As the quest for more sustainable living continues, biodegradable bags have come to the forefront of the conversation. Unlike regular plastic bags, biodegradable bags decompose gradually and naturally over time, helping to reduce their environmental impact. 

Whether you’re grocery shopping, packing a picnic lunch, or even taking items to the beach, having a reliable and eco-friendly bag option is essential. But with so many biodegradable alternatives to plastic bags today, what are your best options? Well, we’ve done all the hard work for you and identified five top-notch biodegradable plastic bags currently on the market! Read on as we explore how each one performs and which bag might be ideal for your needs.

What Type of Plastic Is Best for Biodegradable Plastic Bags?

There are two common types of biodegradable plastic that are suitable for creating biodegradable plastic bags, oxo-biodegradable plastic and hydro-biodegradable plastic. These two types of plastic need to undergo chemical and biological processes in order to decompose naturally. However, oxy-biodegradable plastic is still made from fossil fuels, and only hydro-biodegradable plastic bags are certified compostable. That’s why we’ve only recommended biodegradable alternatives to plastic bags made from hydro-biodegradable plastic.

What Is Hydro-Biodegradable Plastic?

Hydro-biodegradable plastic is commonly made of bio-based or plant-based materials, like corn, sugarcane, wheat, and more. This type of biodegradable plastic will break down into smaller pieces when exposed to water in a process called hydrolysis. 

Once hydro-biodegradable plastics deteriorate, microorganisms will begin to consume them until they decompose. The biodegradation process of hydro-biodegradable plastic is quicker than oxo-biodegradable plastic, making this type of plastic a better option.

Unlike oxo-biodegradable, hydro-biodegradable plastics are certified compostable and can be composted through conventional composting facilities. 

Keep reading to learn more about our recommendation criteria, or skip to our product recommendation. 

How We Choose the Best Biodegradable Plastic Bags

Materials

• As discussed above, we chose biodegradable plastic bags made only of hydro-biodegradable plastic.

We also made sure that we recommend products that are certified by one of the following biodegradability standards:

• BPI certified, which means they meet the Biodegradable Products Institute’s standards for compostable and biodegradable materials.
• ASTM D5511 standard, which means the bags can break down using anaerobic biodegradation (microbes will break them down in areas where oxygen isn’t present).

Quality and Durability

We picked biodegradable plastic bag brands that are durable and can provide the same or better performance as standard plastic bags while being more eco-friendly.

Biodegradable Plastic Bags

Biodegradable plastic bags are becoming more common nowadays, so you can already find them in many conventional grocery stores. But to ensure that you are buying the right product, we’ve reviewed the most popular biodegradable alternatives to plastic bags on the market to find the highest quality and most sustainable ones.

Biodegradable Plastic Bags

• 1. BioBag – 100% Certified Compostable Shopping Bags (Small)
• 2. UNNI – Compostable Bags with Handles
• 3. BEIDOU-PAC – 100% Compostable Trash Bags with Handle
• 4. BioRift –  Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags
• 5. Responsible Products – Certified Compostable SANDWICH Resealable Zip Bag

Top Picks

• Most Durable: BEIDOU-PAC
• Most Affordable: Reli.
• Best Quality: BioRift

1. BioBag – 100% Certified Compostable Shopping Bags (Small)

BioBag Compostable Shopping Bags are made of Mater-Bi bioplastics. These BPI-certified plastics are made of renewable raw materials such as starches, cellulose, and vegetable oils that are made from 100% non-GMO crops. These materials can biodegrade in as short as just 9 months to 1 year after disposal with the help of microorganisms found in soil and water. These biodegradable plastic bags are also 100% certified compostable and can be composted together with food waste in municipal or industrial facilities. 

BioBag Compostable Shopping Bags are as strong as non-biodegradable plastic bags and can handle up to 10 pounds of goods without breaking! You can use them for everything from grocery trips to kitchen waste, and make a great overall alternative to traditional non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Cons:

• BioBag Compostable Shopping Bags have a minimum bulk purchase of 600 bags, which is not ideal for the average shopper and may be too pricey for people who don’t need a lot of plastic bags.

You can get find more biodegradable plastic bag products on the BioBag website. Looking for a bigger size? BioBag also sells a variety of biodegradable plastic bag sizes, such as regular and large versions. 

2. UNNI – Compostable Bags with Handles

UNNI Compostable Bags with Handles are made of plant starch, making them 100% natural and non-toxic. In addition to BPI certification, UNNI Compostable Bags are also OK Compost Home certified. This means that you can compost this biodegradable plastic bag in your home!

