What Makes a Good Poop Bag (And Why Most Are Not Actually Biodegradable)

Most poop bags labelled biodegradable are not actually biodegradable. That matters more than most dog owners realise.

The labelling problem

In South Africa, there is no strict regulation on what you can call biodegradable. Many bags sold as biodegradable are actually oxo-degradable, which means they break into smaller pieces of plastic rather than decomposing into natural materials. You end up with microplastics instead of compost. The bag disappears visually but the plastic does not.

What actually biodegradable means

A genuinely biodegradable bag breaks down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass through natural biological processes. It does not leave plastic residue behind. The process takes weeks to months in the right conditions, not centuries like conventional plastic.

Compostable vs biodegradable

Compostable is a higher standard. Compostable bags break down in composting conditions (heat, moisture, microorganisms) within a defined timeframe. All compostable bags are biodegradable but not all biodegradable bags are compostable. If a bag says compostable, it should meet a recognised standard.

What to look for

Look for bags that specify the standard they meet. Look for plant-based materials like cornstarch or PLA rather than petroleum-based plastics with additives. If the bag does not specify what it is made from, it is probably not genuinely biodegradable.

The volume problem

An average dog produces roughly 125 kg of waste per year. Over a lifetime, that is over a tonne. Every bag you use either breaks down or sits in a landfill for hundreds of years. Multiplied across millions of dog owners, the choice of bag material has a real environmental impact.

Final woof: Not all poop bags are created equal. Genuinely biodegradable and compostable bags cost slightly more per unit but the environmental difference is significant. Your dog does not care what bag you use, but the planet does.

Our poop bags are biodegradable and compostable. Shop poo bags