Disposable toiletry bottles made of soap

The bottles are made from vegetable oil-based soap, which is formed in a mould and then dyed using mineral and plant-based pigments

Spotted: Plastic packaging is one of the biggest environmental curses of our times, and many of the worst offenders come from the toiletry and cosmetics industries. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, one-third of all waste in landfills comes from personal care products. In response to this, Central Saint Martins post-graduate student, Mi Zhou, has invented toiletry bottles made of soap.

Zhou’s brand, Soapack, is not only an environmentally-friendly solution to the problem of plastic toiletry packaging, but its products are very beautiful. The bottles are made from vegetable oil-based soap, which is formed in a mould and then dyed using mineral and plant-based pigments.

To prevent the bottles from dissolving before their contents are used up, they are lined inside and out with a thin layer of beeswax. Once the contents are gone, the bottles can be used as soap and will eventually dissolve. 

Zhou came up with the idea after noticing edible food packaging, and told Dezeen.com: “As a designer, I want to rethink the current mode of producing and consuming of these products and also critique disposable package materials.”

Her delicate designs are also reminiscent of perfume bottles. According to Zhou, “We do need to encourage people to use alternatives to respect our environment better but not compromising in user experience.”

Zhou joins a host of other designers who are created sustainable solutions to the problem of plastic packaging. At Springwise, we have covered a number of these innovations, including edible food packaging and straws made from seaweed.