Dr. Bronner’s unveils eco-friendly liquid soap refill cartons

Dr. Bronner’s, a leading natural soap brand in North America, is proud to unveil its new 32 oz. liquid soap refill carton nationwide.

Available at various retailers across the U.S., this refill option allows customers to replenish their existing bottles or containers for personal and home use. By opting for the Pure-Castile Liquid Soap Refill Carton, customers can slash their plastic consumption by a remarkable 82% compared to the brand’s 32 oz. post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The versatility of this refill solution extends to refilling foaming hand soap bottles, all-purpose spray bottles, and more, further reducing packaging waste.

The development of the refill carton involved a thorough life cycle analysis by Dr. Bronner’s in collaboration with EcoImpact-COMPASS, revealing it to be the most ecologically sound option among popular refill alternatives like aluminium and glass, even in the scenario of landfill disposal.

Crafted from 69% Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, 5% aluminium, and 26% polyethylene with a polypropylene cap, the Pure-Castile Liquid Soap Refill Carton represents a significant reduction in plastic usage. Its innovative design includes a thin interior plastic lining to preserve the soap, addressing the issue of deterioration found in typical carton packages for liquids. Dr. Bronner’s is actively striving to achieve over 90% plastic reduction for the refill cartons within the next year.

David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner’s, said: We created our Pure-Castile Liquid Soap Refill Carton to reduce the number of plastic bottles we put into the world. Ideally, the recycling rate for plastic bottles in this country would be close to 100%. Unfortunately, the rate is closer to 30%, and disposal of plastic packaging in landfills is not sustainable. We commissioned a life cycle analysis looking at what packaging material was most ecological to package our refill offering in: paper carton vs. aluminium vs. glass vs. plastic. The paper carton performed the best on every relevant ecological impact measure even when accounting for the recycling rates of each material, nationally.

While the new soap refill carton marks a major milestone in Dr. Bronner’s commitment to sustainability, the brand continues to offer its Pure-Castile Liquid Soaps in PCR plastic bottles, a packaging innovation it pioneered over fifteen years ago. Customers are also encouraged to explore bulk purchasing options such as one-gallon and five-gallon containers, with in-store refilling opportunities where available.