Have you heard that castor oil shouldn’t be in plastic bottles?
This is a hot topic in the cosmetics world right now, but is it true? At The Soapery we love castor oil, but there is a lot of misinformation going around.
So let’s take a dive into the most popular claims…
Contents:
- What Are The Concerns?
- Are The Claims True?
- Is Castor Oil Stored In Glass All The Time?
- Final Thoughts: can castor oil be kept in plastic bottles?
What Are The Concerns?
There is a lot of misinformation surrounding castor oil online. There seems to be a large amount of people claiming that plastic is bad for castor oil. So how is it bad?
Here are some of the claims people are making:
- The oil absorbs microplastics, which are then absorbed into the skin when used.
- If castor oil is packaged in a clear plastic bottle, the light will increase deterioration.
Are The Claims True?
These claims have been spread everywhere, through social media and online blogs. The problem is, there is a lack of evidence and knowledge.
So let’s look into it from an expert's insight…
Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are said to absorb into liquids over time. The health concerns are still unknown, but more and more research is taking place to discover the true effects of microplastics on us.
So it is understandable that people may be concerned by the presence of microplastics in castor oil. But what about every other carrier oil?
The problem is, everyone is focusing on castor oil as if it is different from every other carrier oil. But it’s not.
Light Deteriorates Castor Oil
Just like every other oil, if you leave it in direct sunlight on your windowsill it’s going to deteriorate faster.
So again, castor oil is not different and it doesn’t need special packaging.
If your castor oil is in a clear plastic bottle, simply store it in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.
Is Castor Oil Stored In Glass All The Time?
The biggest motive to store castor oil in glass bottles is to ensure the oil has not been contaminated by plastic. But how was the oil transported from the producer to the retailer?
The truth is, producers of castor oil ship large amounts of the oil to companies all over the world in plastic containers!
Picture this, a producer of castor oil has made tonnes of oil to ship to companies in the UK. In order to deliver that oil to the UK, they ship it in large plastic IBC’s.
The majority of castor oil originates in India, where the delivery process takes about 6 weeks to get to the UK.
Finally, the oil reaches the UK where companies then pour the castor oil into glass bottles and then claim their castor oil has had no plastic contamination and that plastic bottles are the worst!
And that’s the part everyone seems to miss out.
Some companies may say their castor oil is delivered in metal drums instead of plastic containers. That’s because their supply doesn’t come straight from the producer in India. But we now know that all castor oil leaves India in plastic containers.
So whether another supplier moves the oil into metal drums or a company pours it into glass bottles, the castor oil has still been kept in plastic!
Final Thoughts: can castor oil be kept in plastic bottles?
Whether retailers are selling castor oil in glass bottles or plastic bottles, it still doesn’t change the fact that that oil has already been sitting in plastic for weeks.
The bottom line is, there is no greater risk storing castor oil in plastic as there is storing any other liquid in plastic.
Microplastics may be a growing issue, but there is still not enough evidence to prove whether they are a health risk or not.
So don’t single castor oil out, it’s no different to buying olive oil in plastic bottles.
Continue Reading
Now you know the truth about castor oil, why not continue learning?
- Interested in cold process soap recipes? Try our seaweed soap recipe!
- Learn how to use essential oils for cleaning and what to avoid with our myth busting blog!
- Want to make a face mask? Try our bentonite face mask recipe!
Let us know your thoughts on castor oil packaging in the comments below!
