Best Biodegradable Garbage Bags And Compostable Trash Bags

Throwing your trash away is an integral part of cleaning up your space. As per most single-use plastics, every time we throw away our trash in the standard black bag, we incur a cost to the environment. Hence we’re going to look at eco-friendly & biodegradable garbage bags and the choices you have to bag your trash with less harm to the environment.

Traditional trash bags consist of plastics that end up in landfills. While this may go unnoticed, these bags can take years to decompose, harming our environment.           

Also, plastic trash bags break down into microplastics that can contaminate the ocean and poison its animals. Furthermore, the manufacturing and processing of plastic trash bags contribute to greenhouse gas emissions causing environmental pollution.

To save our environment and reduce these adverse effects, eco-friendly trash bags like compostable bags, biodegradable bags, reusable bags, and recycled plastic bags have now become the more sustainable option.

In this article, you will find out all you need to know about eco-friendly trash bags to help you make a more informed decision toward protecting the environment. 

Brands that make the best compostable trash bags

Read on for more info about the cost of our garbage bags. If you are looking to find out where you can buy biodegradable trash bags, here is a list of some of the best brands that make eco-friendly and compostable bags for you to choose from.  

BioBag

BioBag has been a US-based market leader in sustainable waste management for over 20 years. Biobag trash bags consist of vegetable oils, plant starches, and compostable polymers. They come in different sizes and are suitable for conditions found in home compost bins.

Each compostable garbage bag comes with a star seal for extra durability. This company prides itself on making compostable bags certified by BPI, TUV AUSTRIA, and other third-party certifications. 

Shop BioBag on Amazon or Direct

UNNI 

UNNI is a reputable company with over ten years of experience making compostable bags. UNNI bags consist of plant materials and other bio-based content and come in different sizes and designs. 

These eco-friendly garbage bags come with certification from the European OK compost home and Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), making them 100% compostable in a home composting unit. These trash bags are eco-friendly and still get the job done. 

UNNI also makes other compostable products like dog poop bags, shopping bags, cutlery, and dinnerware. 

Shop UNNI on Amazon or Direct

Forid 

Forid is a manufacturing company that focuses on product innovation and sustainability. It describes itself as an ‘ingenuity brand,’ following strict standards on product quality, the configuration of raw materials, and manufacturing. 

Forid produces trash bags made from plant starch materials and bio-based content. These bags are compostable, durable, and easy to use. 

This compostable bag also has an octagonal-shaped bottom that can carry enough weight. From pet waste to yard waste, wet trash, and kitchen garbage, Forid waste bags can withstand at least 12kg of waste materials. 

Shop Forid on Amazon

Green Earth  

Green Earth is a manufacturing company that produces 100% compostable and plant-based trash bags. Green Earth uses only GMO-free crops. 

These trash bags decompose in industrial and home settings. They break down when exposed to carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. They are also BPI certified and meet the standards of ASTM D6400. Green Earth’s bags come in various sizes and can fit into any trash can. 

Green Earth donates 1% of sales to conservation-focused charities and does lines in small trash bags through larger bags for the garden and more.

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Second Nature 

This manufacturing company produces certified compostable and biodegradable garbage bags extracted from plant-based materials like vegetable oils, corn, and sugarcane. They are also BPI-certified, amongst other certifications. Their trash bag is durable and can hold up wet food scraps, making it the perfect kitchen trash bag. 

Second Nature bags on Amazon

That’s Rubbish 

That’s Rubbish crafts environmentally friendly trash bags made from renewable plant materials. Their BPI-certified trash bag can decompose when exposed to the natural environment. It is waterproof and also comes in recycled packaging. 

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Other alternative materials

There are a few other environmentally friendly alternatives you can consider apart from compostable or biodegradable garbage bags. You can try reusable bags or recycled plastic bags. These trash bags are durable and cost-effective.

Recycled plastic bags 

Recycled plastic bags consist of recycled plastics, which are less toxic. Using recycled plastic trash bags helps reduce the pollution problem of single-use plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills. When buying a recycled plastic garbage bag, consider the percentage of recycled content used. The more, the better. 

Reusable trash bags 

Manufacturers make reusable trash bags using recycled materials. They are strong, durable, and designed for washing after use. They are waterproof and can contain the messiest garbage. Using these bags creates less waste and can save you money in the long run.  

