Who Owns Zest?

Sodalis Group published its first consolidated sustainability report in 2024. The company reports environmental performance data including energy consumption, water usage, and waste reduction across its European manufacturing sites. Sodalis Group has set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing use of recycled packaging materials.

For Zest specifically, sustainability information is limited. The brand does not publish standalone sustainability reports. Manufacturing is outsourced to contract manufacturers, so environmental performance depends on those contractors' practices rather than Sodalis-owned facilities.

The environmental concerns around bar soap manufacturing include water usage, chemical discharge, and packaging waste. Zest's bar soap packaging is primarily paper-based, which is recyclable. Body wash packaging is plastic-based, which presents greater environmental challenges.

Ingredient safety is a more significant concern for Zest. The brand's deodorant soap formulation includes synthetic detergent ingredients, which have faced scrutiny from environmental and consumer advocacy groups. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has raised concerns about certain ingredients commonly used in deodorant soaps. Zest has reformulated products over the years to address safety concerns, but the brand does not position itself as natural or organic.

Under Sodalis Group ownership, Zest may benefit from the parent company's sustainability initiatives. Sodalis Group has invested in research laboratories and production sites that prioritize environmental responsibility, though these facilities are primarily in Europe.

• Zest's "Zestfully Clean" advertising campaign became one of the most recognized slogans in American personal care advertising, running for decades from the 1960s through the 2000s.
• Zest was a top-selling deodorant soap brand in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, competing directly with Dial and Irish Spring.
• The brand has maintained continuous retail distribution in major U.S. retailers for over 70 years, through three ownership changes (P&G to Brynwood to Tengram to Sodalis).

Ingredient safety concerns. Zest's deodorant soap formulation includes synthetic detergent ingredients and fragrance compounds that have faced scrutiny from consumer advocacy groups. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has raised concerns about certain ingredients used in mass-market deodorant soaps. Zest has reformulated products over the years to address specific safety concerns, but the brand does not position itself as natural or organic. No major product recalls have been issued.

Ownership transitions and brand neglect. Zest has changed ownership three times since P&G sold the brand in 2011. Each transition (P&G to Brynwood/High Ridge Brands in 2011, High Ridge Brands bankruptcy and Tengram acquisition in 2020, Tengram sale to Sodalis in 2024) raised concerns about whether the new owner would invest in the brand or simply manage it for cash flow. High Ridge Brands' 2019 bankruptcy filing raised particular concerns about Zest's future. The brand survived all three transitions but received minimal marketing investment during the private equity ownership periods.

Environmental impact of soap manufacturing. Like all mass-market soap brands, Zest faces criticism regarding the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes and packaging. Bar soap packaging is paper-based and recyclable, but body wash packaging is plastic-based. The brand's contract manufacturers' environmental practices are not publicly disclosed. Sodalis Group's 2024 sustainability report covers its European manufacturing sites but does not specifically address outsourced manufacturing in the U.S. and Mexico.

Shift away from bar soap. The broader consumer shift from bar soap to body wash has raised questions about the long-term viability of bar soap brands like Zest. While Zest offers both formats, the brand is primarily associated with bar soap. Market research firm Statista reports that body wash sales surpassed bar soap sales in the U.S. around 2014. Zest has not announced specific plans to address this category shift beyond maintaining its existing product line.