With the increase of plastic alternatives on the market, including biodegradable and compostable pet poop bags, many people are confused about their options and which option is best. So, what are the differences between the two types of plastics and which is best?
The biggest differences between biodegradable and compostable pet poop bags is the material they’re made from and how they are disposed of. Biodegradable pet poop bags are made to break down rapidly in a landfill environment but still retail components of traditional plastic. However, compostable pet poop bags are made from all-natural materials and are made to break down completely in a compost environment. The best choice for you depends on what you need and how you will dispose of the bag.
What Are The Differences Between Biodegradable And Compostable Plastics?
Biodegradable plastic and compostable plastic are classed as ‘bioplastics’ due to their makeup of mostly natural materials as well as their manufacturing processes which are seen as more sustainable. This is due to them using less electricity and water and producing less greenhouse emissions.
They are also made from renewable materials which is better for the environment than traditional plastic materials such as crude oil.
Biodegradable plastic is made to rapidly break down in a landfill environment thanks to their ingredients. Some biodegradable plastic also contains specially designed microbes that have the opportunity to break down in months rather than centuries or longer. Biodegradable plastic is made from natural ingredients yet still contains some toxic chemicals, unlike compostable plastic.
Compostable plastic is made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, making it totally renewable. It’s made to completely break down into natural matter when disposed of correctly. These natural ingredients also mean that compostable plastics are non-toxic and will decompose in a worm farm or composter (home or industrial).
It’s important to note that compostable plastic can’t be put into landfill and biodegradable plastic can’t be placed in worm farms or composter environments. Compostable plastic will not break down in landfill and biodegradable plastic will contaminate a composting environment.
Not all bioplastics are the same so please consider your usage, disposal and which option is best for you before purchasing!
What Are Bioplastics Made From?
The materials used to create compostable and biodegradable plastic will vary but they are typically made from renewable items such as potato, corn, soy protein, cellulose and tapioca starches.
Biodegradable plastic has some toxic chemicals added as well as special microbes to help it break down rapidly. When it decomposes, it does leave behind some toxic residue, whereas compostable plastic doesn’t.
Remember: compostable is always biodegradable but biodegradable is certainly not always compostable. Understand how you will dispose of the pet poop bags prior to making a decision on which you will choose.
Learn more about biodegradable and compostable dog poop bags in this article.
Are There Any Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags?
Biodegradable pet poop bags are now available! These provide an excellent, convenient and environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog or other pet poop. Unlike traditional plastic, they are more sustainable and will break down rapidly in landfill.
Where traditional plastic pet poop bags can take decades to centuries to break down, biodegradable bags shortens this to months or a few years. Biodegradable plastic can also be disposed of in landfill, meaning that you don’t need to change the way you dispose of your rubbish!
This means that you can dispose of the poo and the bag in the park bin, your home bin or anywhere you come across a bin. However, do remember that biodegradable plastic does still retain some toxic chemicals and will leave behind some toxic resident when breaking down.
Whatever you choose, don’t throw biodegradable or compostable pet poop bags into the woods or gardens as they are not optimal places to break down and will contribute to waste and potentially impact the environment including wildlife and soil.
Consider making the switch to bioplastics – either biodegradable or compostable – in your everyday life! Even the smallest of changes – such as poop bags – will help reduce your environmental footprint and reduce your landfill contributions.
Where To Buy Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags?
With interest rising for plastic alternatives, you can find options such as biodegradable dog poop bags many places from online to in store. Depending on where you live, you may find them at a pet store, department store or online.
If you search online in your area, you will find many options! And of course, here at ETSUS we also sell them! We’re pleased to offer our own biodegradable and compostable dog poop bags right here in our store.
If you search online, you will even find Amazon sells biodegradable dog poop bags. Here at ETSUS, we have an easy-to-buy and dispose of option for dog poop bags. We also sell on Amazon which provides you an additional way to purchase! It’s quick, easy and efficient.
Take a look at your plastic alternative options here.
What Does ETSUS Offer?
Save yourself some time in leaving this website and take a look at what ETSUS can offer you. We’ve invested in developing and selling biodegradable/compostable dog poop bags for our customers who want to make a difference to the environment.
These bags are pink, come with a grey dispenser and are eco-friendly! Our bags are made from corn starch, won’t tear, keep out odor, won’t leak and will help you clean up after your favourite pet!
Our bags are also compostable which means they will completely break down into natural matter! Dispose of them in your worm farm (watch the acidic dog poo), in an industrial composter or in your home composter.
These are a sustainable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, safe and strong option for environmentally conscious pet owners!
Tell Me More About ETSUS Dog Poop Bags!
Guilt-free dog poop disposal sound good? Then look no further! With your pet’s poop being 100 per cent biodegradable, that just adds to your reasons to make the switch, It can take 10-20 years for the average plastic bag to decompose.
ETSUS compostable dog waste bags mean you can dispose of your pet poop knowing everything (inside and out) will harmlessly break down in nature. Many dog poop bags claim to be biodegradable, but lack the certification to prove it.
