Is Duke Cannon soap biodegradable? (5 examples of biodegradable soaps)
In this article, it shall be discussed if Duke cannon soap is biodegradable or not. Related topics will also be elaborated including:
- What is biodegradability
- Why is biodegradability important
- What is Duke Cannon soap?
- Are soaps biodegradable or not?
- What are the impacts of non-biodegradable soaps?
- How to make biodegradable soaps at home?
- 5 examples of biodegradable soaps
- FAQs
Is Duke Cannon soap biodegradable?
Yes, Duke cannon soap is biodegradable. Biodegradable soaps are those soaps that contain more than 90 percent of naturally occurring materials (degradable) and do not contain any harmful chemicals.
Duke Cannon soaps are entirely made of natural materials such as tallow, coconut oil, essential oil, water, and fragrances. It avoids the use of harmful chemicals like parabens or phosphates in its manufacturing.
What is biodegradability?
Biodegradability is the process through which complex substances (usually waste) are broken down into simpler substances (so that they may be used by nature) by the action of microbes including fungi, bacteria, et cetera.
Other than fungi and bacteria, some decomposers also play a role in the process of biodegradation. The role of air and water in the process of biodegradation is also established.
Biodegradation is the natural process through which nature deals with waste. If materials are degraded this implies that they do not remain in the environment or atmosphere and thus do not interrupt the natural processes of the Earth.
However, if materials are not biodegraded, they will remain in the environment and atmosphere and will cause interruptions and obstructions in the Earth’s natural processes.
A good example to explain this situation will be that of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic. Non-biodegradable plastic causes a lot of harm to life and the environment. It is cited that more than 700 species are affected by the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic.
However, scientists have also been able to make biodegradable plastic which is made from natural materials. This plastic does not remain in the environment for longer spans of time and hence causes minimal harm to life and the environment.
When it comes to biodegradation, the general rule of thumb is that natural material is easily degraded (within a few months or years) whereas synthetic materials are not readily degraded (for example, plastic may take more than 400 years to degrade).
What is duke cannon soap?
Duke Cannon soap is a soap that is manufactured by the Duke cannon company. This company was founded in 2011 by Anthony Albanese and Sam Swartz and is based in the USA.
Duke cannon identifies itself as one of the leading premium men’s grooming brands with all the essentials produced that men need for grooming. The soap manufactured by Duke cannon is a big 10-ounce soap that gives off a contemporary feel rooted in the nostalgia of the past.
The Duke Cannon soap is said to be a natural soap made from natural ingredients and avoids the usage of any chemicals during its manufacture.
The Duke Cannon soap is made from materials such as tallow soap base, water, coconut oil, fragrance, and steel-cut oats. It is claimed that no chemicals are used in the production of duke cannon soap.
Tallow soaps are basically those soaps that are made from animal fat. The history of soap making reveals that initially there were two approaches to soap making; one was by using lye and the other was by using tallow.
The use of animal fat in the soap-making process results in a number of advantages including lather stability and hardness. The use of tallow in the soap-making process dates back to Greek mythology.
Are soaps biodegradable?
Whether soaps are biodegradable or not depends on the fact that what is composition of soaps. Soaps are commercially available everywhere and would be of almost countless types.
Usually, a soap is termed biodegradable if the majority of its content (more than 90 percent) is natural and can degrade in nature. If the soap does not fit this criterion, then it is termed non-biodegradable.
Some soaps are harmful to the environment since they are made from chemicals that pose a threat to nature and are notorious for being non-biodegradable.
These soaps contain chemicals like parabens, phthalates, bisphenols, halogenated phenols, Benzophenone-3, Perfluoro (PFAS) compounds, hexylresorcinol and other related chemicals.
The presence of these chemicals makes the soaps unfit from the context of sustainability and environmental consideration. Because these chemicals do not readily degrade in the environment they are termed non-biodegradable.
However, some soaps are made from natural products. These natural products usually include tallow or lye, water, glycerol, fragrance source, and oils. The specific ingredients may vary but the bottom line is that they are made from naturally occurring ingredients.
Why is the biodegradability of soaps important?
The biodegradability of soaps is important because soaps are used by almost every person in the world. It is the basic instinct to feel clean and tidy. That is why everyone uses soaps; be it a billionaire or a lower-class person.
As per the statistical findings, the soap consumer market stood at a whopping 132 billion US dollars in 2020 and is expected to rise up to 150 billion dollars. Global soap production is flabbergasting.
As per the research, the global soap production in 2020 stood at 100 million tons. China was the biggest consumer of soap standing at 22 million tons.
These figures speak out for themselves why the need for biodegradable soaps is so important. If non-biodegradable soaps are consumed and preferred, it implies that an infinite amount of waste is generated which is toxic and hazardous for the environment and eventually humans.
Therefore, the right consumer inclinations and sustainable production approaches are adopted and maintained lest clean soaps may contaminate the earth.
What are the impacts of non-biodegradable soaps on the environment?
