Packaging
The brand uses no plastic packaging at all. Every bar is packaged in a compostable pouch or paper-based wrap with paper box secondary packaging. Inks and labels appear to be minimal; the focus is on simple, home-compostable packaging (likely plant-based cellophane or paper) with little excess.
Ingredient Sustainability
On the positive side, the formulas are rich in renewable botanical ingredients: coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, mango butter, jojoba oil, and essential oils are all naturally derived and biodegradable. Such ingredients can be farmed sustainably. For example, shea butter often involves community harvesting in West Africa, and coconut oil comes from abundant tropical crops. Shower Candy also avoids environmentally notorious inputs like non-RSPO palm oil. Notably, none of the products assessed contain palm oil or petrochemical-based oils. This spares the brand from the deforestation and high ecological footprint associated with palm plantations.
Despite these positive elements, there are significant sustainability gaps in Shower Candy’s sourcing. Many of the plant oils used (e.g. soybean oil, canola oil, olive oil) are commodity crops often grown in large-scale monocultures. Unless sourced from certified organic or regenerative farms (which the brand does not claim), these ingredients may be associated with intensive pesticide use, soil degradation, or habitat loss. Soy and canola in particular raise red flags: conventional soybean farming in the U.S. is typically pesticide- and fertilizer-heavy and dominated by GMO varieties, and canola (rapeseed) cultivation often relies on chemical inputs and monocropping as well.
Another concern is the sourcing origin of ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, and essential oils. These can be sustainable if wild-harvested or community-traded responsibly, but without disclosure, it’s unclear if Shower Candy ensures ethical supply chains.
Energy & Footprint
Shower Candy has no public commitments or data on carbon footprint, renewable energy use, or emissions reductions. Notably, selling solid bars instead of liquids likely shrinks the overall carbon footprint per unit of product: the bars are lighter and more compact to ship (no water weight), and they eliminate the need for energy-intensive plastic bottle production.
Waste Management
Product design itself is the key: all products are solid and concentrated, meaning there is no need for disposable bottles, pumps, or excess packaging that would typically become waste. Every shampoo bar or soap bar directly eliminates a plastic bottle that might otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
One aspect to note is manufacturing waste and end-of-life disposal beyond consumer hands. On these fronts, Shower Candy has not provided details. For instance, it’s unclear if they implement waste reduction in production (such as reusing soap trimmings or recycling water).
Business Model
Shower Candy’s business model reflects a balance between slow, sustainable growth and typical retail practices. Shower Candy isn’t flooding the market with constantly changing collections or limited-edition fads. Many of its formulations (e.g. goat milk soaps, argan oil shampoo bars) are timeless in nature, and the brand highlights quality and efficacy.
