UK's first 'edible soap' made in Barry to combat hygiene poverty

An 'edible soap' that tastes and smells of beans-on-toast has been created in order to highlight the number of people in the UK choosing between eating and cleaning.

It's a partnership with The Hygiene Bank offering struggling people toiletries.

What is Hygiene Poverty?

It comes as The Hygiene Bank found that although almost 1 in 12 (8%) of the UK population are currently experiencing hygiene poverty.

They said around 20 million people still haven’t heard of the issue and the profound impact it has on people’s daily lives.

Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, said hygiene poverty has an impact on a person's physical and mental wellbeing:

"65% of parents living in hygiene poverty have had to choose between products for themselves and their children. That is a mother picking between nappies for her baby or period products for herself," she said.

The edible soap is a protest product created by The Good Wash to shine a light on the hygiene poverty crisis.

Alongside funding donations to The Hygiene Bank, the soap is also calling for the removal of VAT in soap, encouraging people to sign a petition.

"It does work as a soap as well"

Mandy Powell, soap designer and CEO of The Good Wash told us what ingredients went into the limited edition soap:

"It does work as a soap as well. Cocoa and avocado oil are in there, so it has some great moisturising benefits.

"We have sent a number of the 100 bars we have made to key influencers to help raise awareness of our campaign," she said.

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