Sir 'Poop-a-lot' and his Ethical Dog Bags
According to Oh Crap a pooping 4% of landfill is made up of dog poop!
And a lot of that arrives wrapped in non-biodegradable plastic… in fact 1.3 billion plastic dog waste bags go into landfill each year.
Encouragingly more companies are now selling biodegradable and compostable alternatives. Be aware though, not all biodegradable bags are compostable. And depending where you live in the world, there can be a lack of regulation meaning companies are free to label their bags biodegradable when they may not be earth-friendly at all (won’t break down within a year).
Generally, compostable options are best as they will degrade over a few months as opposed to decades.
1. Oh Crap
Make a 100% biodegradable compostable bag which is formulated for water resistance and disintegration within a composting cycle.
Made from corn starch.
Being fully biodegradable and compostable these bags will not do harm to the environment.
The RSPCA recently partnered with Oh Crap and estimates this partnership will “save at least 365,000 plastic bags being used across our shelters in Australia.”
Pricing:
40 bags for $12.99 AUD (plus free carry bag and inclusive of shipping)
180 bags for $29.99 AUD + shipping
380 bags for $44.99 AUD + shipping
Link to Oh Crap
2. Zenify
Zenify is a profits for purpose brand producing certified (to Australian, US and European standards) home compostable, unscented doggy waste bags.
Made from PBAT, PLA, cornstarch and printed with soy based ink.
Leak proof with a star gusset base and easy to tie handles, they also have a recyclable core and packaging
A portion of products are donated to support pet causes in Australia.
Pricing:
60 bags for $13.95 AUD
420 bags for $44.95 AUD
Link to Zenify
3. BioBag
BioBag make a 100% biodegradable and compostable dog waste bag that is safe for worms and leaves no toxic residues or microplastics behind.
Made from a compostable plant-based resin (Mater-Bi).
They claim the strength of their bags is comparable to plastic bags.
Pricing:
Rolls: 40 bags for $6.40 AUD
Rolls: 600 bags for $96 AUD
Blocks: 50 bags $5.60 AUD
Blocks: 2,500 bags for $280 AUD
Link to BioBag
4. Because We Care Australia
Specialising in eco-aware bags, Because We Care make Australian certified (for home and commercial composting) dog poop bags. These bags are recognised in Australia, North America and Europe for their level of biodegradability.
Made from cornstarch and printed with soy and water-based inks.
Pricing:
45 bags for $7.39 AUD
90 bags for $14.78 AUD
180 bags for $22.18 AUD
Link to Because We Care
5. Tailz
Tailz produce 100% biodegradable and compostable ethical dog bags.
Made from cornstarch their dog waste bags are certified compostable for home and industrial composting.
They are worm and plant safe.
Pricing:
They offer a wide range of options from:
Single roll with a bag holder for $9.95 AUD, and
540 bags for $71.97 AUD, up to
720 bags + 25 bin liner bags for $101.97AUD.
Link to Tailz
With so many fully compostable and ethical options on the market, why not stock up for your next walk or trip to the dog park?
Conclusion:
Whilst there are still some areas for improvement with ethical dog bags, overall they offer a much greater environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic bags
For more information on greenwashing, check out this link.
Want more helpful articles like this one? Subscribe and receive future articles direct to your inbox (no spam, only quality resources and information).