Non-biodegradable soaps have a lot of negative and detrimental impacts on the environment. Non-biodegradable soaps contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, bisphenols, halogenated phenols, Benzophenone-3, Perfluoro (PFAS) compounds, hexylresorcinol.
When non-biodegradable soaps are used, these chemicals are given a way to pollute nature. These chemicals when left off in nature, infiltrate, toxicate and pollute.
These chemicals in water bodies alter the natural systems. They may change the chemistry of the water body. They may deplete the oxygen reserves of the water body leading to the death of aquatic life.
These chemicals in water bodies may also affect various food cycles and food chains present in the water body and thus impact the natural cycles at all levels. They may also deteriorate the water quality making access to fresh water even harder for humans and animals.
These chemicals can also cause harm to life on land by changing the composition or pH of soil. As a result, plants and animals may die. It is also very possible that these chemicals end up in our kitchens and dining tables stemming a whole lot of medical complications.
These complications can be of all levels; from minor irritations to major maladies such as liver or stomach infections or even cancers. That is why the use of natural or biodegradable soaps is so much asserted by academics and environmentalists.
Is it possible to make organic soap at home?
Yes, it is possible to make organic soap (which is biodegradable) at home. For that, you will need the following components:
- Water
- Olive or coconut oil
- Lye
- Essential oils
- Colourants (to give your soup desired colour)
- Herbs or flowers (to add a scent of your preference to your soap
It may be mentioned that the use of lye in the soap-making process comes from a realm of controversy. However, if the saponification process is done rightfully, no lye remains. All lye is converted to soap and hence, the side effects of lye (allergy, irritation) are avoided.
Usually, there are two processes for making soaps at home. These may be:
- Hot process
- Cold process
The former process takes less time to make since an external source of heat is used to facilitate the saponification process. Through the hot process, you can make and use soap within a day.
Whereas, the cold process relies on the internal heat for the saponification process to complete. This process is rather time-consuming and may take more than 4 weeks to complete. A detailed description of both processes is available on the internet.
What are examples of biodegradable soaps?
Examples of biodegradable soaps commercially available in the consumer market include:
- Dr Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap.
- Sea to Summit Pocket Hand Wash.
- Coleman Camp Soap Sheets.
- Campsuds.
- Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash.
Why is biodegradability important?
The earth’s population is increasing at an exponential rate. This uncontrolled increase in Earth’s population is acting like a tumour that is destroying natural resources and balance.
This leads to an increase in many problems that are linked with nature and nature’s bank account of resources. The distribution of resources is being disrupted at unimaginable scales leading to mass deaths of innumerable species globally.
The population increase is not only causing strain on the resources (by the surge in demands of goods and products) but the management of those products is also becoming impossible day by day.
With increased waste production, the handling and management of this waste also have become a novel challenge for humanity. As per the research, global waste production stands at more than 2 billion tons currently and is expected to rise up to 3.5 billion tons in the coming 30 years.
In this scenario, it is more important than ever that the produced waste is manageable and degradable. If the produced waste is not biodegradable, then it implies that an infinite strain is rained on the waste management authorities and endeavours.
If waste is not managed properly, many adverse side effects are inevitable. Examples include changes in medium quality, toxification of water, species endangerment, and release of harmful gases– to name a few.
Therefore, it is crucially important that more biodegradable waste is produced (which can degrade within a few months) so that the challenge of waste products may be dealt with sustainably without the need for any environment-economy trade-off.
Conclusion
It is hereby concluded that Duke Cannon soap is biodegradable since it is made from natural ingredients and materials like essential oils, water, tallow, et cetera. The Duke Cannon soap does not contain any harmful chemicals like parabens or sulphates.
It is also concluded that the need for biodegradable soaps is very much in today’s time because otherwise, the harmful impacts on the environment are irreversible.
Frequently Asked Questions: Is Duke Cannon soap biodegradable?
Is Duke Cannon soap good for people with sensitive skin?
Yes, Duke cannon soap is made from natural ingredients and chemicals are avoided. The absence of any harmful chemicals makes the soap a good fit for people with sensitivity to chemicals.
How does Duke cannon soap smell?
Duke Cannon soap smells like menthol with a prominent fresh mint smell.
References
- Chirani, M. R., Kowsari, E., Teymourian, T., & Ramakrishna, S. (2021). Environmental impact of increased soap consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: Biodegradable soap production and sustainable packaging. Science of The Total Environment, 796, 149013.
- Prokkola, H., Kuokkanen, T., Vähäoja, P., Kangas, T., Karhu, M., Rämö, J., & Lassi, U. (2014). Characterization and biodegradation rates of tall oil soaps in different water and soil environments. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(9), 1-11.
- Nunez, Kristen. (November 23, 2021). How to make bar soap yourself. Retrieved from:
- Fish, Kenneth. (July 31, 2014). Big soap for big guys: Duke Cannon. Retrieved from: https://chubstr.com/resources/big-soap-big-guys-duke-cannon/