UNNI Compostable Bags with Handles are large enough to carry 2.6 gallons of products, and the handles are strong enough to hold everything up without ripping off. We also noticed that this disposable plastic bag is thicker than many regular non-biodegradable plastic bags. Finally, we love the refillable bag dispenser that comes with the bags, which makes it easy to pull out the bags whenever you need them and keep them organized when you don’t.

Cons:

• We’ve noticed that UNNI Compostable Bags have a corn-like odor that you might want to avoid mixing with your fresh produce directly.

You can get these UNNI Compostable Bags with Handles on their website. UNNI Compostable Bags with Handles are also available in bigger sizes with 13 gal capacity and an extra thick no handle version of biodegradable plastic bags.

3. BEIDOU-PAC – 100% Compostable Trash Bags with Handle

BEIDOU-PAC Compostable Trash Bags with Handle are made of two materials: PBAT, a  fully biodegradable and non-toxic petro-based plastic, and PLA, a plant-based plastic made from vegetable starch. These materials are both biodegradable and compostable making the BEIDOU-PAC bag better for the environment. Additionally, BEIDOU-PAC Compostable Trash Bags are BPI certified.

BEIDOU-PAC Compostable Trash Bags are one of the most durable biodegradable plastic bags that we’ve found on the market. Despite its seemingly small size, once you unfold it, this disposable plastic bag can hold up to 3 gals of products without ripping. Additionally, we love this bag’s pre-set “breakpoints”, which make it easy to cut individual plastic bags off the roll separately. This helps avoid overstretching the plastic bag or breaking it when pulling it off.

Cons:

• This is the only size option; BEIDOU-PAC Compostable Trash Bags have no smaller or larger versions available.

If you’re looking for a flat top (no handle) design, BEIDOU-PAC also sells a flat top version of this biodegradable plastic bag. 

4. BioRift – Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags

BioRift Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags are produced from bioplastic resin derived from renewable agricultural resources like vegetables. Although the BioRift Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags are not BPI certified, they have been scientifically tested and passed the ASTM D5511 – a standard anaerobic (no oxygen) biodegradation test method for plastic in landfills. This plastic bag will biodegrade completely within 4 years. 

BioRift Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags are our selection’s thickest biodegradable plastic bags. They provide the same feel and durability as regular thick plastic bags. Another feature that distinguishes this biodegradable plastic bag from our other choices is that it is recyclable.

Cons:

• BioRift Eco Friendly T Shirt Grocery Bags are not compostable. 

Looking for a different style? BioRift also sells a “Thank You” bag version of these biodegradable plastic bags, which may be more suitable for commercial use.

5. Responsible Products – Certified Compostable SANDWICH Resealable Zip Bag

If you’re looking for a durable and eco-friendly zip bag to store your sandwiches or fresh produce in, Responsible Products’ compostable zip bag might be the best biodegradable plastic bag for you. It is BPI certified and made entirely from bio-based renewable materials like bamboo, sugarcane, corn, and cellulose. 

Responsible Products’ compostable zip bag is also washable and freezer safe, perfect for keeping your food fresh in the refrigerator. We also noticed that the zip closure seals very tightly, and is even easier than most non-biodegradable Ziploc bags. Additionally, the bag’s thick construction makes it durable enough to last for more than a single use. 

Cons:

• The hazy color design of Responsible Products’ biodegradable zip bag can make it difficult to tell what product is inside at first glance unless you put labels on it.

You can also find this product on the Responsible Products website. Need a different size? Responsible Products also sells these biodegradable resealable bags in a variety of sizes, including snack bags, quart bags, and storage bags.

Top Picks

Finding it hard to decide? Let our top picks help you out.

Most Durable: BioBag

We chose BioBag as the most durable biodegradable plastic bag because it can carry 10 pounds of goods without breaking!

Most Affordable: UNNI 

At $8.95 for 50 biodegradable plastic bags, these bags are only $0.18 each. Although other brands we’ve picked do have slightly cheaper “per piece” prices, you have to buy a minimum set of hundreds or thousands of bags, making them less affordable for the average shopper.

If you are looking to buy in bulk, BioBags are the cheapest per bag, at $89.40 for a pack of 600 pcs ($0.15 each).

Best Quality: BioRift

We chose BioRift as the best quality biodegradable reusable bag. They are extremely durable and have the thickest quality of all of our picks. They outperform standard non-biodegradable plastic bags in terms of quality, performance, and capacity. Furthermore, BioRift is not only biodegradable but also recyclable, boosting its sustainability potential.