Marcel's Green Soap products are not 100% natural. Huh, but aren't you a sustainable soap brand?! True! Natural and sustainable are often mentioned together. However, natural is not always sustainable and vice versa. Let us explain.
What do 'natural' and 'sustainable' actually mean?
Starting with the good news: the supermarket shelves are getting greener. As a consumer, you have more and more choices when it comes to environmentally friendly products. But at the same time, it can be confusing because green terms are everywhere: natural, sustainable, organic, eco-friendly, pure… We understand that sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees. What is the best choice if you care about the planet?
Because there are no strict rules yet for when something can be called 'natural' or 'sustainable', these terms don't actually mean much. However, generally speaking, natural products are (largely) made from natural ingredients directly sourced from nature and are minimally processed or not processed at all. A sustainable product is produced and used in a way that minimizes harm to humans, the environment, and society. The ingredients of a sustainable product can be both natural and synthetic.
"A sustainable product is produced and used in a way that minimizes harm to humans, the environment, and society."
Natural vs. Synthetic Substances
The planet is a wilderness of natural ingredients from which various products can be made, such as tea, food, clothing, health products, cosmetics, cleaning products, and personal care products. Natural ingredients have inherent properties that can be beneficial for a product, such as serving as colorants or fragrances or, in the case of soap, having a soothing effect on the skin. One might think: fill all products with natural ingredients! But as always, 'every advantage has its disadvantage,' and that applies to natural ingredients too. Not everything Mother Nature offers is good for humans and/or the environment. In such cases, synthetic substances offer a good alternative.
"Not everything Mother Nature offers is good for humans and/or the environment."
Synthetic substances are human-made substances created through a chemical process that combines various raw materials. Some of these raw materials may have a natural origin, but they cannot be traced back to their original state in the final product, making it no longer a natural ingredient. The major advantage of a synthetic substance is that it can be tailored to specific needs, such as considering allergens and biodegradability.
"You might think that natural products are inherently sustainable. Unfortunately, that's not always the case."
Why isn't natural always sustainable?
You might think that natural products are inherently sustainable. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. As mentioned earlier, natural ingredients are sourced from nature. And what you take away doesn't just grow back on its own. Nature is not an infinite source from which you can extract resources endlessly. To meet the growing demand for natural ingredients, large swathes of forests and rainforests are being cleared to make way for plantations and agriculture. This comes at the expense of biodiversity and the habitat of indigenous species. Additionally, most natural ingredients require large quantities to achieve the same effect as a synthetic substance.
"Nature is not an infinite source from which you can extract resources endlessly."
Why isn't Marcel's Green Soap 100% natural?
Every soap from Marcel's Green Soap is made from renewable ingredients. This means that the ingredients come from sustainable sources that do not deplete and minimize environmental impact. We consciously choose to replace natural ingredients with synthetic alternatives when they are less environmentally harmful. For example, our perfumes are synthetic rather than natural because it allows us more control over quality, allergens, and biodegradability. Moreover, natural fragrances require much more quantity to achieve the same intensity as a small amount of synthetic perfume. Isn't that a waste? However, we still draw inspiration from nature for our scent combinations!
"Every soap from Marcel's Green Soap is made from renewable ingredients. This means that the ingredients come from sustainable sources that do not deplete and minimize environmental impact."
What makes our products sustainable?
Despite - or perhaps because of - our products not consisting of 100% natural ingredients, we proudly say that Marcel's Green Soap products are sustainable:
At least 97% biodegradable
By formulating the synthetic substances ourselves, we can influence the biodegradability of our soaps. We want to prevent harmful substances from leaving your home through the drain, which is why all our products are at least 97% biodegradable. This means they dissolve (almost) completely in wastewater without harming the environment. Natural ingredients are not always biodegradable (such as essential oils), which means they can wash into the environment as harmful substances after a shower.
"We want to prevent harmful substances from leaving your home through the drain, which is why all our products are at least 97% biodegradable."
Microplastic-free
Microplastics are a relatively new environmental problem. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that result from the breakdown of littered plastic and the wearing down of tires and clothing. Sometimes, microplastics are deliberately added to a product to enhance its appearance, structure, or function. These plastic particles ultimately end up in our ecosystem. The increasing problem is scientifically proven, as shown here. It's becoming a bigger problem, and that's why all Marcel's Green Soap products are microplastic-free.
Recycled and recyclable plastic
Our products are packaged in recycled and recyclable plastic. The bottles are made from recycled plastic. Moreover, this plastic is recyclable because the labels are easy to remove. This means the recycled plastic can be reused repeatedly. It's important to dispose of Marcel's Green Soap bottles in the plastic recycling!
Refillable
Marcel's Green Soap is a pioneer in refilling. More and more of our products are refillable. Why is this sustainable? A refill pack has a large capacity packed in a compact size, requiring less transportation and packaging. Additionally, it contributes to reducing waste because you don't have to throw away that beautiful Marcel's Green Soap bottle when it's empty. By the way, a refill is also relatively cheaper than a new bottle. Win-win!
"We're always looking for ways to make our products even better, for you and the planet."
Take it or leave it
In conclusion: a 100% natural and sustainable product does not exist. Choices must be made. The road to a sustainable world is long, but every step counts. We're always looking for ways to make our products even better, for you and the planet. In recent years, we've taken many steps, such as developing our refills and the Netherlands' first palm oil-free laundry detergent.Hot off the press: our deodorant rollers without aluminum salts, made from recycled plastic (the ball is made from bio-based plastic), available in three delightful scent combinations.
