5 Best Eco-Friendly Hand Sanitizers for Zero Waste Germ Killing
The meticulous effort to stay germ-free through proper hand hygiene is now a significant part of our lives, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hand sanitizers are now the in-thing. Unfortunately, many brands create these sanitizers in plastic bottles with little care for our planet.
Going for an eco-friendly option protects the environment and ensures the health of your skin. Sustainable companies pay attention to details such as safe ingredients, zero-waste packaging, and refill options. In this article, we’ve highlighted five eco-friendly hand sanitizer product picks.
What Makes The Cut: A 3-Point Checklist
Before diving into the list of hand sanitizers, we’ve created a checklist for you to serve as a guide whenever you go shopping. It highlights what to look out for to determine if a brand or item passes the environmentally friendly test.
Recyclable bottles
Containers are one of the leading causes of environmental pollution. Single-use plastic, for instance, is a popular material for containers. Studies show that between 1950 and 2018, there were 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic produced worldwide. Only 9% of this figure was recycled2. Consequently, plastic waste continues to pose a significant environmental problem.
Brands that use materials like aluminum bottles and glass for their containers prove that intentional packaging is undoubtedly possible. Unlike the ubiquitous plastic bottles, we can recycle these materials, reducing landfill waste. So, when you next pick out a bottle of sanitizer, pay attention to the container.
Refill options
Offering refills is becoming increasingly popular among skin brands. You can see this even within the eco-conscious makeup industry. Refilling presents a creative and sustainable way to prevent container waste while keeping loyal customers. The refill option allows you to either send your sanitizer back for a refill or request refill pouches. This way, you’re sanitizing sustainably. Should you find yourself unsure about refill services, you can reach out to the brand’s customer service in question.
Ingredients list
Choosing a natural hand sanitizer does not mean compromising the effectiveness of killing germs and viruses. You want to ensure that what you’re buying contains at least 60% alcohol. This is the recommendation given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mass-produced sanitizers can contain carbomer, synthetic fragrances, and synthetic preservatives. Carbomer is a thickening agent; however, it contains liquid plastic. The FDA released a rule to curb toxic chemical use1 in over-the-counter items to prevent substandard and harmful components. Concerning fragrance and moisturization, natural hand solutions will contain ingredients like essential oils, aloe vera, and vitamin E.
Eco-Friendly Hand Sanitizer Product Picks
Below are some of our picks. These are friendly on the skin, tough on germs, and kind to the environment.
Quick links:
1. Paume Hand Sanitizer
The origin of Paume is tied to the founder’s personal story. Amy Welsman’s entry into motherhood heightened her awareness of germs. As a result, she and her husband began to purchase sanitizer products in bulk for their home. Due to the unappealing scents, disposable plastics, and harsh components of many of these products, she became inspired. Today, people recognize Paume as a staple name amongst skin-friendly, luxurious sanitizer products.
This brand stands out because it offers product variations based on need. For instance, Paume has hand sanitizer sets for travelers, in-home use, and personal essentials kits. The essentials kit is an excellent addition to your home. It includes a pump, refill bag, and travel bottle.
Paume uses materials that are recyclable, biodegradable, multiuse, or refillable. This promotes sustainability and reduces disposable plastics. Paume recycles and repurposes one plastic unit from the environment for every unit it sells. So, purchasing from this brand also means indirectly removing plastics from the waterways and landfills.
2. Taylor’s Natural BALM! Baby Sanitizer
Another way to maintain germ-free hands is to use this sanitizer formula. The brand dedicated its collection to supporting holistic self-care. Taylor's Natural does just that if you’re looking for an affordable, all-natural self-care brand. The brand offers zero-waste, sustainable, and animal-friendly goods.
The BALM! Baby sanitizer contains 72% ethanol. It comes in either an aluminum or a glass bottle. Also, it moisturizes your skin with the help of macadamia nut oil. Wherever you’re going, this travel-size bottle fits easily in your purse or bag. As part of its sustainable practices, the brand also offers refill options.
3. By Humankind Moisturising Hand Sanitizer
Formulated with 65% ethyl alcohol and a moisturizing formula, this sanitizer is another top pick. The brand behind it, By Humankind, is dedicated to curbing single-use plastic in everyday personal care items. The brand avoids formulas that have toxic effects on human health.
The By Humankind sanitizer comes in a pocket-sized recyclable aluminum bottle, a planet-friendly alternative to plastic bottles. It targets germs and has a moisturizing formula. It also contains hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and water.
4. Flawless Non-Rinse Cleansing Hand Gel
No water nearby for handwashing? This formula targets bacteria, fungi, and viruses for clean hands. Unlike many other sanitizer bottles, this one comes in a jar. As part of its unique features, each jar you order comes with a wooden spatula to scoop the gel contents. Also, you have the option to choose from 30ml or 60ml options. Each jar is made from aluminum and recycled glass. The gel formula contains high alcohol content and 75% concentration.
Each bottle of their eco-friendly hand sanitizer contains aloe vera to provide moisturizing properties to prevent your skin from getting dry. It also contains essential oil components such as rosemary, tea tree, and lavender. Its germ-fighting features, aloe, and oils leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and fresh.
5. EO Organic Hand Sanitizer Spray
EO prides itself on making products that are gluten-free, cruelty-free, and free of harmful chemicals. It is a certified B Corp and a leading organic bath and body care solutions producer, which means that the company meets high social and environmental performance standards. Sarah Griffin-Black and Brad Black founded EO. This leading company started with the co-founders hand-pouring and blending oils in their garage.
They make every sanitizer with alcohol derived from non-genetically modified sugarcane. Not to worry; it meets the CDC standard for fighting germs. This particular organic French lavender sanitizer comes in a pack of 6. It contains vegetable glycerin and aloe vera for their moisturizing properties.
Shop EO Organic Hand Sanitizer on Amazon.
Conclusion
Eco-friendly and zero-waste brands let us know we can make sustainable choices even for the smallest purchases. The list of eco-friendly hand sanitizers above provides many options. From handwashing to sanitizing, you can have clean and germ-free hands while protecting the environment.
Glossary Terms:
| 1 | Food and Drug Administration. (2019). Safety and Effectiveness of Consumer Antiseptic Rubs; Topical Antimicrobial Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use [PDF]. |
| 2 | Alabi OA., Ologbonjaye KI., Awosolu O., & Alalade OE. (2019). Public and Environmental Health Effects of Plastic Wastes Disposal: A Review. doi.org/10.23937/2572-4061.1510021 |
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
