5 Ways Deodorant Can Be Bought Plastic Free
Buying deodorant plastic free has never been easier with many different options for your armpits now available. Whether you want to use deodorant in a reusable applicator or are happy to smear it on from zero plastic packaging, you can smell good sustainably.
Are you still buying your deodorant in plastic packaging? Have you sussed out the plastic free deodorant options you could swap to? You can now even get antiperspirant roll on waste free! There are four different deodorant packaging options that aren’t plastic or single-use plastic that are compostable, reusable or refillable, or easily and repeatably recyclable.
While you can recycle most aerosol deodorant cans and plastic deodorant containers, plastic can only be recycled once or twice before having to be downcycled and then sent to landfill, if it even gets to being recycled – 91% of plastic isn’t recycled!
These zero waste deodorants are not only better for the planet, but also better for your body, containing only natural ingredients. They keep you fresh without harmful ingredients that block your pores to stop sweating, allowing you to sweat out natural toxins, while stopping armpit odour.
There are even baking soda free natural deodorants now available for those who are sensitive to baking soda.
Also, not being deodorising body sprays or aerosols they don’t releasing chemicals into the air and cause air pollution, another environmental problem caused by spray deodorants in single-use plastic containers.
Which less polluting more sustainable ways will you get your next all natural deodorant?
1. In a cardboard pushup
You can get deodorant paste in a compostable cardboard pushup so you can have your pit paste in a convenient tube for application and avoid adding to plastic pollution! This is the plastic-free option for you if you prefer not to have to use your finger or a stick to apply it to your armpits or want to be able to compost the entire thing when it’s empty, making it zero waste.
These are mostly home compostable, with these eco tubes being made from paper. You can also get deodorant powder that neutralises odours and absorbs wetness on all parts of the body in paper tube packaging.
PRO TIP: Your cardboard push-up doesn’t want to push up? This can happen, but is easy to fix. Simply sit it in the sun or somewhere warm for a few minutes or put it in the microwave for 5 sec bursts - no longer! - to loosen up the paste inside this eco packaging.
Examples of zero waste deodorant paste packaged in a compostable cardboard pushup are:
ETHIQUE solid deodorant stick (AU)
Dirty Hippie Cosmetics natural probiotic deodorant (AU)
Your Nature natural deodorant (UK)
Scence natural vegan deodorant balm stick (UK)
meow meow tweet zero waste deodorant stick (US)
2. In a glass jar
Natural deodorant paste or balm also comes in a glass jar that can be infinitely recycled or, even better, reused. With these you use your finger or a stick applicator to take the paste from the jar and spread it on your underarm skin.
A little bit goes a long way with deodorant cream - you only need a pea sized amount on your finger tip to keep your pits dry and stink free all day. For those who don’t want to use their fingers you can get a natural deodorant applicator made from bamboo, for example, or you could reuse something like an ice cream stick.
PRO TIP: If your deodorant cream feels grainy, warm it up between your fingers before applying it and if it’s really hot and your deodorant paste has become a liquid, mix it with a teaspoon and put it in the fridge to re-solidify.
Brands that sell their deodorant paste or balm in a glass jar are:
Fat and the Moon sensitive pit deodorant cream (US)
meow meow tweet baking soda free deodorant cream (US)
Natural Deodorant Co deodorant balm (UK)
3. In a metal tin
Similar to anti-odourants in a glass jar, deodorant paste can be bought in a metal tin. These are used in the same way, but come in a container that is lighter and usually smaller.
Deodorant paste that is packaged in a recyclable tin includes:
My Shay natural deodorant (AU)
Noosa Basics aluminium free deodorant paste (AU)
No Pong all-natural anti-odourant original or bicarb free (AU here / US/CA here)
Awake Organics Moon Goo extra strength natural deodorant (UK)
Earth Conscious natural deodorant (UK)
4. In solid bar form
Solid deodorant bars come plastic free in a cardboard box that can either be recycled or composted. To use deodorant in solid bar form, you simply rub the bar straight onto your armpit and the odour fighting ingredients melt into your skin.
These bars last a long time, with some being ergonomically designed in a curved oval shape to easily glide across your armpit area.
PRO TIP: Keep these out of direct sunlight and store them at room temperature.
You can get deodorant bars from:
Earth Conscious Bare Bar natural deodorant (UK)
5. In a refillable applicator
If you prefer a solid reusable applicator, you can buy one that can be refilled with a refill pack in eco-friendly packaging, enabling you to keep and reuse the bottle but change the fragrance inside – all without any single use waste.
This can be a paste you refill an applicator with or a liquid deodorant you pour into a reusable roll on bottle, which is great for people who prefer a liquid deodorant and an antiperspirant to a paste.
You can get a refillable applicator for natural deodorant from:
Wild Natural Deodorant in a reusable applicator made from aluminium and recycled plastic (UK)
ASUVI refillable deodorant (AU)
Zero Co refillable antiperspirant roll-on deodorant (AU)
Read more about natural deodorant and find a homemade recipe for natural deodorant that really works in our Plastic-Free Deodorant: DIY & All Natural Ones That Work blog post. It also explains why it can take a while for your body to adjust when you switch to a natural deodorant – you need to give your body time to adapt so don’t give up on natural deodorant if it doesn’t work well the first time you try it.
Let us know which option you’ve found works best for you in the comments! The cardboard pushup option is my favourite zero waste deodorant as I love being able to simply compost the packaging it comes in, while David uses Zero Co’s refillable single-use plastic free antiperspirant as a runner who wants something to reduce perspiration and he’s super impressed by it.
*this post contains affiliate links. If you buy something from a featured brand we may earn a small amount. To learn more, see our disclosure policy. We maintain this site in our free time and support in any way, shape or form means a lot and helps us keep it running, whether it is using an affiliate link when investing in something, sharing our content, or buying us a coffee on Ko-fi.