15. Coconut Oil-Based Soaps
Coconut oil-based soaps are commonly viewed as a natural, gentle alternative, but their rising popularity has unintended consequences. The global demand for coconut oil has fueled monoculture farming, which reduces biodiversity and often necessitates increased pesticide use. On top of that, these soaps are typically shipped long distances from tropical regions, further inflating their carbon footprint. As Yale Environment 360 points out, what seems like a simple, sustainable swap can hide a host of environmental drawbacks.