Circular Soap: Sustainable Care Without Waste
Circular soap: what it is and why it is the future of personal care
What is circular soap? Circular soap is soap made from by-product streams and upcycled ingredients that would otherwise end up as waste.
- Every Nature Bar soap contains circular ingredients such as orange peel or coffee grounds
- Made from local by-product streams that would otherwise be thrown away
- 100% natural, without synthetic additives
- Plastic-free and biodegradable
More and more people are looking for personal care products that are not only good for their skin but also give something back to the planet. Circular soap does both: it cleanses and cares, while making use of ingredients that would otherwise go to waste.
What is circular soap?
Circular soap is soap in which at least one ingredient is a by-product stream: a residue or surplus from another production process that would normally be considered waste. Think of orange peel from juice producers, coffee grounds from cafes or ginkgo leaves from Amsterdam's Hortus Botanicus.
Those by-product streams are cleaned, processed and added to artisan handmade soap. The result is a product with double value: good for your skin and a meaningful use of what already exists. At Nature Bar every wrapper states which circular ingredient is inside and where it comes from.
What does circular mean in personal care?
Circular means that raw materials stay in use as long as possible and as little as possible goes to waste. In cosmetics this translates to products that use by-product streams, residues or recycled materials instead of newly extracted raw materials.
Nature knows no waste. An orange peel left over after pressing juice is not a waste product, it is a raw material full of essential oils and vitamin C. Circular care starts with that idea: look first at what already exists before extracting something new.
It goes further than just ingredients. Plastic-free packaging, local production and a short supply chain are also part of a circular approach. All Nature Bar soap is handmade in our soap studio in De Hallen, Amsterdam, as close to the source as possible.
How is circular soap made?
The base is the same as any artisan soap: plant-based oils such as organic olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter are combined with lye. Through saponification, soap and glycerine are formed. The glycerine, a natural humectant, remains in the soap bar.
The circular ingredient is added in a subsequent step. Orange peel is dried and finely ground, coffee grounds are washed and dried, ginkgo leaves are processed into extract. Every ingredient goes through a careful process before it ends up in the soap.
The bars are then hand-poured, cut and cured for a minimum of four weeks before they are ready for use.
Why circular soap is better for skin and the environment
Every year in the Netherlands alone, 125 million citrus peels are thrown away. Those peels are rich in vitamins, essential oils and antioxidants. By processing them into soap you give them a second life and save on new raw materials at the same time.
For your skin that means extra nourishing and active ingredients. Orange peel contains vitamin C, coffee grounds act as a gentle exfoliant and stimulate circulation, ginkgo leaves are packed with antioxidants.
Is circular soap just as effective as regular soap?
Yes, and in many cases more so. Regular soap cleanses but also strips the skin's natural protective layer through the use of sulphates. Circular handmade soap cleanses more gently, retains the glycerine that is removed in industrial production, and adds active ingredients via the circular components.
Circular soap vs regular soap
| Circular soap | Factory soap / shower gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Plant-based oils and upcycled by-product streams | Sulphates, synthetic fragrances, preservatives |
| Origin | Local and transparent | Often unknown |
| Waste | Uses what would otherwise be thrown away | Generates plastic waste |
| Effect on skin | Cleanses, cares and nourishes | Cleanses, can dry out |
| Packaging | Plastic-free | Plastic bottle |
| Environmental impact | Low footprint, biodegradable | Often contains microplastics |
Examples of circular soap ingredients
Orange peel — by-product of the juice industry, rich in vitamin C and essential oils. Found in our Orange & Calendula Soap.
Coffee grounds — left over after brewing coffee in local cafes. Acts as a gentle exfoliant. Found in our Coffee Scrub Soap.
Ginkgo leaves — fallen leaves from the ginkgo trees at the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. Found in our Hortus Ginkgo Soap.
Christmas trees — collected after the holidays and processed into pine needle extract. Found in our Conifer Forest Soap.
Frequently asked questions about circular soap
What does circular soap mean exactly?
Circular soap contains ingredients that would otherwise be considered waste. At Nature Bar these are orange peel, coffee grounds and ginkgo leaves from the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. By giving these raw materials a second life we reduce waste without compromising on quality.
Is circular soap good for your skin?
Yes. The circular ingredients also add active skin benefits. Orange peel contains vitamin C, coffee grounds act as a gentle exfoliant and ginkgo is packed with antioxidants.
Is circular soap different from natural soap?
Circular soap is always also natural soap, but not all natural soap is circular. All Nature Bar soap is both natural and circular.
How long does circular soap last?
A 100g soap bar lasts 4 to 6 weeks with daily use. Store it dry on a bamboo soap dish so it lasts longer.
All Nature Bar soap is handmade in our soap studio in De Hallen, Amsterdam. 100% natural, vegan, palm oil-free and every bar contains a circular ingredient.