Brands that make reusable trash bags

Planet Wise 

Planet Wise is a company passionate about sustainability. Their reusable trash bags have an antibacterial PUL layer that prevents bacteria and fungi growth. Unlike traditional plastic bags, all its products are lead-free and PVC-free. They come in various sizes and colors and are perfect for the office, bathroom, or kitchen. 

Shop Planet Wise on Amazon

Bagito 

Bagito is a certified B Corp company that makes reusable waterproof bin liners that can fit into different trash cans. This manufacturer makes them with an organic microban coating that prevents the growth of microbes. These garbage bags also use 100% post-consumer recycled plastics. This means it uses no new plastic. You can wash these trash bags several times using a washing machine.  

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Environmental impact of plastic trash bags 

We all need some trash bags to get rid of kitchen trash, wet food scraps, food waste, pet waste, and other trash around our space.  

However, using single-use plastic garbage bags have a significant side effect on the environment. 

Manufacturers extract most ‘normal’ plastic bags from fossil fuels which release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Manufacturers make regular plastic bags from polyethylene, a common type of plastic derived from petroleum or natural gas. 

Plastic bags are single-use and polluting.

These plastic bags can take many years to decompose and contribute to a larger carbon footprint. While these carbon footprints may vary throughout the lifecycle of plastic bags, reports show that plastic could be responsible for over 56 gigatons of the carbon footprint from now till 2050⁵. 

Each stage of the plastic lifecycle, from fossil fuel extraction to plastic refining and managing plastic waste, releases greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming and climate change. 

Water pollution is also a significant side effect of plastic production and use. Plastic trash bags break down into microplastics, and these microplastics can contaminate the ocean and poison its animals. It also interferes with the ocean's natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

When we investigate these environmental effects, we see the importance of choosing more eco-friendly alternatives. 

What to consider when buying eco-friendly trash bags

While plastic bags are durable, they are not biodegradable and largely contribute to environmental pollution. 

Today, there are several eco-friendly alternatives to plastic trash bags, like compostable trash bags and biodegradable trash bags. 

Here are a few things to consider when you go shopping for an eco-friendly trash bag: 

Sustainable materials 

Manufacturers make eco-friendly trash bags using sustainable materials like plants. Plant-based bags are one of the best options when picking out an eco-friendly trash bag. As they produce organic waste, they release fewer greenhouse gases and won’t contribute to the plastic waste in landfills, making it a more eco-friendly alternative.

Third-party certifications

Consider eco-friendly trash bags that come with third-party certifications. This ensures you use a trash bag made of sustainable materials sourced and harvested without harming the environment. 

Some of these certifications include ASTM International Standards, TUV AUSTRIA, Biodegradable Products Institute Certification (BPI), OK Compost Home Certified, and so on. 

Leak-proof 

You want to make sure your trash bag saves the planet and gets the job done. Consider trash bags with good sealing properties that keep your trash properly contained and leak-proof. 

Biodegradable garbage bags v.s compostable trash bags - what you should know

We often regard biodegradable and compostable trash bags as better eco-friendly alternatives.  Sometimes we use the word ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’ bags interchangeably to mean the same. However, they are not the same. Primarily, not all biodegradable trash bags are compostable. 

This section will carefully examine the difference between these two trash bags.

Biodegradable trash bags

We consider a trash bag biodegradable if it breaks down into smaller materials caused by microorganisms when left in a natural environment. 

Manufacturers typically make biodegradable trash bags using petroleum-based biodegradable plastic. However, they manufacture it to allow these bags to break down when exposed to living organisms in landfills. 

While this looks marketable on paper, the degradation process can be vague, and less scrupulous providers may avoid saying how long it takes for biodegradation. Also, microorganisms can break down these plastics into smaller chains of plastic which can still be harmful to the environment.  

Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency secures a typical landfill in such a way⁶ that air, sunlight, and moisture, which are necessary conditions for biodegradation, are blocked out. 

This means that even the best biodegradable trash bags could be sitting exposed in landfills, unable to decompose completely. 

Compostable trash bags 

you'll find compostable trash bags a better version of biodegradable bags. Compostable bags come from plant matter like corn starch instead of petroleum-based plastics. When a compostable trash bag is exposed to sufficient moisture and heat, it composts easily alongside other organic materials like food scraps and yard waste. 