Rest assured that our compostable dog poop bags are made using plant-sourced corn starch which meets the US ASTM D6868 standard for composting in an industrial composting facility.
What Else Makes ETSUS Dog Poop Bags A Good Option?
- Lower carbon footprint
- Lower greenhouse emissions
- Compostable
- Stronger
- Thicker
- Large size
- Leak proof
- Comes with a dispenser
- Odor free!
How Biodegradable Are Dog Poop Bags?
Biodegradable dog poop bags are biodegradable, meaning they can be disposed of into landfill and rapidly break down, unlike traditional plastic bags. The poop inside is natural matter and so doesn’t impact the break down.
Many people also feel much better knowing they are taking steps to protect the environment and lower their impact on the environment by using these bags. Many ingredients are natural and will break down into a natural state.
However, they do contain some traditional plastic so you should understand they can leave behind a toxic residue. Of course, this is on a much lower scale than traditional plastic.
What Are Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Made Of?
Biodegradable plastic is made from natural ingredients such as corn starch or other renewable materials such as potato, corn, soy protein, cellulose and tapioca starches. The plastic is made by extracting the sugar from plants like corn and sugarcane and then converting into polylactic acids.
Another way to make biodegradable plastic is to engineer it from microorganisms which are made to break down the plastic quicker.For the second type, they are made with chemicals from petroleum and natural gases (aka petrochemicals) with additives that support the degrading process including pro-oxidant additives. The way these additives made is they enhance the speed of decay.
Biodegradable Plastic Materials
Biodegradable plastic can be made from any of the following materials:
- Starch (corn, sugarcane, tapioca, beets)
- Cellulose (wood, paper, cotton)
- Vegetable oils
- Vegetable fats
- Thermoplastic starch (typically renewable and made from native starches)
- Polylactic acid (thermoplastic polyester from renewable resources such as corn starch)
- Polybutylene succinate (thermoplastic polymer resin – non renewable)
- Polyhydroxybutyrate (polyester based polymer – renewable).
How Long Do Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Take To Decompose?
Traditional plastics can take decades or even centuries to break down fully in a landfill environment, however, biodegradable plastics take around three-to-six months or sometimes weeks depending on the product.
Biodegradable plastic breaks down in the presence of light or oxygen and then leave behind a toxic sludge as they decompose. The convenience of these bioplastics is that you can dispose of your plastics in a normal bin.
Although they will contribute to landfill, they will break down quicker than traditional plastics and eventually mostly decompose. However, if you place them in a composter or worm farm they will not break down and will contaminate the rest of the materials.
What Are Traditional Pet Poop Bags?
The traditional pet poop bags are made from traditional plastic including thermoplastic such as polyethylene resin (PE). These pet poop bags are disposed of in landfill and will contribute to the waste pollution where they may take decades of centuries to decompose.
They also may injure or choke wildlife as well as release toxic chemicals into the soil, water or air as they decompose. PE is made from thermoplastic polymers – meaning they’ve been heated and reheated again to be molded into the correct shapes.
They are not recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. They are also not sustainable or environmentally friendly in any way, with manufacturing processes that release greenhouse emissions and use a lot of electricity and water.
Other forms of PE include low and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE). Typically, you will find HDPE commonly used for harder wearing applications such as shampoo or toiletry bottles and LDPE for softer applications such as shopping bags, cling wrap and dog poop bags.
They can also be made from bioplastics that are able to be quickly degraded in a landfill environment or compostable, which can be broken down into natural components in an industrial composter, home composter or worm farm.
Read more about traditional plastic types here.
How Do I Know If My Pet Poop Bag Is Recyclable?
In order to understand the environmental footprint of your dog poop bags, it’s important to know what you’re purchasing and how you will dispose of the bags. The packaging and bag should be clearly marked if recyclable, biodegradable or compostable.
Dog poop bags made from HDPE or LDPE are technically able to recycled, however, unfortunately many people just dispose of them in a trash can in the park or at home. These are not as common as the PE bags which are not recyclable.
You also need to check with your local recycling or waste plant to understand what plastics they will and won’t recycle and how you can separate the items for recycling. These plastics can also leach toxic chemicals if left unrecycled.
Conclusion
Compostable plastic and biodegradable dog poop bags are less toxic and more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic bags due to their ability to breakdown rapidly in the right environment. They are known as bioplastics, being made from renewable materials and with a sustainable manufacturing process.
Biodegradable plastic retails traditional plastic components and can leave behind some toxic residue when breaking down in landfill, whereas, compostable plastic bags can breakdown in a composter or worm farm back into natural components.
The biggest differences between biodegradable and compostable pet poop bags is the material they’re made from and how they are disposed of. Biodegradable pet poop bags are made to break down rapidly in a landfill environment but still retail components of traditional plastic. However, compostable pet poop bags are made from all natural materials and are made to break down completely in a compost environment.
