Like most dog parents we love our pup, but let’s face it—cleaning up after them isn’t exactly glamorous. Whilst there is no avoiding daily poop-scooping, we can do our part to make it less harmful to the planet. Eco-friendly poop bags sound like a no-brainer, right?
We went on a hunt to find the best eco-friendly dog poop bags and here is what we found…
When we were looking to sell eco-friendly poo bags, we got lost down a greenwashing rabbit hole! With terms like “biodegradable” and “compostable” thrown around so loosely, things got confusing fast.
We wanted to understand a few things: Are dog poop bags biodegradable? Are compostable dog poop bags better? Or are they the same thing? And, most importantly, are you really helping the environment by choosing one over the other?
Here’s what we discovered on our journey to find the best eco-friendly dog waste bags – we hope it helps you make the best choice.
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jump to the quick facts
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Firstly, What Does “Biodegradable” Really Mean?
You’ve probably found this article because you’ve been searching for “biodegradable poop bags for dogs”, but what does the word “biodegradable” actually mean? It sounds magical—like your poo bag will just vanish into thin air once it hits the landfill. Spoiler alert: That’s not exactly how it works.
“Biodegradable” simply means that a product will break down eventually. But here’s the catch—there’s no set time frame for this to happen. It could be six months, or it could be thousands of years!
Even worse, when it finally does start breaking down, the story doesn’t always have a happy ending. Many biodegradable bags leave behind microplastics – tiny bits of plastic that can pollute our soils, waterways, and even end up in the food chain. So, while biodegradable poop bags for dogs are better than traditional plastic, they’re not quite the Earth-saving hero you might think they are.
What’s hiding behind that green label?
Unfortunately, not all biodegradable bags are created equal.
It took us a lot of research to realise that many manufacturers were actually using a degradable additive with their traditional fossil-fuel plastic bags. So they can slap on a “biodegradable” label, but their products don’t really live up to the eco-friendly promise. Yes, they are degradable, but you could argue that all plastic will degrade eventually. These oxo-degradable products might break down a bit faster than regular plastic, but they are leaving harmful micro-plastic residues behind.
These micro-plastics are so small, that they’re invisible to the naked eye, but they still exist in our landfills, waterways and soils, making their way back into our own food chain.
Australia’s National Plastics Plan aims to work with industry to phase out this problematic “fragmentable” plastic[1] but you can still buy it unaware of the damage it can cause.
Compostable Dog Poop Bags – A Better Alternative
Our research led us to the best eco-friendly solution being bio-plastics that are independently certified as compostable. These strict compostable standards test that the dog poo bags completely break down into organic materials – leaving no toxic traces behind.
So, let’s break it down (pun intended) into what you should look for when choosing the best dog poop bags.
Look for Cornstarch or PLA
Compostable poop bags are typically made from natural, renewable plant-based materials like bamboo, sugarcane or corn. The natural starches are used to create a bio-plastic residue called PLA (Polylactic Acid) that feels and behaves in a similar way to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
The good news about PLA is it produces 65% fewer greenhouse gases during production[1] and uses 68% less energy[2] compared to conventional plastics.
But it does come with disadvantages, to degrade properly it requires certain conditions (more about that in a minute), plus it has a lower strength than traditional plastics. On its own PLA can be rigid and brittle – which is not what you want when you are scooping poop!
Trust us, unfortunately we learned this lesson the hard way. Our early production runs were crystalising and customers complained that the bags split. Whilst we gave refunds, it was a chemistry lesson we didn’t want to have happen again. So, we found a solution…
Look for PBAT
To create strong dog poop bags, we needed PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) which helps provide flexibility meaning the bags are less likely to rip. The microns, or thickness of the bags, can also be increased to improve strength. But the benefit of blending PBAT with PLA is that it creates a more flexible, compostable product[1].
Although PBAT is not derived from renewable resources, it is still biodegradable and leaves no toxic residues. It breaks down in both home and industrial composting environments without releasing harmful methane gas, which can occur with some other biodegradable materials[2]
Let’s talk about what home or industrial composting means…
Look for Compostable Certifications
Compostable products have been scientifically tested to turn into compost when exposed to the right balance of heat, moisture, and microorganisms. The certified conditions could be in an industrial composting facility (through your council pick-up) or an at-home composting environment.
Either way, the rich compost is good for the soil, good for the planet, and even good for your garden (as long as you’re not growing veggies where the poop’s been).
And here’s the best part: All compostable bags are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable bags are compostable. Compostable bags must meet strict standards that ensure they decompose and break down safely and completely—no microplastics, no harmful residues.
So, how long do biodegradable dog poop bags take to decompose?