A compostable bag should be disposed of in commercial composting facilities, or you can create a home compost pile. However, it is important to note that we must dispose of compostable bags under the right conditions. If these bags end up in landfills, they can still become toxic. 

If waste goes through high heat in an industrial facility, it should break down rather quickly. However, a home compost pile decomposes much slower and could take up to a year, depending on the size and conditions. 

We have a more detailed breakdown of the difference between biodegradable and compostable over here for further information.

Pros and cons of compostable trash bags 

Pros

• Compostable trash bags do not produce toxic by-products making them more environmentally friendly than the typical plastic bag.
• Manufacturers make them from renewable plant matter like corn starch. 
• They break down into soil nutrients under the right conditions.  

Cons 

• Compostable trash bags are more expensive than standard plastic bags.
• They are sometimes thin and likely leak off when overstuffed with trash. 
• It can dissolve into your trash can if exposed to too much moisture.

What certifications should you look out for?

There are some third-party certifications to look out for when purchasing a compostable garbage bag. These certifications validate that the garbage bag is compostable and can decompose in an eco-friendly way. 

1. ASTM International Standards: ASTM is an international standard organization that provides third-party certifications for many products, including eco-friendly trash bags. Compostable trash bags have to meet these fundamental requirements of the ASTM D6400 to be legally compostable⁴:  
   - In a compostable environment, the product must completely decompose to a point where it cannot be distinguished from the finished compost product. 
   - Microorganisms must break down the product at a similar rate to other known compostable materials. 
   - The final compost product must be environmentally friendly and contribute to plant growth. 
   - According to ASTM, industrial composting in a well-managed facility should take 84 days for product fragmentation and 180 days to completely mineralize into the soil³.

2. Biodegradable Products Institute Certification (BPI): The Biodegradable Products Institute is one of the most prominent certification organizations in North America. It issues certifications for compostable products and indicates that the products meet the ASTM D6400 (for products including a trash bag) and ASTM D6868 (for packaging).
3. TUV AUSTRIA: This certification organization is similar to BPI but in Europe. They offer several certifications, including the OK compost industrial and OK compost home. The OK compost industrial certification confirms that a product will decompose appropriately in an industrial facility. 

The OK compost home certification confirms that a product will decompose in a home composting system. They consider factors applicable in a garden compost heap, including lower temperatures and other conditions. 

4. European Bioplastics Standard: The European Bioplastics Standard (EN 13432) requires that compostable plastics break down after 12 weeks and completely biodegrade after six months. This means that 90% of plastics should convert to CO2 while the rest convert to biomass and water².
5. Austrian Standard Logo: The AS5810 indicates home compostability. In comparison, the AS4736 indicates that the product is suitable for a commercial composting facility. 

Can biodegradable garbage bags and compostable trash bags be recycled? 

Unfortunately, manufacturers cannot process both biodegradable and compostable bags in recycling facilities. When these garbage bags mix with other petroleum-based plastics, they could contaminate recyclable materials and disrupt the entire recycling process. 

Biodegradable bags should be discarded as trash, while compostable bags should be used as compost material.  

Biodegradable trash bags vs. compostable trash bags - which is better? 

While a zero-waste lifestyle presents the best option, avoiding waste altogether, when using trash bags, compostable is a better choice. They are legally approved and do not produce plastics or toxic by-products. They are also legitimately disposed of in a compost facility.  Alternatively, you can compost it in a backyard compost bin. 

Researchers conducted a study to examine regular plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags, and compostable bags in different environments. Studies revealed that plastic and biodegradable bags could still hold weight after three years in the soil¹. On the other hand, compostable bags couldn’t hold out the weight. In a marine environment, compostable bags decomposed in three months.

Wrapping it up

There are several other ways you can get rid of your trash. You might also consider other bags like upcycled paper grocery bags or a newspaper bin liner for your trash can. This will be suitable, especially if you are composting organic materials like food scraps and find yourself left with non-compostable trash.

You might also consider other bags like upcycled paper grocery bags or a newspaper bin liner for your trash can. They are cost-effective and eco-friendly in comparison to plastic trash bags. 

You could also decide to ditch the garbage bag altogether. You can simply clean up your trash can after each use. 

We have examined the side effects of plastic trash bags on the environment, considering some biodegradable trash bags and compostable options. If we make an eco-conscious decision on the type of trash bag we use, we can reduce waste, save our environment, and, ultimately, the planet.