Hand soap 500ml

What does it mean that Marcel's Green Soap is 100% natural?

The difference with regular household products lies in the type of chemicals. For example, we use plant-based, natural biodegradable and safe chemicals as opposed to petrochemicals and synthetic chemicals. Every Marcel's Green Soap product is without parabens, acids, ammonia, chlorine and dyes. Ingredients that may be harmful to the environment, your home or your body.

Do you use animal testing during the production process?

No. We absolutely do not use animals to test our products. We also know that our suppliers do not use animal testing. The products are safe to use in the environment of animals.

Do you use palm and coconut components?

Yes. We use both palm and coconut components. Our suppliers of palm and coconut oil components are all Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified sustainable palm oil suppliers. In this way we support growing sustainable palm and coconut oil products. RSPO is the only organization actively working on sustainable palm oil products. Parties such as WWF, Greenpeace and Oxfam Novib are also affiliated with this organization

But isn't that why all those rainforests are cut down for palm oil?

Unfortunately, a lot of palm oil still comes from plantations where there used to be rainforest. And the soil is also depleted, causing erosion and soil impoverishment. The RSPO is trying to counter all this. They issue certificates to palm oil plantations that produce palm oil in a sustainable manner. Of course, this does not always go well, especially in countries where corruption is widespread. However, Marcel thinks that the solution lies in better monitoring and arranging these registrations. If palm oil is grown properly, it is currently the best way for nature to meet the need for this type of oil.

But isn't it much better if no palm oil is used?

About 40 billion liters of palm oil are produced worldwide, about 5 liters per person in the world. Palm oil is the most effective way to produce oil. But Marcel's Green Soap also believes that you should continue to actively look for alternatives to palm oil because we need the rainforests far too much!

Are Marcel's Green Soap products biodegradable?

All Marcel's Green Soap products are 99% biodegradable. By biodegradable we mean that the entire product breaks down into CO2 and water within 28 days. Marcel's Green Soap products also contain salts. This is used for pH, to dissolve dirt and also to make it a bit thicker. Salts can never be broken down in water and CO2, so that is why the 99%


What about the packaging?

All Marcel's Green Soap packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic, also called HDPE. Marcel's Green Soap is the first brand in the Netherlands that only puts more used plastic in its packaging and therefore does not contribute to plastic pollution. Moreover, Marcel's Green Soap bottles can easily be recycled again, so that new plastic is never actually needed. This is a common plastic and therefore easy to recycle. Also because no coloring has been added to the bottle, the bottles are particularly suitable for recycling.

Why not plant plastics?

Nowadays you can also make bottles from plants, such as cane sugar or sugar beet. The disadvantage of sugar cane is that it has to come all the way from the other side of the world, which makes it seem environmentally friendly, but the CO2 footprint is not too favorable. And when the bottle is there, it is thrown away again and there is another plastic waste problem. That is why Marcel focuses mainly on the use of recycled plastic

What then is the path to more sustainable packaging?

Marcel wants everyone to only use recycled plastic, preferably the entire bottle. Every week, around 4 million cleaning product bottles are thrown away in the Netherlands. Marcel works closely with parties in the Netherlands and abroad to use plastic that has already been used as a bottle by consumers. And not 10 or 15% like many brands, but no less than 100%. This way you ensure that no new raw materials have to be used.

What should I do when the bottle is empty?

A very friendly but also urgent request. Collect plastic separately. Marcel started this a few years ago and now realizes that half of his waste consists of plastic! The bottles are made of 100 HDPE (label as well), making them very easy to recycle. The bottle is then cut into small pieces, the plastic is washed and then it can be reused for another new bottle.

Where is Marcel's Green Soap produced?

All products are produced at a soap factory in Utrecht. This used to belong to a large company, but these large companies often cover the whole of Europe from 1 or 2 factories. This saves a lot of costs, but is not always good for the environment because only trucks criss-cross Europe. For example, a bottle of Marcel's Green Soap dishwashing liquid has traveled about 80 kilometers before it reaches your counter. With competitors this is often 600 kilometers!

What about the carbon footprint of Marcel's Green Soap?

If you want to look closely at a company's CO2 footprint, you have to look carefully from start to finish, that's called craddle to grave.
Because everything is produced in the Netherlands and almost all raw materials come from the Netherlands (or Germany), there is minimal impact on the environment in the production process. As for marketing, sales and administration, Marcel manages the company himself from his home office. No management teams, no international meetings, no commuting. This makes Marcel's Green Soap CO2 neutral from the start, because there are almost no additional emissions. Marcel thinks that is a much better way than first emitting a lot of CO2 and then compensating for it. And what about the products for consumers? Because Marcel's products are 99% biodegradable and the bottles contain no dye, the burden on the environment is limited and recycling is promoted. And because Marcel's products are concentrated and the scent is much more present, you often end up using just a little less.
Hey, nobody is perfect and Marcel doesn't pretend that he is doing everything he can to burden the environment as little as possible. But he also tries to contribute in his own way.