At Furbubba, we’re proud to offer compostable bags made from cornstarch, and they’re certified to meet both Australasian and international standards, decomposing in 180 days.
So what do all the certifications mean?
Here’s what the logo’s on Furbubba’s dog poop bags mean:

In Australia, for any plastic product to be marketed as compostable, they must comply with AS 4736-2006, the national standard for industrial compostability. This standard is comparable to the well-known European EN 13432 standard, but with one key difference—it includes a worm test to ensure the material is safe for all aspects of the composting process.
To meet AS 4736-2006, products must fulfill several criteria:
- At least 90% must biodegrade within 180 days in a commercial composting facility.
- The material must disintegrate into particles smaller than 2mm within 12 weeks.
- The compost produced must show no toxicity to plants and earthworms, ensuring environmental safety.
- The product should have low levels of hazardous substances, like heavy metals.
- Lastly, the material should be composed of at least 50% organic materials.
The standard is regulated by the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA), which uses a third-party verification process. Products that comply with AS 4736 are awarded the ABA Seedling Composting Logo, making them easy to identify and ensuring consumer trust in their compostable claims.

TUV are independent certifiers, they have confirmed that the bags can be used in commercial or industrial composting facilities.
Some local councils in Australia accept animal waste as part of FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) collection.

The OK Compost HOME logo refers to products that also compost at lower temperatures, so they can go into your home composting and whilst they will biodegrade at a slower pace in a home setting, you can be assured that with all the certifications there will be no toxic residues. But remember when home composting you can’t place biodegradable poop bags for dogs in vegetable gardens.
TLDR: Here’s the short version
Compostable are better than Biodegradable dog poop bags
You’ve probably gathered by now that compostable bags are the clear winner for the environment over biodegradable dog poop bags. But here is a quick summary in plain terms:
Many biodegradable poop bags for dogs are made out of plastic with an additive to help them decompose, leaving nasty toxic microplastics behind. Biodegradable, simply means that a product will break down eventually – even plastics!
Furbubba’s compostable bags are certified to degrade within 180 days.
Yes, because they leave no Toxic Leftovers: Compostable bags decompose fully, turning into water, carbon dioxide, and nutrient-rich soil. No microplastics. No harmful chemicals.
Certification Matters: Compostable bags, like Furbubba’s, must meet stringent standards before earning their compostable label. Look for certification logos like OK Compost, EN 13432 and AS 4736 to ensure you’re getting the real deal.
Versatile Decomposition: Whether you toss your bag into a home compost heap or send it to an industrial composting facility, compostable bags will disappear without a trace. Biodegradable bags might leave micro-plastics.
Reduced Carbon Footprint: Not only do compostable bags break down faster, but their production process also leaves a smaller environmental footprint compared to plastic bags.
Biodegradable vs Compostable Bags:
Compare the difference between standard biodegradable bags and Furbubba compostable bags.
FEATURE | BIODEGRADABLE | COMPOSTABLE |
---|---|---|
Materials | Plastic with degradable additives. Made from petrochemicals. | Made from PLA cornstarch & PBAT. |
Strength | Stronger material. | Stong when mixed with PBAT. |
Decomposition | Leaves behind microplastics. | Degrades into rich compost providing nutrients for soil. |
Time to Decompose | Can take thousands of years, especially in landfills. | Certified to decompose within 180 days in industrial or home composting (slightly longer in landfill). |
Environmental Impact | May release methane in landfills and leaves microplastics. | Safe for the environment, leaves no toxins. |
Certifications | Few standards, can often be misleading. | Look for independent certifications such as AS4736 or EN13432, Ok Compost Home or Industrial. |
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Footnotes / Sources:
[1] https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/plastics-and-packaging/national-plastics-plan
[1] PLA : Joining Innovation with Expertise