Biodegradable Garbage Bags: Eco-Friendly or not?

 

As shoppers start to look for more ‘greener‘ options for their homes and more emphasis is placed on terms like ‘biodegradable’ ‘compostable’ or ‘green’ its important we understand what those terms actually mean and are they even helpful towards reducing the global pollution crisis. ‘Biodegradable’ means that the product has the ability to break down completely into harmless natural substances within a specific time frame. This will have been tested in strict lab conditions, however the same conditions are not always available in nature. ‘Compostable’ means that the product has the ability to break down in a home or industrial composting system and be utilised as a soil conditioner.

 

The Problem with Plastic Garbage Bags

 

 

Garbage bags are an essential item in our households that are unfortunately made from plastic. Since we have a global plastic problem its important we all look to reducing our usage of these types of products. Plastic garbage bags end up on landfill sites, the microplastics wash out into the ocean, into our ecosystems, into our food and even into our bodies. Many have made the swap of plastic shopping bags to reusable shoppers. But we often overlook garbage bags. However there ARE better options out there for us. 

 

Biodegradable Garbage Bags

 

 

So what about biodegradable garbage bags? These are essentially plastic garbage bags with added microorganisms to help speed up the breakdown process. So they will break down quicker than traditional plastic bags. It still takes time however and is also very dependent on the environmental conditions. Swapping to this is a good start in helping fight plastic waste pollution.

 

However, there are some issues with this type of bag too: 

• Incomplete break down: many require very specific conditions to breakdown, so theres every chance they will not degrade fully in a landfill site
• Could still contribute to microplastic pollution because they can decompose into smaller pieces of plastic
• Greenwashing: Many bags will be marketed as ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ and this is where we as consumers have to be careful and look out for the correct sustainability certifications on the packaging. Read more about those here. 

Compostable Garbage Bags

 

 

The most eco friendly option are compostable garbage bags. These are made from plant or vegetable based materials, for example cornstarch. They’ll break down completely into non toxic materials and form compost. They can be used to collect food scraps and integrated into your home compost system. A good way to be eco friendly is to separate your trash into recycling and food waste, this will help reduce the overall waste going into landfill. 

 

Recycled Plastic Garbage Bags

 

 

Recycled plastic is plastic that has come from recycled materials, that have been cleaned, sorted, melted and then made into something else. They have been repurposed for a second life. Labels that say 100% recycled plastic means that item has been made completely from recycyeled plastic. This way of using plastics is very eco-friendly and reduces the need to create more plastic. As we know, plastic is dervied from fossil fuels (a non renewable energy source) and the production of which releases harmful greenhouse gases. The production of recycled plastic uses much less energy than making new plastic. So this is a win win all around and a much better alternative for the environment.

 

Here are some eco-friendly brands where you can purchase eco-friendly garbage bags

 

Who Gives A Crap

 

 

These guys started with toilet paper, bamboo toilet paper, recyclable toilet paper, but they’ve branched out into bags too. You can choose from 100% recycled bags ot compostable food scrap bags. They also do 100% recycled poo bags for pet owners which is great.

 

Crucially, they are B Corp Certified, and FSC certified.

 

They were founded in australia in 2012, ship to the USA and the UK AND donate a large chunk of their profits to charitable causes.

 

They have a USA website: https://us.whogivesacrap.org/

And a UK website: https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/

 

 

SEEP

SEEP (Sustainable Everyday Essential Products) do a wide range of eco friendly products like cleaning kits, sponges, cleaning cloths and bin bags. They do plant-based compostable bin liners reinforced to prevent leakage. A range of different sizes available.

 

They are B Corp Certified and are involved in various charitable causes.

 

Check out their sustainable bin bags: https://theseepcompany.com/collections/compostable-bin-liners

 

 

ECO Green Living 

ECO Green Living plant a tree with every order, they are industrial AND home compostable certified, and are involved in various carbon reduction projects. Check them out here: https://www.ecogreenliving.co.uk/

 

Greener Walker

 

 

Greener Walker do 100% compostable bin bags, kitchen compost caddy bags, and dog poo bags. They do various sizes so you can choose the exact size you need for yopur requirements. They hold the relevant compostable certifications and have over 29,000 reviews on Amazon at 4.4. stars which shows some very satisfied customers.

 

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/GREENERWALKER/page/B9249B31-1A0D-4FDF-805B-72E7989F06AA?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto

 

To conclude, there are many other brands out there that offer some better options for our trash and our plant. Why not take those steps and look into building a better home for our future. The problem of plastic pollution, and a reduction in our earths natural resources are at an all time high, it is up to us to change our habits and make better and more informed decisions.