principle.
● Help protect the environment.
● Reduce your impact on wildlife.
● Adheres to the Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out philosophy.
● Less damage to water bodies.
● Produce less plastic waste.
“Only we humans make trash the oceans can’t digest.”
Charles Moore
Follow Leave No Trace (LNT) Principle
The Leave No Trace (LNT) principle states that we should leave our campsites as clean, or cleaner than we found them. It includes seven guidelines that help campers enjoy the outdoors without harming the environment which are as follows:
● Plan Ahead and Prepare.
● Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces.
● Dispose of Waste Properly.
● Leave What You Find.
● Minimize Campfire Impacts.
● Respect Wildlife.
● Be Considerate of Other Visitors.
As one of these guidelines is to properly dispose of your waste, it is important to use biodegradable soap when camping. This will help reduce your impact on the environment as biodegradable soaps are less harmful than regular all purpose soap.
Help Protect The Environment
One of the most important reasons to use biodegradable soap while camping is that it helps protect the environment. Soaps that are biodegradable are able to be broken down by bacteria into water, CO₂, and other organic materials. This is important because it means that you are not adding any harmful chemicals to the environment while enjoying it. So, always choose a soap that is free of harmful chemicals and phosphates and is biodegradable to help protect the environment.
Reduce Your Impact On Wildlife
When you use regular soap, even if you wash it off, the chemicals like Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) can remain in the ground and eventually make their way into waterways, where they can harm fish and other aquatic creatures. On the other hand, biodegradable soap is made with natural ingredients that quickly break down and pose very little threat to the environment. So, not only will you feel good about using a product that’s better for the planet, but you’ll also be doing your part to protect the wildlife you love to see on your camping trips.
Never Forget the 200-Foot Rule!
One of the most important things to remember when camping is to adhere to the pack-it-in, pack-it-out philosophy. This means that everything you bring with you into the wilderness, you must also bring back out with you. That includes your biodegradable soap! Although it is impossible to take the wastewater with you, there are ways to reduce your impact, such as the 200-foot rule.
By washing or showering at least 200 feet away from a water source, you are giving the soap time to decompose properly. The decomposition process is started by bacteria and microbes in the soil which takes time. On the other hand, if you wash directly into a body of water, the camping soap will not have time to decompose and will pollute the water.
Less Damage To Water Bodies
Regular soaps contain harmful chemicals, such as triclosan and triclocarban that can pollute water and harm marine life. Phosphates are another type of chemical that are commonly found in regular soaps, which can’t be decomposed and are harmful to the environment. When phosphates are washed down the drain, it encourages the growth of algae blooms, which can eventually lead to the depletion of oxygen in water bodies, killing fish and other aquatic creatures.
Biodegradable soap, on the other hand, is made of natural ingredients that are gentle on the environment and will cause much less damage to water bodies.
Produce Less Plastic Waste
Every year, tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans, harming marine life and polluting the water. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by the year 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish and other aquatic life.
One way to help reduce plastic waste is to use biodegradable soaps when camping. Biodegradable soap doesn’t come in a plastic bottle, so there’s one less container to throw away. Plus, it’s just as effective as regular bar soap or liquid soap, so you can clean yourself and your dishes in an environmentally friendly way.
“Once shoppers become empowered, we will facilitate industries thinking in completely new terms; for example, making products that are totally biodegradable.”
Daniel goleman
What happens if you don’t use biodegradable soap for camping?
If you don’t use biodegradable soap while camping, you’re not doing your part to keep the wilderness clean. Every year, millions of pounds of trash are left behind in our nation’s parks and forests, and much of it is due to people not disposing of their waste properly. When camping or caravanning, be sure to use biodegradable soap and other products to help keep our natural areas clean and pristine.
The following are the disadvantages of using regular soap while camping:
● Regular camp soap pollutes the environment.
● It takes longer to biodegrade, which means it will impact the quality of the campsite for future campers.
● It can harm wildlife if they come into contact with it.
● It is a big threat for aquatic life as it pollutes the water bodies.
● It also produces more plastic waste, as most regular soaps come in plastic packaging.
So, it is advisable to use biodegradable soap while camping as it is easy on the environment and won’t leave behind any harmful residue.
How long does biodegradable soap last?
Biodegradable soap is a natural alternative to conventional soap that is made from plant-based oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, peppermint oil and other essential oils, as well as other eco-friendly ingredients. Most biodegradable soaps will degrade up to 90% within six months. In order to help the soap degrade more quickly, you can try dumping the wastewater into a hole a few inches deep and covering it when you are finished. This will allow nature to break the soap down before it washes into a stream or other body of water.
Where can I buy biodegradable Soap for Camping?
There are a few places you can easily buy biodegradable soaps for camping, such as your local grocery store, drugs store, or online. Amazon, for example, offers a wide variety of choices, such as the Coleman camp soap sheets which are compact and biodegradable. You can also find these soaps at many outdoor stores, such as REI or Walmart. Be sure to read the reviews before making your purchase, to ensure you’re getting the best quality product.
Conclusion – Biodegradable soap for camping
As we can see, biodegradable soap has many advantages over regular soap, especially when it comes to camping. It is important to use biodegradable soap while camping so that we can help protect our environment and preserve our natural water bodies. Be sure to buy biodegradable soap from a trusted source, and follow the directions on how to properly dispose of the wastewater. With a little effort, we can all do our part to keep the wilderness clean and pristine.
Have you ever used biodegradable soap while camping? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
