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Ingredients to Avoid
When choosing a bar soap that is biodegradable, you have a lot of options, since most soaps are basically biodegradable. There are a few ingredients that you will want to avoid, though. Phosphates are one of the most common soap ingredients that cannot be broken down in the environment. Another class of ingredients to steer clear of is antibacterial agents such as triclosan. Finally, keep an eye out for artificial detergents using the prefix benzo- or the word benzene.
Why Avoid Them?
These ingredients each prevent biodegradability in a different way. Phosphates persist indefinitely and can contribute to algae blooms that cause disruptions all the way up the food chain in water systems. Antibacterial agents are pollutants and kill the bacteria that are needed to break down biodegradable soaps. Finally benzene-containing ingredients, especially detergents, are bad actors because they are difficult for bacteria to break apart.
The Good Stuff
Now that we know what to look out for, what kinds of soaps are biodegradable? Soaps with all-natural ingredient lists, especially those without fragrances or dyes, are often biodegradable. The foundation for these soaps might be glycerin or vegetable oils from sources such as castile, olive oil, hemp or soybean. Some more mainstream soap brands may also be biodegradable, especially if they are formulated for sensitive skin. You will just need to check the ingredient list. If you want to avoid all that homework, bar soaps specifically designed to be biodegradable are available at most health food and camping stores.
Keep It Clean
Once you have your biodegradable bar soap, there are some guidelines for using it in a way that will allow it to biodegrade. The soap needs to be exposed to bacteria and needs enough time for the bacteria to do its work. This happens automatically for soapy water that goes into municipal treatment facilities or re-used gray water -- water from the bathtub recycled for use in the lawn or garden. If you are camping, however, that means your soapy water needs to be dumped out on soil rather than in the stream to avoid polluting local water supplies. All this effort is worth it, since non-biodegradable ingredients persist in water and can disrupt delicately balanced lake and river ecosystems.