Dan Stephens-Kingi got sick of seeing plastic shampoo bottles in the recycling each week. 

So he sought his own solution.

"I've been making shampoo bars for four weeks," the 12-year-old said.

"I went on YouTube and found some videos on how to make soap. There are only three ingredients: coconut oil, lye and tea tree oil.

"By using these bars, we don't put more plastic into Papatūānuku."

Dan now supplies three households with the paper-wrapped Dan Dan's Nature Bars, in addition to selling the soaps at school.

The Te Kura Kaupapa o Māori o Whakarewa school pupil uses crockpots to cook up the mixture for several hours.

"I stir it up, and then leave it out there for a couple of minutes. It puffs up and changes colour."

He adds tea tree oil and essential oils before scooping the soap mixture into a bread loaf mould to set.

Dan's mother, Miria Stephens, said the homemade soap was popular with people who have sensitive skin.

"I have another colleague whose niece's baby is unable to be washed with soaps, as it reacts her eczema.

"So she grabbed Dan's soap and flaked a bit into the bathwater and the baby is able to wash in that – and nothing else, actually."

The bars can be purchased for $5 from the Kura's front office, at 56 Waikato St, Taupō. 

Source: Stuff.co.nz