Hello there, devoted dog parents! Today, let’s get to the ‘bottom’ of a question as essential to us as that first-morning walk is to our furry friends: Do biodegradable dog poop bags actually work? It’s time we sniff out the facts from the fiction, so tighten that leash and let’s plunge paws-first into the world of biodegradable dog poop bags.

Cracking Down the Code: Biodegradable – What Does It Mean?

Let’s fetch the facts straight about ‘biodegradable.’ In a nutshell, it describes how something breaks down, not the material it’s made of, its organic status, or how long it takes to decompose. The term can be decoded as ‘it will break down at some point’.

Almost any material, including plastic, can be labelled ‘biodegradable’ since most substances eventually break down, albeit some might take hundreds or even thousands of years! Biodegradable dog poop bags, for instance, may ‘break down’… eventually. However, that’s just the process of them breaking into smaller pieces of plastic or microplastics – not the most pleasant party crashers in nature’s backyard.

Biodegradable: An Eco-Deception?

The term biodegradable dog poop bags can be somewhat vague – it’s a label marketers have wagged onto products to ‘bark’ their green credentials, often misleading consumers. These biodegradable bags typically contain chemicals that help them break down into tiny pieces invisible to the naked eye. However, these are nothing more than millions of microplastics that can find their way into the food chain, ending up in the stomachs of wildlife and potentially humans. Biodegradable? Technically, yes. Eco-friendly? Not really.

Do Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Actually Work?

Marketers have led us to believe that biodegradable dog poop bags should mean something not plastic and eco-friendly. As poop bags just advertised as biodegradable are just plastic, then no biodegradable dog poop bags don’t work. They are not eco-friendly at all.  

Compostable vs. Biodegradable: A Tale of Two Terms

It’s crucial to note that compostable items can also be labelled biodegradable, as biodegrading is the process of composting. However, not all biodegradable products are compostable. A little confusing, right? Just think of it like this: all Chihuahuas are dogs, but not all dogs are Chihuahuas!

Strength Test: Do Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Work?

Let’s take a moment to address a question we hear quite often: Do biodegradable dog poop bags just fall apart? If a dog poop bag only carries the biodegradable label, not the compostable one, it’s likely plastic.

Plastic bags might last for years – they’re plastic, after all. Many biodegradable dog poop bags are also extremely thin, a cost-saving trick. This thinness can lead to unpleasant surprises if you’re dealing with a sizeable deposit from your four-legged companion.

Conclusion: The Scoop on Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags

In the world of dog ownership, knowing the truth about biodegradable dog poop bags is as essential as recognising your pup’s “I gotta go” dance. The term “biodegradable” may sound eco-friendly, but it’s often a misleading marketing ploy. For a genuinely green clean-up, choose compostable bags.

At Oh Crap, we’re dedicated to making poop scooping an easy, eco-friendly task because when it comes to caring for our furry friends, we believe in doing a ‘doggone’ good job!

Featured Image by Lucio Liu from Pixabay